On Saturday afternoon, at the Etihad, Manchester City and Chelsea will take to the field for a Premier League match, but we are certain that many fans will not be thinking mainly about these ninety minutes, which are still worth a lot in terms of participation in the next Champions League, but rather about another ninety minutes, inherent to this Champions League in progress, played by the Citizens during the week and concluded with a very hard 4-2 suffered by PSG at the Parc des Princes. The umpteenth away nosedive of Manchester City this season and the concrete risk of elimination from the top European competition will not be able to dwell in the heads and legs of Guardiola's men if they want to get points against a Chelsea that has rediscovered its smile in the Premier League with the latest 3-1 over Wolves. To understand if the Blues have actually returned to good levels of play and intensity, therefore, the test in Manchester seems to be just the right one for a team that, despite the understandable decline, still remains a bright spot in this Premier League. However, based on the numbers and the standings, in the event of a defeat, the momentary judgment on Chelsea's championship would be lowered a bit because it would imply a fifth place, which until recently was difficult to predict for the Londoners. There is certainly no shortage of reasons for interest in this match, even though it is a match that is "only" worth the fourth position in the Premier League and this, looking at the names of the two teams and remembering the Champions League final played by the two teams four years ago, perhaps clashes a bit.

Manchester City's shape and key statistics

It is therefore impossible not to start from the 4-2 defeat in Paris to describe the moment of Manchester City that, suddenly, returns gloomy and dark when just when a recovery was seen.

According to the championship, however, this recovery is there and is the result of 3 wins and 1 draw in the last 4. The fact that it is played at the Etihad, for Manchester City this season has a great weight given that only 2 of the 10 seasonal defeats of the Citizens have come at home.

What works, however, both at home and away (just as the Champions League match highlighted) is the attack that, in the Premier League, is second only to that of Liverpool with 44 goals in 22 matches that make a perfect average of 2 goals per game.

Chelsea'shape and key statistics

The 3-1 winning against Wolves has brought serenity back to the blue London after a dull period. For Chelsea, now, the victories in the league are 11, to which are added 7 draws and 4 defeats. The fourth position in the league remains positive as well as the box of goals scored by the Blues: 44 exactly like those of Manchester City.

Away from Stamford Bridge, Chelsea lost only 1 of the last 9 games played, the one at Portman Road against Ipswich, the very one in which Manchester City recently won 0-6.

Match Prediction and Tactical Overview

In predicting the outcome of the match, the approach of the Manchester City players will be very important. On the one hand, they should be stimulated by the big match and the fact that fourth place is being played, but on the other hand, they could still be thinking about the Paris debacle. Chelsea, however, won against Wolves but away from home, it substantially failed in the last three not prohibitive away games, therefore, the BetMines algorithm prediction favors Manchester City.

• The BetMines algorithm prediction for the Manchester City – Chelsea match predicts the 1 sign at 61%
  The BetMines algorithm prediction for the Manchester City – Chelsea match predicts the X sign at 19%
  The BetMines algorithm prediction for the Manchester City – Chelsea match predicts the 2 sign at 20%

Manchester City – Chelsea predicted lineups

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Khusanov, Akanji, Gvardiol, Lewis; Kovacic, Gundogan; Grealish, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland. All: Guardiola.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Dewsbury - Hall; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson. All: Maresca.