On the first matchday of the new Premier League season, there’s already a top match on the schedule: reigning champions Manchester City will visit Chelsea on Sunday, August 18. This marks the beginning of Manchester City’s quest for a fifth consecutive title. Chelsea, on the other hand, is eager to improve on last year’s performance when they narrowly secured a European spot. Read all about this exciting and intriguing clash in this article.
Chelsea vs. Manchester City
These teams have rarely faced each other in European competitions. One of the most famous encounters was the 2021 Champions League final. Chelsea emerged victorious in Porto with a 1-0 win, thanks to a goal from Kai Havertz, who now plays for Arsenal. Before that, the two teams had only met once in European competition, back in 1971, when Chelsea won the European Cup Winners’ Cup semifinals 1-0.
This year, the clubs met during the preseason: on August 3, they played a friendly match at Ohio Stadium in the United States. The game ended in a 4-2 victory for Manchester City. The standout player for the Cityzens, scoring three goals, was Erling Braut Haaland. The young Norwegian was also City’s key player last season, with 38 goals.
Another young player to watch in this duel is Cole Palmer. A product of Manchester City’s youth academy, Palmer was transferred to Chelsea, where he had an outstanding season. Last year, he scored 25 goals for Chelsea, making a statement to his former coach, Pep Guardiola.
Chelsea FC
This London club was founded in 1905 by Gus Mears, who transformed Stamford Bridge from an athletics stadium into a football stadium. Chelsea enjoyed significant success in the 1950s, but their most successful era was in the 1990s and 2000s. With managers like José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea won numerous trophies, including several Premier League titles, FA Cups, and the UEFA Champions League.
Former coach Mauricio Pochettino was replaced this summer by Italian Enzo Maresca. Pochettino left Stamford Bridge after just one year, having led Chelsea to sixth place in the Premier League. Maresca, who was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City until the 2023-2024 season, moved to Leicester before making his way to London this year.
As mentioned earlier, Cole Palmer was one of Chelsea’s key players. The English forward scored 25 goals across all competitions. He is followed by Nicolas Jackson with 17 goals and Raheem Sterling with 10 goals. Other notable players in the team include Marc Cucurella, Conor Gallagher, Marc Guiu, and Roméo Lavia. You may have heard of Lavia: the Belgian was highly anticipated when he was signed by Chelsea, but due to injuries, he hasn’t had much of a chance to shine yet.
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 games at the Etihad Stadium in East Manchester. Two years ago, City won the Champions League, Super Cup, and Club World Cup, securing an international treble.
Pep Guardiola’s achievements with Manchester City are undoubtedly impressive. He began his coaching career at top club FC Barcelona, where he became the most successful head coach in the club’s history. After a stint in Munich, he joined Manchester City in 2016. Guardiola became only the sixth footballer to win the Champions League both as a player and as a coach, and he shares the record for the most Super Cup titles with Carlo Ancelotti. He also holds the record alone for four Club World Cup titles.
City boasts a world-famous squad, featuring top internationals like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Kyle Walker. Among these big names are also two Belgians: Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku. Kevin De Bruyne made a fantastic comeback after his injury. After nearly four and a half months of rest following hamstring surgery, De Bruyne returned with some brilliant assists.
Magic Betting Live
Want to make this match even more thrilling? Check out the Magic Betting App or visit the website www.magicbetting.be for the best online sports betting. Be sure to check out the various promotional offers. Take your chance and win!
