Chelsea vs Man Utd Preview

We were rather unlucky with our Villarreal bet in midweek. David De Gea made a couple of fantastic saves to keep it at 0-0 but once Utd scored, there was only going to be one winner. De Gea may well have to be at his best again on Sunday at Stamford Bridge if his team are to avoid defeat. Chelsea vs Man Utd is the big match of the weekend and Tuchel’s Blues are 4/7 to get the win. Carrick’s (or is it Rangnick’s?) Utd are 11/2 and the stalemate is chalked up at 17/5. Hopefully we can end our poor run this weekend, preview and betting tip is below.

Chelsea

Unlike their opponents, things are going quite smoothly for Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel. The injury suffered by in form Ben Chilwell in midweek wasn’t ideal but his likely replacement Marcos Alonso isn’t much of a downgrade. More worryingly for Chelsea, Havertz, Kante and Kovacic are likely to miss out but Jorginho is available and Tuchel should be able to formulate a plan to cope with those absentees.

The Blues have looked like genuine title contenders for the majority of this season. Their only defeat came here vs Man City (0-1) and they were also below par in a 1-1 draw vs Burnley earlier this month. In their last EPL outing they dismantled Leicester at The King Power, winning 3-0. They swatted Juventus aside by four goals in midweek so they couldn’t be coming into this game in better form.

They’ll be up against a side that will most likely look to sit in and try to keep things tight, just like Juventus tried to do. Tuchel has plenty of tools he can use to unpick the Utd defence including  Mount, Ziyech, Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi and Werner. If a blunt instrument is required, they can also call on Lukaku who would be more than happy to get one over on his former employers. They have enough creativity up top to score, but will they be able to control the game without Kante and Kovacic in the engine room?

Man Utd

Ralf Rangnick is the latest man to be tasked with restoring Utd to former glories. He has a lot more credentials than the former manager and he has a stellar reputation in the game. Rangnick won’t be in charge for this match though so we’ll have to wait to see Ronaldo executing the gegenpress. Michael Carrick will be looking to sign off on his brief tenure with a win but this is a tough assignment.

Utd were outplayed in the first hour vs Villarreal in the Champions League. David De Gea made some superb saves to keep them in it and then Ronaldo hit the Spaniards with a sucker punch. Sancho added a second late on and Utd secured their place in the knockout stages. It was a much improved performance compared to what they produced vs Watford but against a more clinical side, the game would have been over at half time.

Utd will probably use the blueprint that Solskjaer utilised when winning twice against Man City in the Premier League last season. They’ll sit deep, try to soak up pressure and when they win the ball back they’ll counter. The question is whether they will be capable of keeping Chelsea at bay? Bailly and Lindelof will be starting at centre back, hardly a partnership that inspires confidence. If Fred is unfit too, Chelsea will fancy their chances of cutting open the Utd defence.

Chelsea vs Man Utd Possible Lineups

Chelsea: Mendy, Chalobah, Rudiger, Silva, James, Alonso, Jorginho, Mount, Ziyech, Hudson Odoi, Havertz.

Man Utd: De Gea, Telles, Bailly, Lindelof, Wan Bissaka, Fred, McTominay, Sancho, Van De Beek, Rashford, Ronaldo.

Chelsea vs Man Utd Betting Tip

Chelsea are odds on for this match but with both Kante and Kovacic missing, Utd will sense an opportunity. Their players will be keen to impress an onlooking Rangnick and they will have taken some confidence from their performance in the last 20 minutes vs Villarreal. Jadon Sancho could cause Alonso problems on the right and for all of his faults, Ronaldo is more than capable of nicking a goal.

Utd have their injury worries too and with Harry Maguire suspended and Varane (and possibly Shaw) injured, Bailly and Lindelof may well start at the back. Fred is 50/50 too after hurting his ankle in Spain so Chelsea will also fancy their chances of getting at this Utd defence. There should be goals today and Utd may just about be able to nick a point in a score draw. The draw and both teams to score makes most appeal at odds of 9/2.

Chelsea vs Man Utd Betting Tips: Draw/both teams to score @ 9/2

-DaveStevos