Chelsea v Manchester City Betting Tip Draw, 2016-04-16

Point apiece at Stamford Bridge

Premier League Tips

Saturday 16th April 2016 Kickoff 1715hrs
Chelsea v Manchester City
Football – Premier League – England

When the fixtures were announced last summer, you would have been expecting that a match between Chelsea and Manchester City played in the middle of April would have a huge bearing on where the league title would end up. However, in a season where it has been almost impossible to predict much, neither of the previous two winners of the Premier League have a chance of finishing top of the table. Instead, City will be looking to consolidate fourth spot whilst Chelsea, well Chelsea appear to be playing out their season with next to nothing left to play for.

This season will be remembered as something of a disaster for Chelsea following an awful first half of the campaign that resulted in Jose Mourinho being sacked before the turn of the year. His replacement, Guus Hiddink, appeared to be getting them back on the path to some semblance of their old selves but recent disappointing results has brought an end to any possible revival. Defeats to PSG in the last-16 of the Champions League and against Everton in the FA Cup during March were the final nails in their 2015/16 coffin as it took away any chance of them winning silverware this term. Without the focus of winning a trophy, Chelsea’s performances have noticeably tailed off in the league where they currently sit 10th. Hiddink suffered his first defeat in the league since taking over in December when the Blues went down 1-0 away to Swansea last week. It put paid to an lingering hopes of finishing sixth and qualifying for the Europa League so it will be interesting to see how the players react in the remaining games, especially as a new manager is set to arrive in July.

As disappointing as City’s league form has been, Manuel Pellegrini’s team continue to make their mark on Europe with progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League. By the time they take the field on Saturday evening City will know which one of Bayern Munich and the two Madrid sides they will face over two legs for a place in their first ever final. Friday’s draw is likely to be more important for all concerned at the clubs but there is still a fight on for fourth which they need to ensure they enter the same competition next season – that is if they do not go all the way this time around, of course. Tuesday’s win over PSG was more than deserved, and they could even afford to miss a first-half penalty, but it’s likely they will have to up their performance level in the next stage. A surprisingly lacklustre display from their opponents helped matters but the other three clubs left in the draw will want to face City who are very much novices in the latter stages of this competition. Focus has to switch back to domestic matters first, however, as they look to fend off the challenge of rivals Manchester United for the final Champions League spot.

Hiddink has used Chelsea’s more recent league games to give more experience to some of the younger members of the squad, something the supporters have been demanding for a while now. It was something that Mourinho was reluctant to do but under the current circumstances – and with nothing other than pride to play for now – it is only right that the likes of Kenedy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Bertrand Traore are given an opportunity. The Dutch interim coach has little to looks, of course, as he will depart Stamford Bridge when the season finishes ahead of Antonio Conte taking permanent charge. The former Juventus and current Italy head coach is an exciting appointment and if half of the rumours of the players being linked with the club are true, it could be something of a revolution at the club, which may not be a bad thing. There’s no question that a number of Chelsea’s established stars are in a comfort zone and that will need to change if Conte is to get them challenging for the league title and eventually in Europe.

Pellegrini has suggested that captain Vincent Kompany could return to the starting line-up on Saturday and that would be a timely boost for City as they prepare for the Champions League semi-finals. It’s also likely that Yaya Toure will be in the starting eleven having had to settle for a couple of substitute appearances last week as he bids to get back to full fitness. Last weekend results when City edged past West Brom and United were convincingly beaten by Spurs means the gap between the two Manchester clubs is four points with six games remaining – West Ham are a further point back. Fourth spot is certainly City’s to lose but considering the inconsistencies that have blighted their domestic season, nothing can be taken for granted. A result on Saturday would go some way to securing fourth, though.

Chelsea v Manchester City Betting Tips

Having been drawn against each other in the FA Cup earlier in the season, Chelsea have faced City twice this term and the record stands at one win apiece. A comprehensive 3-0 success at the Etihad in the previous league meeting for City was trumped by a 5-1 reverse at Stamford Bridge in February. The most recent meeting was overshadowed by Pellegrini opting to field a weakened team ahead of a Champions League game, and although they were roundly beaten in the cup, the decision appears to have been right considering their success in Europe.

The nine goals shared in both games this season is something of a surprise as there has only been 10 goals in the five previous meetings. I expect that we will see a much closer encounter on Saturday but it’s difficult to predict how both teams will line-up which makes selecting a bet that bit more difficult. Both meetings last season ended in 1-1 draws and it would not be the most surprising if that’s the outcome again. With Chelsea having little to play for and counting the games down until the end of the season, and City knowing a point is probably a decent result all things considered (not to mention their main priority being the Champions league) both sides could well settle for a draw in a game that will have an end-of-season feel to it.

Draw 28/11 @ Marathonbet