On August 18th at 23:30, Chelsea will host defending champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in a highly anticipated first-round matchup of the 24/25 Premier League season.
Manchester City once again showcased their remarkable ability to rally in the latter stages of last season, ultimately securing a record-breaking fourth consecutive title with 91 points, edging out Arsenal.
However, the Citizens have been surprisingly restrained in the summer transfer window, bringing in only Savio while reclaiming Perrone, James McAtee, and Cancelo. They have also parted ways with Alvarez, Yan Couto, and Phillips.
Youngster Oscar Bob was originally expected to fill the void left by Alvarez’s departure, but a fibula fracture sustained in training will sideline him for three to four months, further depleting City’s attacking options.
In preparation for the new season, Manchester City participated in four friendlies and one Community Shield match, securing only two wins in seven matches, with a 40% win rate. Notably, their sole victory in regulation time was a 4-2 triumph over Chelsea. It’s worth noting that City’s pre-season lineup was far from their full strength, primarily focused on regaining fitness and team cohesion. This makes their more relaxed approach understandable.
While Manchester City’s transfer activity has been conservative, Chelsea has taken a decidedly opposite approach. Under their new owner, the Blues have splashed out on a total of eight new players this summer, including Neto (€60 million), Deustbury-Hall (€35.4 million), Jonsson (€24.5 million), Kellyman (€22.5 million), Ansemilno (€16.5 million), Vega (€14 million), Willy (€10.1 million), and Mark Giou (€6 million), representing an investment exceeding €170 million.
Of course, Chelsea has also recouped nearly €100 million from the sale of Matson, Lewis Hall, and Omari Hutchinson, but the first-team squad is still overcrowded. Under new manager Maresca, Chelsea is still adapting to a possession-based style, and the team’s overall cohesion in both attack and defense is lacking. Their pre-season campaign yielded a meager 1 win, 2 draws, and 3 losses in six matches, with defeats to Celtic, Manchester City, and Real Madrid, and even a draw against lower-league side Wrexham.
Interestingly, Chelsea has a strong home record, achieving 8 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in their last 10 Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge. Conversely, Manchester City excels on the road, going undefeated in their last 10 away games, winning nine and drawing one. In their last nine official encounters, Manchester City holds a clear psychological edge with 7 wins and 2 draws.
However, their two Premier League clashes last season ended in draws, including a 4-4 stalemate at Stamford Bridge in the first leg.
Overall, Manchester City boasts a more balanced squad with a higher level of cohesiveness, while Chelsea is still a work in progress, requiring further refinement. Without a doubt, the Citizens hold a clear advantage.
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