Manchester City vs Chelsea Prediction: Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea – A closely contested draw is expected in this pre-season friendly, with both teams likely to experiment with tactics and lineups.
The Premier League giants Manchester City and Chelsea are set to face off in a high-profile friendly match at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. This pre-season clash will serve as crucial preparation for both sides ahead of the upcoming 2024/25 campaign.
Match Details
Date: August 3, 2024
Time: 9:30 PM ET / 2:30 AM BST (August 4)
Venue: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Match Preview
This friendly encounter serves as a dress rehearsal for the two teams’ Premier League opener on August 18. Both sides will be looking to fine-tune their tactics and assess player fitness levels.
Manchester City comes into this match on the back of a 2-2 draw with Barcelona, where they showed improvement after earlier pre-season losses. The Citizens will aim to build on that performance and regain their winning form.
Chelsea, meanwhile, secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Club America in their last outing. New signing Christopher Nkunku found the net, and manager Enzo Maresca will be eager to see continued progress from his squad.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola’s side will be without several key players due to international commitments. However, star striker Erling Haaland is expected to lead the line.
Predicted Manchester City Lineup (4-3-3):Phillips, O’Reilly, McAtee, Grealish, Wilson-Esbrand, Haaland, Ederson, Lewis, Bobb, Gvardiol, Kovacic
Chelsea
New signing Filip Jorgensen could make his full debut for the Blues after appearing as a substitute in their previous friendly. Enzo Fernandez is back with the squad but may start on the bench.
Predicted Chelsea Lineups (4-2-3-1): Sterling, Jorgensen, Madueke, Dewsbury-Hall, Nkunku, Lavia, Guiu, Chilwell, James, Adarabioyo, Fofana
Players Unavailable and Injury List
Manchester City:
International duty:
Kyle Walker
John Stones
Rodri
Phil Foden
Kevin De Bruyne
Bernardo Silva
Julian Alvarez
Injuries:
No major injuries reported
Chelsea:
International duty:
No players reported to be away on international duty
Injuries:
No major injuries reported, but the following players may face late fitness tests:
Enzo Fernandez (recently returned to the squad)
Wesley Fofana (potential cautionary rest)
New signings potentially making debuts:
Filip Jorgensen
Christopher Nkunku
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Note: Both teams may exercise caution with players who have recently returned from international commitments or those who are still building match fitness during pre-season.
Recent Form
Manchester City
- Drew 2-2 vs Barcelona (lost on penalties)
- Lost 3-2 vs AC Milan
- Lost 4-3 vs Celtic
Chelsea
- Won 3-0 vs Club America
- Lost 4-1 vs Celtic
- Drew 2-2 vs Wrexham
Head-to-Head Record
In their last five competitive meetings:
- Manchester City wins: 3
- Chelsea wins: 1
- Draws: 1
Players to Watch
Manchester City: Jack Grealish The English winger will be keen to impress and cement his place in the starting lineup for the upcoming season. His creativity and dribbling skills could pose a significant threat to Chelsea’s defense.
Chelsea: Christopher Nkunku The new signing has already opened his account for the Blues and will be looking to build on that performance. His link-up play with fellow attackers could be crucial in breaking down City’s backline.
Where to Watch
Here’s the Manchester City vs Chelsea Live Streaming and TV Schedule for some countries:
- USA: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+
- UK: CITY+
- Canada: CITY+
- Australia: CITY+, Paramount+
- Germany: CITY+
- France: CITY+
- Spain: CITY+
- Italy: CITY+
- Brazil: CITY+, Zapping, Claro TV+, Max, Sky+, Vivo Play, Space Brazil
- Japan: DAZN Japan, CITY+
Prediction
Given Manchester City’s absences and Chelsea’s recent positive result, this match could be a closely contested affair. Both teams will likely use this opportunity to experiment with tactics and give playing time to fringe players.
Predicted Score: Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea
This friendly clash promises to be an intriguing encounter between two of England’s top sides as they gear up for the new season. While the result may not be of utmost importance, both managers will be looking for encouraging signs from their squads as they fine-tune preparations for the upcoming campaign.
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