Chelsea and Manchester City lock horns as soon as extra on Sunday, however this time it’s the latter who’re at house and the FA Cup third spherical is the battle floor.
Pep Guardiola’s staff emerged 1-0 victors from the match at Stamford Bridge on Thursday however there may very well be loads of modifications to each lineups this time round as they stability being aggressive on a number of fronts.
Chelsea have reached the FA Cup ultimate in every of the final three seasons however have improbably ended on the dropping facet in every one, following defeat to Liverpool on penalties final time period. Prior to that that they had misplaced to Arsenal in 2020 and Leicester in ‘21.
City’s final triumph within the competitors got here they 12 months earlier than the Blues’ current run to Wembley, after they hammered Watford 6-0 in 2019.
Here’s every thing you have to know earlier than the sport.
When is the match?
Man City host Chelsea within the FA Cup on Sunday 8 January, with kick-off set for 4:30pm GMT.
Where can I watch?
This match is scheduled for broadcast on BBC One. It could be broadcast by way of the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport desktop web site.
What is the staff information?
Ruben Dias is the one main absentee for the hosts, although Aymeric Laporte may additionally miss out. Pep Guardiola is more likely to rotate from his final league lineup so the likes of Rico Lewis, Cole Palmer and Stefan Ortega ought to begin, in addition to World Cup winner Julian Alvarez.
For Chelsea, long-term absentees Armando Broja, N’Golo Kante and Reece James are nonetheless out, whereas each Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic went off injured in midweek. Wes Fofana is one other doubt however Carney Chukwuemeka may come into the staff. New signing Benoit Badiashile may make his debut at some stage.
Predicted line-ups
MCI – Ortega, Lewis, Stones, Ake, Gomez, Rodri, Gundogan, Palmer, Mahrez, Alvarez, Foden
CHE – Kepa, Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Koulibaly, Cucurella, Zakaria, Jorginho, Ziyech, Mount, Chukwuemeka, Aubameyang
Odds
City 3/8
Draw 23/5
Chelsea 8/1
Prediction
City to make it two wins from two in opposition to the Blues and depart extra questions for the brand new Stamford Bridge boss to reply. Man City 2-1 Chelsea.
