Chelsea isn't going to factor in the Premier League this year, and the best it can do at this point is playing spoiler and try to stay in the top half of the table. Manchester City has essentially been eliminated from title contention, but there's still a heated race for that fourth and final Champions League spot for next season, and the Citizens will want to make sure they snare it.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chelsea +160
Manchester City +175
Draw +242
Over/Under 2.5 (over -115)
ODDS ANALYSIS
Stamford Bridge hasn't been nearly as intimidating this year as it has been in recent season, but there's no doubt that this is still a treacherous fixture for the Sky Blues. Chelsea is the very slender favorite at PK -115 on the Asian Handicap, but that only makes it a +160 favorite on the moneyline. Man City is just behind at +175.
The total is set at basically just a flat 2.5, though the over is the very slight favorite at -115.
KEY INJURIES
Chelsea figures to get both Willian and Gary Cahill back into the hold after both have missed recent matches. Eden Hazard is probably finished for the season, and we have to wonder if John Terry has played for the last time with the Blues as well. Nemanja Matic and Loic Remy are both out of the fold as well, and Kurt Zouma is a long-term absentee.
City, which just got into the Champions League semifinals for the first time in club history, did so without Raheem Sterling and Vincent Kompany. Both men are going to be out for this match as well, as they're both looking to get back in the fold around the upcoming semifinal duel.
RECENT FORM
Manchester City is flying high right now after the 1-0 win over PSG on Tuesday night. That was the team's second win in three days after beating West Brom at home last weekend. This team hasn't been great on the road this year at just 6-5-4, and this could be a tricky fixture for sure as a result.
Things never did improve all that much for the Blues this year even after Guus Hiddink took over as their manager replacing the embattled Jose Mourinho. Chelsea was beaten at Swansea City last Saturday to pretty much end any hope of European competition for next season. The Blues have beaten the teams which they should, but they also haven't beaten a team outside of soon-to-be relegated Aston Villa since knocking off Southampton on the road 2-1 in February.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Chelsea has started to count on a younger side match in and match out, and we're not sure its youngsters are going to be able to deal with the pressure of this Manchester City side on Saturday afternoon.
In the soccer match against PSG, the defense was fantastic for Man City. Joe Hart didn't have to work all that often, and Bacary Sagna, in particular, was fantastic. Sure, the Citizens only managed one shot on goal the whole game, the strike which hit the back of the net by Kevin De Bruyne, but offense wasn't important in that one considering the fact that a scoreless draw was good enough to advance.
We have to wonder if Manchester City is going to turn into a tactical counterattacking side for the rest of the season. Teams like that have given the Blues fits all year long, and this could be yet another disappointing result for the hosts.
English Premier League Odds: Manchester City 1, Chelsea 0
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