Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Man Cityvs.Chelsea

sportsmole.co.uk, 1 August 2024, 15:38
Manchester City will round off their preparations for the new campaign with a pre-season friendly against Premier League rivals Chelsea on Saturday night.

Pep Guardiola's side were last in action on Tuesday, drawing 2-2 with Barcelona, while Chelsea recorded a 3-0 victory over Club America on Wednesday.

Match preview

It is difficult to read too much into Man City's pre-season, especially as a number of their key players are still missing due to international commitments, but it has not quite been the results or the performances that Guardiola would have been looking for.

Indeed, the English champions, who ended last season with a 2-1 loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup final, opened their pre-season with a 4-3 defeat to Celtic, before suffering a 3-2 loss to AC Milan in their second tour fixture.

Man City managed to draw 2-2 with Barcelona on Tuesday, before the Catalan outfit won 4-1 on penalties, and it was an improved performance from the Manchester club, with Nico O'Reilly and Jack Grealish on the scoresheet.

Guardiola's side will now conclude their US tour against Chelsea before heading back to England to prepare for the Community Shield, with Man United their opponents on August 10.

Man City will then begin the defence of their Premier League title with a trip to Chelsea on August 18, with this match a dress rehearsal for that fixture, which is shaping up to be an intriguing contest.

Chelsea, meanwhile, started their pre-season with a 2-2 draw against Wrexham before suffering a 4-1 defeat to Celtic in their second US Tour fixture.

The Blues did manage to put a victory on the board on Wednesday, though, with Christopher Nkunku, Marc Guiu and Noni Madueke on the scoresheet in a 3-0 success over Club America.

Enzo Maresca's side will play twice more in the United States this summer, following this fixture with a clash against Real Madrid on August 6, before heading back to England for their final friendly of the summer against Inter Milan on August 11.

Chelsea, as mentioned, will begin their new league season against Man City, and there will be European football at Stamford Bridge next term, with the London club set to take part in the Conference League.

The Blues have been busy during this summer's transfer window, with Filip Jorgensen their latest arrival from Villarreal, but their biggest signing of the market in terms of a transfer fee is still Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City.

Manchester City friendly form:

L

L

L

Chelsea friendly form:

D

L

W

Team News

Ederson remains with Man City despite the ongoing talk surrounding a potential move away from the club, and the Brazil goalkeeper should again start between the sticks.

The Citizens are missing a number of important players due to international commitments over the summer, with Kyle Walker, John Stones, Rodri, Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez among those unavailable.

Erling Haaland is with the squad, though, and he is set to lead the line, while Grealish, Oscar Bobb and James McAtee could again feature as the three behind the Norway international.

As for Chelsea, Jorgensen could make his full debut for the Blues on Saturday after appearing as a half-time substitute against Club America.

Enzo Fernandez is back with the squad, featuring off the bench on Wednesday, and he is again expected to be involved as a substitute in this contest.

There will be changes to the starting side, with Ben Chilwell and Wesley Fofana likely to be introduced into the defence, but Guiu should keep his spot at the tip of the attack, with the summer arrival bidding to convince Maresca to keep hold of him for the coming season rather than sanction a loan exit.

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Lewis, Phillips, Gvardiol, Wilson-Esbrand; O'Reilly, Kovacic; Bobb, McAtee, Grealish; Haaland

Chelsea possible starting lineup:

Jorgensen; James, Adarabioyo, Fofana, Chilwell; Lavia, Dewsbury-Hall; Madueke, Nkunku, Sterling; Guiu

We say: Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea

These are such difficult matches to predict, especially with Man City missing so many of their important players. Guardiola's side were improved against Barcelona last time out, though, and we are backing a low-scoring draw between the two Premier League rivals here.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Record Women's Champions League winners Lyon Women will travel to Germany for Tuesday's quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich Women. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea's priority in the summer is said to be the purchase of a new striker, while a new winger is also expected to join the club. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich have reportedly decided bid for Manchester United winger Antony, who is currently on loan at Spanish side Real Betis. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women will travel to the Spanish capital for Tuesday's Women's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid Femenino at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano. 16 March 2025 talksport.com "It's all for these fans. They deserve everything." 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly identified Wolfsburg defender Konstantinos Koulierakis as a replacement for Virgil van Dijk should he leave Anfield. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In a match that could have ramifications for both the National League's chase for promotion and relegation battle, Gateshead are set to host Braintree Town at Gateshead International Stadium on Tuesday. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona fought back from two goals behind to record a stunning 4-2 victory over title rivals Atletico Madrid in Sunday night's La Liga contest at Wanda Metropolitano. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Micah Richards could not resist joining in with Newcastle hero Dan Burn's Carabao Cup final celebrations. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has admitted that "it's hard to know" the extent of Ayden Heaven's injury at this stage of proceedings, with the centre-back set to be assessed by the club's medical stuff next week. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Eddie Howe has told Sports Mole that some of his "iconic" Newcastle United players will go on to establish themselves as club "legends" after steering the Magpies to EFL Cup glory in Sunday's final against Liverpool. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Leicester's defeat to Manchester United sees them set an unwanted Premier League record as their season goes from bad to worse. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho both ended long goalscoring droughts in Manchester United's 3-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Sunday night. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah suffered an unwanted personal first during the Reds' 2-1 loss to Newcastle United in the final of the 2024-25 EFL Cup at Wembley. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Mohamed Salah endured one of his most difficult afternoons in Liverpool colours during their heartbreaking Carabao Cup final defeat. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has told Sports Mole that he would rather get straight back into action next week as opposed to waiting for the international break to end following his side's gut-wrenching EFL Cup final loss to Newcastle United. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Eddie Howe's Newcastle United side wrote themselves into club history at Wembley on Sunday courtesy of a famous 2-1 triumph over Liverpool in the EFL Cup final. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven has suffered a potentially-serious injury during Sunday's Premier League clash with Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. 16 March 2025 talksport.com A bottom-half finish in the Premier League could be rewarded with a European berth. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Bruno Guimaraes was unable to control his emotions after helping Newcastle end their 70-year trophy drought. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle have won their first major domestic trophy since 1955 courtesy of a deserved 2-1 victory over a limp and lifeless Liverpool side at Wembley. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle have ended their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy with a stunning Carabao Cup final victory against Liverpool. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly put a €70m (£59m) offer on the table for Barcelona attacker Raphinha. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been passed fit for Sunday's Premier League clash against Leicester City, while Mason Mount is on the bench for the 20-time English champions at the King Power Stadium. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Mikel Arteta has walked out of another post-match interview, but this time he was only joking. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Six clubs are reportedly in the running for Lille forward Jonathan David, with the Canada international set to become a free transfer at the end of June. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Mathys Tel urged Tottenham fans to remain behind the team in a heated conversation with angry fans after yet another defeat. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney hailed Wycombe Wanderers as a 'beautiful organisation' following their rapid response to a fan who was taken ill. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United attacker Antony has suggested that he wants to complete a permanent move to a team in Spain this summer amid suggestions that Real Betis and Real Sociedad could go head-to-head for his signature. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has said that he understands the frustrations of the club's supporters following Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage.