The first 2023/24 FA Cup semi-final takes place on Saturday evening as Manchester City and Chelsea collide at Wembley.
The Cityzens enter the weekend’s contest having gone the distance with Real Madrid on Wednesday night. Their Champions League quarter-final went to penalties with the score 4-4 on aggregate, and former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger scored the winning spot-kick to send Madrid into the last four.
Alas, there will be no back-to-back treble for Pep Guardiola’s side.
While City enter the cup tie deflated, Chelsea head into it having secured their most emphatic victory of the Mauricio Pochettino era thus far. Cole Palmer once again dazzled, netting four goals in Chelsea’s 6-0 thumping of Everton on Monday night.
These two sides drew both of their Premier League meetings this term, with the Blues hoping for a brighter outcome on Saturday compared to their previous trip to Wembley where they were beaten in the Carabao Cup final by Liverpool’s ‘kids’.
Here’s 90min’s preview of this FA Cup semi-final.
Man City vs Chelsea H2H record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
Man City
Chelsea
Man City 1-1 (3-4p) Real Madrid – 17/04/24
Chelsea 6-0 Everton – 15/04/24
Man City 5-1 Luton Town – 13/04/24
Sheffield Utd 2-2 Chelsea – 07/04/24
Real Madrid 3-3 Man City – 09/04/24
Chelsea 4-3 Man Utd – 04/04/24
Crystal Palace 2-4 Man City – 06/04/24
Chelsea 2-2 Burnley – 30/03/24
Man City 4-1 Aston Villa – 03/04/24
Chelsea 4-2 Leicester – 17/03/24
Country
TV channel/live stream
United Kingdom
BBC Sport Web, BBC iPlayer, BBC One
United States
ESPN+
Canada
Sportsnet West, Sportsnet Now, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet World Now, Sportsnet Now Plus, Sportsnet World
City are unlikely to be bothered by injuries this weekend, but Guardiola will shuffle his pack after Wednesday’s ordeal with Real Madrid.
John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Julian Alvarez, and Jeremy Doku all came off the bench in midweek and are likely to make Saturday’s team.
Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis could also earn starts.
Man City predicted lineup vs Chelsea (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Akanji, Stones, Ake; Lewis, Rodri; Doku, Nunes, Foden, Grealish; Haaland.
Axel Disasi and Enzo Fernandez have both returned to training after missing Chelsea’s thumping on Everton. Both should return to Mauricio Pochettino’s XI at Wembley.
The Blues are still without Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, Levi Colwill and Lesley Ugochukwu, but Robert Sanchez and Raheem Sterling could return to the matchday squad after shaking off an illness.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Man City (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Disasi, Silva, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson.
Call us crazy, but we think Chelsea might be up to something here.
Man City have been here before, and their hectic schedule shouldn’t be a major issue, but Chelsea will reap the benefits of the extra rest, having not slogged it out with Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Guardiola will rotate, and there could be an avenue for the Blues, who have impressed against the big boys this season and taken four points away from City in the league, to win here. They seem to match up well with the Cityzens, with their recent duels highlighting that Chelsea can take on Guardiola’s side head-on (Stamford Bridge) and keep them at arm’s length (Etihad).
Perhaps the ex-City boys will inspire a memorable victory.
Prediction: Man City 1-2 Chelsea
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