Manchester City and Chelsea have had an intriguing rivalry in recent years. They’ve never quite met in the thick of a title race, but individual clashes have been significant and memorable.
They meet again on Sunday with Chelsea 22 points behind Premier League leaders City, and outside the top four after their loss to Manchester United last week.
So it’s safe to say the Blues need the win more their hosts do, with Pep Guardiola’s side on the cusp of securing another league crown.
Here are three talking points ahead of Sunday’s game.
DID BARCA CLASH GIVE CHELSEA THE BLUEPRINT TO STOP CITY?
There were fears that Chelsea, given their form leading into the game, were in for an embarrassing result against Barcelona last month. Yet on the day, they didn’t just provide spirited resistance, they were the better side, both in performance and in tactics.
The improved display in the 1-1 draw came about due to a commitment to an energetic pressing game, which saw them ensure they never let Barcelona feel comfortable on the ball. What was impressive was the way Chelsea’s wing-backs pressed the Barcelona full-backs high up the pitch, with Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso never letting Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto settle.
That performance could serve as the blueprint for how Antonio Conte sets up his side against City. Moses and Alonso can harass Kyle Walker and Danilo into mistakes, or at least prevent them from tearing down the flanks.
Meanwhile, N’Golo Kante can shadow Kevin de Bruyne, leaving Cesc Fabregas or Danny Drinkwater free to pick out a pass.
City have shown they can be vulnerable to a disciplined, incessant press. Liverpool deployed it to great effect in handing Pep Guardiola’s side their only league defeat this season.
Between that game and Chelsea’s own experience against Barca, Conte’s gameplan seems pretty straightforward.
Victor Moses starred in Chelsea’s draw against Barcelona.
HAZARD, DE BRUYNE PLAY FOR BELGIAN BRAGGING RIGHTS
Although Kante won the Player of the Year gong last year, there was plenty of recognition for Eden Hazard being the best player in the league.
But on Sunday, he may not even be the best player from his country on the pitch. There’s a consensus that what Hazard was last year, De Bruyne is this year – with Guardiola going as far as to say only Lionel Messi is better than De Bruyne right now.
The two Belgian playmakers going toe-to-toe is the headline clash of this fixture.
Arguably, Hazard is the one with more to prove – his big-game credentials have always been doubted, and he didn’t do himself any favours last weekend when he ended up being man-marked out of the game by Man United youngster Scott McTominay.
He was excellent in the first half, and assisted Chelsea’s goal, but being substituted with a large chunk of the second period remaining said it all.
De Bruyne lit up the first meeting between these sides at Stamford Bridge back in September with a superb goal, and on Sunday he’ll look to produce an encore.
Belgium’s preeminent playmakers go head to head.
CAN KOMPANY PLAY THREE GAMES IN A WEEK?
Speaking of brilliant Belgian players, Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany may have something to say about who the best player from his country is.
Kompany was man-of-the-match in the League Cup final on Sunday, scoring a goal and leading the back line with aplomb. But he raised eyebrows by being named in the starting XI for City’s Premier League fixture against Arsenal on Thursday as well.
Two games in five days for the famously injury-prone centre-back? That was an encouraging sign, and Kompany backed it up by lasting the full 90 minutes yet again, looking untroubled by any fitness issues.
Having Kompany fit is a huge boon for City – on top form and fit, he’s arguably the best centre-back in England.
It was impressive that he played the full game twice in a row within such a short time span, but Sunday’s clash may be a step too far. With John Stones a more than capable deputy, there’s no reason to risk Kompany at all, and Guardiola may choose to not test his club captain’s fitness by playing him for the third time in eight days. It may be time to wrap Kompany in wool again.
Is three games in eight days too much for City’s captain?
