Chelsea fans are understandably concerned for their team’s chances this weekend as they welcome league leaders Manchester City to Stamford Bridge this season. Pep Guardiola’s side have scored three or more goals this season in nine matches already, that’s just one less than the games the Blues have managed to score a single goal in.
The Citizens are back to the summit of the league and in no mood to give up their place either after hammering in 15 goals in their past four games alone. In a week that has seen them progress to the Champions League knockout stages at the earliest possible opportunity there is just one more challenge before the international break.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men come into the game full of confidence themselves though after beating Tottenham 4-1 last time out. The issue is that Chelsea will be all too aware that a similar performance on Sunday and they might not be as lucky.
A piece of good news for the hosts is that the in-form Erling Haaland has never scored against Chelsea. Although the two sides met four times last season – Guardiola’s men winning 8-0 on aggregate – Haaland wasn’t one of those to get in on the action. On the flip side it may well make him hungry to change that fact this weekend.
The Norweigian has a little cloud hanging over him though after being taken off early against Bournemouth last week. City won the game 6-1 without needing an impact from their main man, a certain trepidation for Chelsea, but it did raise questions over his fitness.
“Twist in the ankle, we didn’t want to take risks with him, he didn’t feel comfortable,” Guardiola explained last week in reference to his No.9. “He’ll be back maybe Tuesday but maybe next Sunday. I didn’t speak with the doctors yet but we will see in the next days how it develops.”
Just like clockwork and Haaland did indeed return in midweek as City beat Swedish outfit Young Boys at the Etihad Stadium. Haaland got 60 minutes under his belt, scoring twice, before being rested for the final half an hour.
With the three shots he took he burried a penalty before putting gloss on the performance with a stunning strike from outside the box as well. Building up ahead of steam, perhaps?