Manchester City vs Chelsea predictions: City’s tough week could be about to get worse

Daniel Childs

Spotlight

Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea held City to draws in both league fixtures this season

- Chelsea have won their last five FA Cup semi-finals
- Manchester City have not kept a clean sheet in their last five matches
- Recommended bet: Chelsea to qualify

Manchester City experienced the crushing blow of Champions League elimination on Wednesday and must attempt to pick themselves up for another high stakes match against Chelsea in the FA Cup.

Pep Guardiola’s side played some excellent football against Real Madrid and won the shot count 33 to eight but they were ultimately disappointed after Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic fluffed their lines in the penalty shootout.

City’s players looked bitterly disappointed but they must quickly refocus for what promises to be another demanding match.

Chelsea warmed up for the weekend with a crushing 6-0 Premier League win at home to Everton and are attempting to reach the final for a sixth time in eight seasons.

Team news

Manuel Akanji, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland need to be assessed after they were unable to complete Wednesday's Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

Pep Guardiola could be planning a few changes and has senior players Nathan Ake, John Stones, Jeremy Doku, Julian Alvarez and Mateo Kovacic pushing for recalls to the starting line-up.

Chelsea’s squad remains stretched with Reece James, Christopher Nkunku, Lesley Ugochukwu (all hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee) and Romeo Lavia (thigh) ruled out and Cesare Casadei cup-tied.

Raheem Sterling, Robert Sanchez (both illness), Axel Disasi, Enzo Fernandez (unspecified injuries) and Levi Colwill (toe) are doubts.

The stats

Pep Guardiola's defending champions have had little time to recover from their Champions League exit on Wednesday

Manchester City have not kept a clean sheet in their last five fixtures.

City are unbeaten in their last 28 games but four of their last eight have been draws.

Chelsea have won their last five FA Cup semi-finals.

The Blues are unbeaten in their last eight matches, an all have featured at least four goals.

The latest Manchester City vs Chelsea odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Chelsea have responded positively since their 1-0 extra-time loss to Liverpool in the EFL Cup final and they can reach another domestic showpiece by defeating Manchester City at Wembley.

It has been a largely frustrating season for the Blues, who have not been higher than ninth in the Premier League.

But Mauricio Pochettino’s side are on their longest unbeaten run (eight games) of the season and will be full of confidence after Monday’s 6-0 triumph over Everton.

The Blues will need another big performance to see off City, who have reached the final four for a sixth successive season.

However, City have had very little time to recover from their massive midweek setback and they could be heading for a second elimination in four days.

Back Chelsea to qualify at 2/1 with LiveScore Bet.