The Citizens from Manchester will host Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in today’s evening game in the Premier League. Manchester City lost to Paris Saint Germain in the Champions league midweek. This game is important regarding the Champion League spots for next season
The Citizens currently sit at the 5th position in the Premier League table. City had a rough stretch of games in mid december, but are back on track as for now. They are 12 points behind the leaders Liverpool and they have won four out of their last five games in the Premiership. City took really good care of Ipswich last weekend with a huge win away at Portman Road (6-0). They lost to Paris SG, 2-4, away in the CL midweek.
The near future will be decisive for the Citizens, both in the PL and the CL. City has still not secured a spot in the knockout phase of the Champions League. They will square up against teams like Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham and Arsenal in the Premiership. So they have some crucial games ahead of them. If City fails to be in the knockout chase of the CL this spring and not qualify for the competition next season that would be a huge disappointment for everybody involved.
Chelsea are just two points ahead of Manchester City in the standings currently. and ten points behind Liverpool at the top of the table. Chelsea had a big win vs Wolves Monday night after not winning for a five game stretch. The Blues just collected a total of three points in that stretch of five games. The biggest priority for Chelsea and their manager, Enzo Maresca, this season is to qualify for the Champions League the upcoming season. Chelsea is playing in the not so prestigious Conference league this season. Chelsea have not beaten City in their last ten games they have played.
Ruben Dias is out for the Citizens. So is Nahan Ake, Oscar Bobb, Rodri and Jeremy Docu. Kyle Walker left the club for AC Milan this week. As far as Chelsea goes Wesley Fofana will miss the action at the Etihad. So wil Mudryk, Badiashile, Lavia and Fernandez.
Man City: Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Bernardo; Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Dewsbury-Hall, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
