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Chelsea will seek to avenge the 6-0 loss to Man City from a couple weeks before as they face them at Wembley in the EFL Cup Final!
Chelsea and City are currently going through a completely different stretch of form. Whereas City are on fire scoring goals, winning for fun (12 wins in 13 in 2019), Chelsea are struggling and in their last 10 games they’ve been winning and losing every other game (LWLWLWLWLW).
Safe to say right now, Maurizio Sarri is under huge pressure to deliver for Chelsea after multiple bad results, his job has been in question but winning here could definitely silence a ton of critics.
Chelsea have overcame quite a difficult EFL Cup run to the Final. Firstly they beat Liverpool at Anfield which is still the only team to win at Anfield this season 1-2, then they beat Derby 3-2, Bournemouth 1-0 and Tottenham on penalties coming back from a 1 goal deficit in the 2nd leg. Already having beaten 2 of the top 3 BPL teams, they could complete quite a perfect cup run with a win here.
For Chelsea it’s absolutely necessary to get their back line right here. Their defending has been beyond atrocious at times in 2019 and if they show up like they did at Etihad or Bournemouth they could very well get pounced again.
Going forward, Hazard and Higuain will HAVE to step it up, Eden being their top scorer and assist man while Higuain is obviously the man who is supposed to be their new star striker. If goals are going to come, these two are likely going to be the main culprits in delivering that.
Chelsea have been awful in big games in 2019. Bar their win over Spurs in the 2nd leg 2-1 then putting them away on Pens, they’ve lost 1-0 to Spurs, 2-0 to Arsenal, 6-0 to Man City and 0-2 to Man Utd. 1W 4L 0D in 2019 against the big 6 is definitely not a record you want if you’re Chelsea.
If Chelsea were to win, it would be Maurizio Sarri’s first trophy of his managerial career.
Chelsea and Man City have already met once at Wembley this season in the Community Shield and City looked by far the better side in a 2-0 win which could’ve easily been more.
Man City, as mentioned are riding a HOT run of form right now and they’re coming off a very impressive 2-3 win away Schalke despite being down 2-1 and down to 10 men, they pulled off the crazy come back and won.
Man City’s record in 2019 has been absolutely ridiculous across all competitions, they’ve won 12 of 13 losing just once, they scored 49 goals, conceded 7 and kept 7 clean sheets. City have been completely dominating opponents all around the pitch lately.
Sergio Aguero is playing absolutely out of his mind right now having scored 10 goals in his last 7 apps including bagging 2 hattricks including one against Chelsea a couple of weeks ago.
Man City’s run to the EFL Cup was quite straight forward beating Oxford Utd 0-3, Fulham 2-0, did get taken to pens against Leicester which they won that being their toughest tie, and they smashed Burton 10-0 on aggregate including a 9-0 win at the Etihad.
Man City have been somewhat knock as the kings of this competition having won it 3 of the last 5 times in 2014, 2016 and last year when they battered Arsenal 3-0.
Chelsea and Man City met 3 times this season, as mentioned City beat Chelsea at Wembley in the curtain raiser 2-0, then Chelsea surprised City with a 2-0 win at the Etihad but City got their revenge smashing the Blues 6-0 at the Etihad inflicting them their largest BPL defeat ever.
City have beaten Chelsea in 2 consecutive H2H meetings at Wembley.
Man City are the clear bookies favourites to win this game in 90 mins at 1.58 and to lift the trophy at 1.29. Chelsea to win in 90 mins is 5.75 and to lift the trophy is 3.75. Draw after 90 mins is tipped at 4.60. Man City are expected to come out on top in this tie. Odds based on Unibet.
Team News
Chelsea: Kepa Arrizabalaga could be out with a hamstring injury therefore Willy Caballero could be in contention to start in goal. Zappacosta and Pedro are also doubtful for the Blues.
Manchester City: Mendy and Gabriel Jesus could return into the squad while John Stones injury has been getting better but will likely not start. Otherwise there’s nothing to report.
Betting Stats
*Stats will be based off the Premier League as both sides play in the BPL.
Chelsea have the 3rd best total goal overs covered percentage at 61.5% (16-10).
Chelsea have only covered 38.5% of their 1st half total goal overs however (10-3-13). More goals tend to be scored in the 2nd half.
Chelsea have covered just 42.3% of their Handicaps (11-3-12).
Chelsea have covered 42.3% of their 1st half Handicaps (11-1-14).
Chelsea average 1.27 bookings per game (33 bookings in 26 games).
Man City have covered 44.4% of their total goal overs (12-3-12).
Man City have covered 48.1% of their 1st half goal overs (13-14).
Man City have a 2nd best BPL percentage of covered Handicaps at 59.3% (16-1-10).
Man City have the tied best percentage of covered 1st half Handicaps at 63% (17-2-8).
Man City average 1.33 bookings per game (36 bookings in 27 games).
KICK OFF – 24th February 2019 – 4:30pm UK Time
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