Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images. Pictured: Manchester City standout Riyad Mahrez, second from left, celebrates his goal with teammates.
Manchester City vs. Chelsea Odds
| Manchester City Odds | -112 |
| Chelsea Odds | +330 |
| Draw | +250 |
| Over/Under | 2.5 (+120 / -148) |
| Day | Time | Saturday | 12:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBC |
| Odds updated Friday afternoon via DraftKings. | |
Trying to describe the situation heading into Saturday’s Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea is probably best done when comparing it to a night out at your favorite restaurant.
Sure, the French onion soup or Caesar salad are lovely starters. However, if you’re someone like me, just bring out the filet mignon or the perfect tomahawk chop. Bottom line, let’s get down to the real business at hand.
Unfortunately, we have to wait for the main course that is still three weeks away when these juggernauts square off in the Champions League final. The May 29 match, airing live simultaneously on CBS and Paramount+, is scheduled for a 3 p.m. ET kickoff at Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.
Manchester City, which will make its first appearance in the championship, is a heavy favorite against its counterpart that’s back in the title game for the third time. Chelsea won the UCL crown during its 2011-12 campaign.
Our Action Network soccer analysts will be providing detailed coverage, including in-depth analysis and featured selections, so keep an eye of out for stories and information leading up to this highly anticipated championship.
For now, let’s try to focus on things at hand and see if we can uncover any kind of value in this league contest.
Manchester City
You really have to wonder how manager Pep Guardiola is going to approach this fixture that will take place against a team it’s going to face in arguably the biggest match in his club’s history.
The Cityzens are coming off a convincing 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the week, with the soon-to-be EPL champions closing out their French counterparts by a 4-1 aggregate scoreline. Riyad Mahrez continued his torrid scoring tear, bagging a brace against the Parisians after scoring the game winner in the opening leg at Parc des Princes.
With its spot secured in the UCL finale, Manchester City must now focus on the task of finishing things off in England’s top flight. Guardiola’s men are 13 points clear of second-place Manchester United, which has a game in hand. Yet, even with one more contest to play, the Cityzens’ league title is essentially all but wrapped up and only missing a pretty bow.
Manchester City probably won’t show its hand too much in this affair, but it may have a little bit of revenge on its mind after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Chelsea in an FA Cup semifinal-round contest.
Chelsea
The Blues did what they had to in their midweek 2-0 victory over Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. Timo Werner and Mason Mount scored for Chelsea, which advanced to the UCL title game via a 3-1 aggregate result. The Blues dominated the battle on expected goals, holding a 2.9-0.4 edge in the second leg. Chelsea had a 1.9-0.3 xG advantage in the opening contest.
With its spot in the championship secure, the Blues must protect — and hopefully improve — their position in the league table. Chelsea sits in fourth place on 61 points, which is three better than West Ham United. Tottenham Hotspur (56 points) and defending champion Liverpool (54 points) are its closest competition in the race for a berth in next season’s UCL tournament.
Much like Manchester City, it will be interesting to see what kind of group Chelsea has on the pitch for this affair. The Blues have an extremely congested schedule the rest of the way, with no bottom feeders on their slate.
Games against the Cityzens are bookended by contests with Arsenal, two with Leicester City (one of which is the FA Cup final on May 15) and their season finale on the road against Aston Villa. That meeting at Villa Park could very well decide who earns the final Champions League spot.
Betting Analysis & Pick
Despite the star power on both rosters, I don’t expect a whole lot from either side at Etihad Stadium. I firmly believe we could see lineup adjustments and some regulars getting rest, so keep an eye on each club’s starting XI prior to making your wager.
Manchester City has the league title in hand, but Chelsea still has some work to do to guarantee its UCL future in next season’s competition. For that reason, I’ve found value on Chelsea via the Double Chance wager at -108 odds at DraftKings and will make it my top pick.
Even a point in this fixture would be huge for the Blues, especially with West Ham and others lurking behind them in the standings. Chelsea is unbeaten in 14 of its last 15 league games, which has me confident in this pick.
I will also sprinkle a little on the alternative total of 2.25 goals staying under the number in what should be another masterclass from two of the world’s best defenses. Chelsea has earned clean sheets in seven of its last nine league tilts, so I’m optimistic on this angle as well.
So, sit back and enjoy what should be a game void of much excitement and surprises, and get ready for the insanity three weeks from now in the most highly anticipated showdown of the season.
Pick: Double Chance — Chelsea or Tie (-108) | Total Under 2.25 Goals (-110)
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