Chelsea vs Manchester United: Preview and Prediction

Chelsea vs Manchester United
England Premier League.
Date: Sunday 23rd October, 2016
Kick-off: 16:00 UK.
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea host Manchester united in what is definitely the biggest match of this weekend English Premier League. Beside the new age rivalry between these two sides, the occasion also marks the return of Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge for the first time since he was sacked as the head-coach earlier this year.

Chelsea enjoyed a 3-0 ride over defending champions last weekend to make it 2 league wins in 2 consecutive league games. The blues will be playing their 5th home game of the season, having won 3 out of their first 4 games played at the bridge. However, Conte’s men will be hoping they get 3 points in this one, so as to back their intent of a title hope. The blues sits 5th on the log with 16 points from 8 games.

Manchester united played a boring draw Liverpool at the Anfield stadium last game day. Since their 3-1 loss to Watford, the reds have gone 3 league games undefeated and 6 competitive games undefeated. Moreover, Jose Mourinho’s men have enjoyed a 4-1 ride over Fenerbahce during their mid-week Europa game, which could be a moral boaster or probable a fatigue point for the red going into this one. Furthermore, Manchester united sits 7th on the log with 14 points from 8 games.

Key Facts

Chelsea enjoys 2 consecutive league victories, and have lost one of their first 4 league games played at home.

Manchester united currently maintains 6 games unbeaten run in 6 consecutive games in all competition. Manchester united has 2 wins in their first 4 games played this season.

Both sides played a boring draw in their two legged meetings last season. However, Chelsea has 3 wins in their last 10 encounter with the reds, compared to United 2 in same 10 encounter.

Chelsea: Predicted Line-Up (3-4-3)

Courtois: Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahil: Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso: Pedro, Costa, Hazard.

Manchester United: Predicted Line-Up (4-2-3-1)

De Gea: Blind, Smalling, Bailly, Valencia: Fellaini, Herrera- Mata, Pogba, Rashford: Ibrahimovic.

Chelsea vs Manchester United: Prediction

The games between Chelsea and Manchester United were also too tight to call. Both sides are also blessed by the presence of two excellent tacticians in Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho. So we can expect another cagey encounter just as we have seen in the matchday 8 clash between Liverpool and Man United.

As we take a closer look at the stats, 4 of the last 6 meetings between these two sides were draws. And only one of the last 8 meetings between these two sides have seen over 2.5 goals. These are all signs of this contest to be another tight one. At the same time a double chance on Chelsea to win or draw will be beneficial, as they haven’t lost to United both home and away since 2012.