Man City finished off last season with a bang, smashing in goals left, right, and centre—33 in their last nine games, to be precise! Meanwhile, betting on both teams to score would have paid off in four of Chelsea’s last six league matches. But it’s been a rough ride against City recently, with no wins in their last nine clashes and seven losses to mull over.
City’s kicking off their season with a trip to London, gunning for their fifth straight title after setting a record with four consecutive Premier League wins. Julian Alvarez might be on his way out, but Brazilian newcomer Savinho is stepping up, bringing his impressive tally from Girona last season right into City’s squad.
Chelsea? Well, it’s all change again. After bidding farewell to Pochettino, they’ve brought in Enzo Maresca, the guy who took Leicester to the top of the Championship. Big names like Thiago Silva and Romelu Lukaku are leaving, making room for new lads like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Pedro Neto, though it might take a while for the team to click.
Maresca’s got his work cut out, dealing with all these changes and trying to fill some big boots. Plus, he’s up against his old boss Pep Guardiola this Sunday, which adds a bit of spice to the mix.
Betting Bits and Bobs: Last season’s games between these two ended all square, but City nicked a win in the FA Cup semi-final back in April. They’re in stellar form, and Guardiola’s record in season openers is almost flawless. Chelsea, on the other hand, haven’t looked too sharp defensively, especially during their pre-season in the States.
With all the new faces and a shaky defence, Chelsea hosting the champs could be a tough start for Maresca’s men at the Bridge.
Man City to win at 5/6
