Manchester City – Chelsea: A Clash of Titans
On Saturday, February 17, Manchester City will face Chelsea FC from London at their own Etihad Stadium. The match is one of the most intense and fiercely contested encounters, as both are successful teams from the English league. These clubs have a long history, dating back to the formation of the Premier League in 1992.
Manchester City – Chelsea FC
The last time the two teams faced each other was in November last year. In a thrilling goal fest, they ended up drawing 4-4. It was the first time since May 2021 that Chelsea didn’t lose to Manchester City. The Citizens were already on a good run, while Chelsea’s form has been inconsistent this year. One of the most memorable encounters between the two is perhaps the final of the 2021 Champions League. In Porto, the two English teams faced off, with Chelsea FC eventually winning 1-0 after a goal from Kai Havertz. Havertz currently plays for Arsenal. Prior to this match, the two teams had only met once before in a European competition, back in 1971, when Chelsea won 1-0 in the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. Clearly, there are several moments etched in the memories of supporters during this match.
A modern feud that still simmers beneath the surface: Cole Palmer, a youth product of Manchester City, was sold to Chelsea. But he is now experiencing a top form season there. He has already scored ten goals and provided six assists. The 21-year-old wants to make a statement to his former coach Pep Guardiola. In the previous encounter between the two teams, he scored a goal for his current club at the last minute, snatching a point from the second-best team.
Manchester City
Manchester City Football Club was founded in England in 1880. The original name was West Gorton Saint Marks. The club plays its home matches at the Etihad Stadium in the east of Manchester. Last year, the team won the UEFA Champions League for the first time. In the same year, they also won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, completing the international treble.
Currently, Manchester City is in second place in the Premier League. After 23 matches, they have already collected 52 points, giving them a three-point lead over Arsenal, their pursuer. They are only behind Liverpool, who have secured 54 points after one more match. The Citizens have a world-famous squad, with big names like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Kyle Walker. Among those big names are also two Belgians: Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku. De Bruyne made a fantastic comeback after his injury, providing beautiful assists for striker Erling Haaland. De Bruyne was out for almost four and a half months due to hamstring surgery but seems to be completely back. Since August 2022, De Bruyne has provided 34 assists across all competitions, with 12 of them for Haaland. The next in the ranking, Antoine Griezmann, has nine fewer assists.
Chelsea FC
This London club has existed since 1905. Founder Gus Mears transformed Stamford Bridge, originally an athletics stadium, into a football stadium. Chelsea achieved considerable success in the 1950s, but their real heyday came in the 1990s and 2000s. Under managers like José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea won numerous trophies, including multiple Premier League titles, FA Cups, and the UEFA Champions League.
But Chelsea is currently not doing so well in the Premier League. After 24 matches, they are in 10th place with only 34 points. In their last 5 matches, they had to surrender to their opponent twice.
There is also a Belgian at Chelsea. The young Roméo Lavia, 19 years old, was bought from Southampton for 68 million euros but has not yet recovered from his injuries. The last time Lavia started was on May 28 last year, the last match of last season’s league with Southampton against Liverpool. On December 27, he played half an hour in his debut for Chelsea, but he suffered another injury.
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