A look at the key duels in today’s game at the Etihad Stadium.Manchester City and Chelsea meet at the Etihad Stadium today for a crucial early-season encounter between two of the Premier League’s main title favourites.
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With these two superb sides coming head to head, CaughtOffside looks at the key battles between important members of each team, with so many world class players to contain and nullify throughout they key moments of the match.
The Blues currently look the form side, having made a superb start to the season with new signings Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas in particularly devastating form, while City have been a little slow starting the defence of their title, with slip-ups at home to Stoke City and away to Arsenal in recent games.
There will be need for Manuel Pellegrini’s men to improve defensively, and many of the key battles today will involve nullifying the threat of Chelsea’s superb attacking players.
1) Joe Hart vs Diego Costa
Joe Hart had a superb match for Manchester City against Bayern Munich in midweek, proving unfortunate to end up on the losing side as the Bavarian giants scored a late winner in their Champions League clash. With Chelsea in such hot attacking form and Diego Costa scoring freely, it could be up to Hart to contain the Blues and prevent their attacking players doing the damage when the chances come along for them.
2) Yaya Toure vs Cesc Fabregas
Two superb midfielders in Yaya Toure and Cesc Fabregas will come head to head in the middle of the park today, with Toure needing to use his physical advantage to full effect here to keep his opponent quiet. Although Fabregas is great at evading his marker, with Toure sometimes proving a little slack with his defensive duties, it could be a hard task for the Ivory Coast star.
3) Gael Clichy vs Andre Schurrle
A possible weak link at left-back for City, Chelsea winger Andre Schurrle could be a crucial player in Jose Mourinho’s side today, with the German needing to use his pace, dribbling and wing-play to full effect to give Chelsea a good attacking outlet. With City hard to break down in the middle, it will be the wide areas that the visitors will need to exploit.
4) David Silva vs Ramires
With Manchester City star David Silva among the smartest and most creative midfield players in the Premier League, Chelsea may use the more defensive minded and physical Ramires in their starting lineup today – with the simple task of marking the Spanish playmaker out of the game. The Brazilian international may not have much freedom to go forward, but he will have a job on his hands to shut out City’s main creative outlet.