The primary 2023/24 FA Cup semi-final takes place on Saturday night as Manchester Metropolis and Chelsea collide at Wembley.
The Cityzens enter the weekend’s contest having gone the gap with Actual Madrid on Wednesday evening. Their Champions League quarter-final went to penalties with the rating 4-4 on combination, and former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger scored the successful spot-kick to ship Madrid into the final 4.
Alas, there will probably be no back-to-back treble for Pep Guardiola’s aspect.
Whereas Metropolis enter the cup tie deflated, Chelsea head into it having secured their most emphatic victory of the Mauricio Pochettino period to this point. Cole Palmer as soon as once more dazzled, netting 4 targets in Chelsea’s 6-0 thumping of Everton on Monday evening.
These two sides drew each of their Premier League conferences this time period, with the Blues hoping for a brighter end result on Saturday in comparison with their earlier journey to Wembley the place they have been crushed within the Carabao Cup ultimate by Liverpool’s ‘youngsters’.
Here is 90min’s preview of this FA Cup semi-final.
Man Metropolis vs Chelsea H2H document (Final 5 Video games)
Present type (all competitions)
|
Man Metropolis |
Chelsea |
|---|---|
|
Man Metropolis 1-1 (3-4p) Actual Madrid – 17/04/24 |
Chelsea 6-0 Everton – 15/04/24 |
|
Man Metropolis 5-1 Luton City – 13/04/24 |
Sheffield Utd 2-2 Chelsea – 07/04/24 |
|
Actual Madrid 3-3 Man Metropolis – 09/04/24 |
Chelsea 4-3 Man Utd – 04/04/24 |
|
Crystal Palace 2-4 Man Metropolis – 06/04/24 |
Chelsea 2-2 Burnley – 30/03/24 |
|
Man Metropolis 4-1 Aston Villa – 03/04/24 |
Chelsea 4-2 Leicester – 17/03/24 |
|
Nation |
TV channel/stay stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
BBC Sport Net, BBC iPlayer, BBC One |
|
United States |
ESPN+ |
|
Canada |
Sportsnet West, Sportsnet Now, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet World Now, Sportsnet Now Plus, Sportsnet World |
Metropolis are unlikely to be bothered by accidents this weekend, however Guardiola will shuffle his pack after Wednesday’s ordeal with Actual Madrid.
John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Julian Alvarez, and Jeremy Doku all got here off the bench in midweek and are more likely to make Saturday’s group.
Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis might additionally earn begins.
Man Metropolis predicted lineup vs Chelsea (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Akanji, Stones, Ake; Lewis, Rodri; Doku, Nunes, Foden, Grealish; Haaland.
Axel Disasi and Enzo Fernandez have each returned to coaching after lacking Chelsea’s thumping on Everton. Each ought to return to Mauricio Pochettino’s XI at Wembley.
The Blues are nonetheless with out Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, Levi Colwill and Lesley Ugochukwu, however Robert Sanchez and Raheem Sterling might return to the matchday squad after shaking off an sickness.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Man Metropolis (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Disasi, Silva, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson.
Name us loopy, however we expect Chelsea is perhaps as much as one thing right here.
Man Metropolis have been right here earlier than, and their hectic schedule should not be a significant challenge, however Chelsea will reap the advantages of the additional relaxation, having not slogged it out with Actual Madrid on Wednesday.
Guardiola will rotate, and there may very well be an avenue for the Blues, who’ve impressed towards the massive boys this season and brought 4 factors away from Metropolis within the league, to win right here. They appear to match up effectively with the Cityzens, with their current duels highlighting that Chelsea can tackle Guardiola’s aspect head-on (Stamford Bridge) and maintain them at arm’s size (Etihad).
Maybe the ex-Metropolis boys will encourage a memorable victory.
Prediction: Man Metropolis 1-2 Chelsea
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