5 Key Battles – Manchester City vs Chelsea

Manchester City will collide against Chelsea on Sunday. The champions are perhaps out of the title race with 12 points deficit and will try to ensure that the visitors do not close gap for the second spot. Chelsea are currently 4 points behind City and will face a tough challenge at the Etihad Stadium.
Both managers, Mancini and Benitez have been under pressure lately due to the unsatisfactory performances and will look to avoid further disappointment. Soccerisma covers 5 key battles that can decide the outcome of the contest between City and Chelsea.

As Fernando Torres‘s horrendous form continues, Demba Ba will most likely lead the line for the Blues. El Nino registered another flop outing in Europa League so that perhaps ensures his exclusion from the starting eleven tomorrow.
Having said that, Ba has not been so prolific either, in 10 games he has only scored 3 times for Chelsea. Since his dream move, the Senegalese striker has only scored one goal in the league that came way back a month ago on 16th January. Kompany on the other hand is a brilliant defender, little inconsistent this season but in good form recently. Thus Ba has to come up with the form that made him a lethal striker with Newcastle to unsettle City’s captain.

Ivanovic did not take part in Europa League fixture versus Prague and may return to starting eleven in place of captain John Terry. The blues defender will have to come up against the ever threatening Sergio Aguero.
City have won last three games against Chelsea on home ground. If Chelsea want to change that stat then one of the main challenge will be for Ivanovic to stop little Argentine from scoring. The Serbian has to be on his toes to stop Aguero tomorrow.

Yaya Toure and Edin Hazard will be the major driving forces for both sides. Toure not only stabilizes the defense but when given green signal to attack, becomes a major threat to opposition. On the other hand, Hazard is in super form as well. Having scored a screamer against Prague in midweek, the Belgian’s confidence is sky high and we may witness an intriguing battle between him and the Ivorian Yaya Toure.

The battle between the two Spaniards will be an exciting one. Both maestros are the main source of trickery for their sides. Mata has saved Chelsea numerous times this season by setting up and scoring important goals. Silva has not been as brilliant as he was last season but still has the ability to unlock defenses with sublime passes. We will soon find out who comes out on top.

Two of the best goalkeepers in the world, but currently they are the ones not in top form as well. Hart, who was so brilliant last season, has been criticized heavily for his performances this season. Same way Cech was one of the main factors behind Chelsea’s champions league success but nowhere near his best now. Their performances on Sunday may as well influence heavily on the outcome of the fixture.