Man City vs Chelsea: Predictions, head-to-head and betting tips

Manchester City host Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening in a crucial Premier League clash as the race for a top-four finish intensifies. With both teams battling for Champions League spots, this encounter promises to be a thrilling showdown.

City and Chelsea meet for the first time since the opening day of the 2024/25 season when the Citizens claimed a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.

Having seen their title aspirations falter earlier in the campaign, Manchester City have now shifted their focus to securing a top-four finish. Their recent Premier League form is encouraging, with 10 points collected from their last four matches, including three wins and a draw. They have also scored 14 goals in this run, more than the 13 they managed in their previous 11 league games.

However, City come into this clash on the back of a disappointing 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, a result that leaves them on the brink of elimination from the competition. This setback might influence their performance as they aim to bounce back against Chelsea.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are eager to break their winless streak against City, having failed to secure a victory in their last 10 meetings across all competitions (D2, L8). The Blues currently sit outside the top four and will view this match as an opportunity to close the gap.

Head-to-Head
City are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League matches against Chelsea, winning five and drawing two since their 2-1 loss in May 2021.

Chelsea have kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 league visits to the Etihad, winning 1-0 in February 2014.

The Blues have failed to score in seven of their last 16 Premier League away games against City.

Predictions
City enter this match as favourites, but with a win probability of 46.3%, according to Opta supercomputer, Chelsea cannot be ruled out entirely. A draw is rated at 23.6%, while Chelsea’s chances of victory stand at 30.2%.

Notably, City have lost their last three Premier League matches played immediately after a European midweek game—a worrying trend they will aim to avoid continuing.

Betting Tips
Both Teams to Score: City’s defensive vulnerabilities, as seen against PSG, make this a likely outcome.
Over 2.5 Goals: Both teams have potent attacking threats.

Anytime Scorer: Erling Haaland remains a key figure for City and is likely to find the back of the net.