When: 4:00pm local time on Sunday, August 16, 2015
Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
TV: Sky Sports (UK), NBC Sports (US), Fox Sports (Australia)
Man City
Win bet: $2.15 to win at CrownBet.com
Position: 1st
WDL record: 1-0-0
Chelsea
Win bet: $3.60 at William Hill
Position: 8th
WDL record: 0-1-0
Draw – $3.40 at Sportsbet.com
ENGLISH Premier League fans looking for a battle between the two best teams of last season have not had to wait long – it’s Manchester City hosting 2014/15 champs Chelsea.
All eyes will be on this contest to see where the sides compare to last year’s campaign and which manager will gain the early ascendancy over his counterpart.
City start clear favourites with a home ground advantage at Etihad Stadium, but as we’ve learned in the EPL – you can never write off a champion.
The form leading into the match
Not the start that Jose Mourinho would have wanted in this season’s title defence, with his side drawing 2-2 at home to Swansea.
The match generated great controversy after the referee awarded Swansea a penalty early in the second half. Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois was shown a red card after he brought down striker Bafetimbi Gomis on the edge of the area.
Chelsea were forced to bring Asmir Begovic into goal as Swansea grew in confidence and threatened to steal the points, but neither side could take advantage of late chances.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was uncharacteristically reluctant to speak out against the red card in his post-match press conference.
“It’s the first game of the season and I don’t want to start now,” he said.
“I’m not going to talk about the penalty, I’m not going to talk about the red card. I don’t comment.
“It’s just because the first time I can control myself.”
There were vastly different fortunes for City, which had a clinical 3-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion.
The Manchurian Blues’ win was set up with two first half goals from Yaya Toure, while David Silva put on an offensive display that will give City boss Manuel Pellegrini optimism for the season ahead.
Big money signing Raheem Sterling also showed glimpses of why City were prepared to open the cheque book to secure the signature of the former Liverpool winger, with some trademark runs and incisive passing.
City captain Vincent Kompany, who sealed the match with a headed goal in the second half was full of praise for Sterling and the other summer City signings.
“New players like Raheem, (Fabian) Delph – from what I’ve seen – and Patrick Roberts too, they’ll give us something different, so many options” Kompany said.
Match prediction:
Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Winner: Manchester City ($2.15)
Correct score: Man City 1-0 ($7.50 at CrownBet)
First goal scorer: Sergio Aguero ($5.00)
A vitally important game, even this early in the campaign with last year’s champions Chelsea traveling to Manchester to take on City at the Etihad.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has had a knack over the years of extracting the best out of his teams on the big occasions.
His team is in dire need of a lift here with a win to City granting last year’s runners-up a five point up ahead of the reigning champions at this early stage of the season.
City are flying after securing a 3-0 win over West Brom, with the return to form of midfielders Yaya Toure and David Silva the highlight of a fantastic night at the Hawthorns for the Blue side of Manchester.
The big question is will city Boss Manuel Pellegrini take a gamble on the fitness of Argentinean forward Sergio Aguero?
The Argentine came on late against West Brom and looked to be moving freely, but that match lacked any kind of intensity with the result decided, and his manager could look to ease his best striker into the match as a sub.
Aguero’s importance to City’s title chances cannot be overstated, and in a game at home where the match could be decided by one moment of brilliance, Pellegrini simply must start the 2014/15 golden boot winner.
With points at a premium between the top sides a cagey match could be in the offing with neither side prepared to concede defeat to a title-contender.
The Chelsea defence looked slow and exposed last week at times by Swansea, so expect the speed of Sterling and the creativity of Silva to look to exploit those perceived weaknesses early in the match.
Expect the Manchurian Blues to get the better of last year’s champions in a tight and dour affair.
Potential starting XI’s:
Manchester City:
Hart; Kompany, Kolarov, Sagna, Mangala, Fernando, Nasri , Toure, Silva, Sterling, Aguero
Should not be too many changes to the side that dismantled West Brom last week.
Samir Nasri should get the start in the midfield after coming on in the second half against the Baggies.
In a huge boost for City, dynamo forward Sergio Aguero also moved freely after coming on late as a substitute.
Providing the 2014/15 golden boot winner is at optimal fitness, he should get the nod up front ahead of Wilfred Bony.
Chelsea:
Begovic; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Matic, Hazard, Fabregas, Willian, Oscar, Costa
Any doubts on Diego Costa’s fitness heading into the new season were allayed by the Spaniard’s hard-working performance against Swansea.
Costa’s bull-at-a-gate-type efforts did not yield any goals, but he looked quick off the mark and did not lack any of his customary fire.
Summer signing from Stoke Asmir Begovic gets his start in goal after Courtois received a one-match suspension for the red card the keeper was shown against the Swans.
Begovic is an accomplished shot-stopper and should not have any problems seamlessly integrating into the Chelsea defence.
