EPL 2015: Manchester City VS Chelsea: Can Mourinho beat Pellegrini?

Kick-Off: Sunday, 8:30pm (IST)

Chelsea will face a stern test when they travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday to face Manchester City. The title holders put up a less then impressive performance when they drew 2-2 with Swasnsea City on Matchday 1 and even had keeper Thibaut Courtois sent off. Manchester City came second to Chelsea when they lifted the title previous season. In a conference, Mourinho said that the match is of less importance as it is too early in the context of EPL, which goes on for around 10 months. But did show his eagerness to grab three points.

He said, “I cannot say it’s crucial, it’s decisive, or it’s very, very important, but it is two title contenders, and three points."

“If you can get three and your opponent zero it is important but for sure I am not going to say the game decides anything for the winner or anything for the loser.” he added.

Mourinho recently came under fire after he refused to allow team medic, Eva Carneiro, a seat on the bench for this encounter. Read, EPL 2015: Chelsea doctor, Eva carneiro set to lose place on bench after Mourinho criticism

Newly signed Falcao needs to show some form to get a place in the starting lineup ahead of prolific talisman Diego Costa. Eden Hazard too needs to get back to his best  form after a dismal performance against Swansea City. Asmir Begovic will have a lot to prove as he replaces the suspended Thibaut Courtois.

As for Manchester City, they will go all guns blazing post their 3-0 victory against West Brom. Sergio Aguero is expected to be match fit and be in the starting XI leading the attack. Yaya Toure, who starred in the opening fixture with a brace, is also match fit and will start in the midfield alongside David Silva and Raheem Sterling.

Sterling, their £49 million acquisition, had a quiet opening fixture but showed some signs of the form that made him the most expensive English player of all time.   He will also have to play well to keep a reputation for his price tag.

In pre-match conference, Manuel Pellegrini was all praise for Toure. "I always say Yaya is very important for us," Pellegrini said. "We can play without him, but it's better if he plays. Last season he went to the African Nations Cup and the team couldn't win in the same way." he said.

The previous encounter between these two teams at the Etihad Stadium was a memorable one. Frank Lampard came to the Etihad, not in a Chelsea but a City jersey. And he scored an equaliser for them just 5 minutes before time, to share one point each. Watch the highlights below.

 

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Nonetheless, the result of this fixture may prove to be important in the later stages of the season. Both teams will hope to secure all three points from this encounter.

Expected Starting XI-

Manchester City: Hart, Mangala, Kompany, Sagna, Kolarov, Sterling, Toure, Navas, Silva, Fernandinho, Aguero
Chelsea: Begovic, Ivanovic, Terry, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Oscar, Matic, Fabregas, Willian, Hazard, Diego Costa