These two sides have already met as soon as this summer time on their respective pre-season excursions of the USA, with Erling Haaland’s hat-trick serving to the reigning champions to a commanding 4-2 victory in Columbus, Ohio earlier this month.
It’s fairly the baptism of fireplace for Enzo Maresca in his first aggressive match answerable for Chelsea since being employed from Leicester to interchange the one-and-done Mauricio Pochettino in June, with pre-season having been a wrestle.
The Blues received simply one in all their six complete friendlies, struggling heavy losses to each Metropolis and Celtic in addition to being crushed by Actual Madrid and failing to defeat third-tier Wrexham in addition to Inter Milan.
Metropolis additionally misplaced to each Celtic and AC Milan and drew with Barcelona to go together with that thumping win over Chelsea, although might be excessive on confidence after edging out Manchester United on penalties to elevate the Neighborhood Defend at Wembley final weekend.
As soon as once more Pep Guardiola’s facet go into a brand new marketing campaign as sturdy title favourites and really a lot nonetheless the workforce to beat, having received an unprecedented 4 consecutive league championships and 6 out of the final seven.
For Chelsea, it’s the beginning of one more new period amidst one other hectic switch window as they desperately attempt to return to competition, having ended up sixth final time period solely following a late renaissance that in the end was not sufficient for Pochettino.
Baptism of fireplace: Enzo Maresca takes cost of Chelsea for the primary time in a aggressive match
Getty Photographs
Date, kick-off time and venue
Chelsea vs Man Metropolis is scheduled for a 4:30pm BST kick-off time at the moment, Sunday August 18, 2024.
The match will happen at Stamford Bridge in west London.
The place to look at Chelsea vs Man Metropolis
TV channel: Within the UK, the sport might be televised reside on Sky Sports activities Foremost Occasion and Sky Sports activities Premier League, with protection starting at 4pm – after the conclusion of the London derby between Brentford and Crystal Palace.
Dwell stream: Sky Sports activities subscribers can even catch the competition reside on-line by way of the Sky Go app.
Chelsea vs Man Metropolis workforce information
Sidelined: Chelsea captain Reece James is at the moment each injured and suspended
Chelsea FC by way of Getty Photographs
Chelsea vs Man Metropolis prediction
It’s best to in fact by no means learn an excessive amount of into pre-season kind and outcomes, whereas Chelsea matched Metropolis effectively in each match they performed in opposition to them final time period.
Nonetheless, regardless of that, it’s not exhausting to see this being a really powerful begin certainly to the Maresca period.
Chelsea’s irritating summer time marketing campaign was plagued by alarming defensive woes that might be absolutely punished once more by Haaland and Co if repeated this weekend.
The Blues confirmed sufficient in pre-season to counsel that they may create loads of possibilities, however they may even seemingly concede loads of objectives and regardless of one other big-spending switch window to date nonetheless don’t have a high quality out-and-out striker to capitalise on the alternatives that might be offered.
Face to face (h2h) historical past and outcomes
This match was an absolute basic final season, with Cole Palmer’s dramatic stoppage-time penalty securing an exhilarating 4-4 draw in opposition to his former membership within the November rain at Stamford Bridge.
The return fixture on the Etihad Stadium ended 1-1 after Rodri’s late equaliser, earlier than Metropolis beat Chelsea 1-0 within the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley in April because of Bernardo Silva’s late objective.
Metropolis had beforehand received six on the bounce in opposition to Chelsea, who haven’t received a sport in opposition to the champions since Might 2021.
Chelsea vs Man Metropolis match odds
Odds by way of Betfair (topic to vary).