HONOURS even the call in game between Man City and Chelsea

It is probably too early to call the meeting between Man City and Chelsea at the Etihad on Monday night (20:00, SKY SPORTS) a title decider though it will be a massive morale boost for the side who come out on top.

Bookmakers make Man City the 20/23 (boylesports/888 SPORT/unibet) favourites for the game as they look to continue a remarkable run of home form that has seen them win 19 and lose just one of their last 21 Barclays Premier League games in front of their own fans.

Chelsea though have lost on their last four visits to the Etihad but can take comfort from the fact that no side has won more away games at City in Premier League history than the Blues and they can be backed at 18/5 (BETVICTOR) to come out on top here. The London side are themselves in great form with no defeat in their last 12, winning nine of these.

The result I like the look of is the draw as I think Jose Mourinho will send his side up to frustrate Man City and with Sergio Ageuro absent the speed of attack might not be quite so strong for the Citizens. Chelsea have played seven times against top seven sides this season and have only lost once. They have already beaten Man City 2-1 this season at their own ground while they have managed draws at Old Trafford, the Emirates and White Hart Lane and with Bayern Munich in the UEFA Super Cup. I think then it has to be worth a little interest on the draw at 11/4 (GENERAL) while this bet I always like to cover with a saver of the winning margin being one goal for either side at evens with betway.

Alvaro Negredo is a 9/2 (GENERAL) chance to grab the opening goal and 7/5 (SPREADEX) to net at anytime and the Spaniard has scored 16 goals in his last 13 competitive games at the Etihad. Edin Dzeko has scored in the last three Premier League games and is 2/1 (STAN JAMES/SPREADEX) to score anytime and to score first is a 13/2 (sportingbet/BETVICTOR/SPREADEX) shot. Those looking for a Chelsea scorer can get Eden Hazard as big as 5/1 (CORAL) to score at anytime. I think it has to be worth a little interest on no goalscorer in the game at 13/1 (betway) despite the astonishing goalscoring record that Man City have. Chelsea will keep things super tight at the back and have already kept clean sheets at Old Trafford and the Emirates this season. True, the City defence is the best that they will have faced all season, then again the Chelsea defence is the best City will have faced all season. Mourinho, as boss of Real Madrid, will have developed tactics for dealing with juggernaut attacks and you can expect the London side to park the bus, the tractor, the van and all the machines that they can get.

If the no goalscorer bet is value then it goes without saying the under 2.5 goals at 11/10 (GENERAL) has to be worth a bet also. The Blues have played away to five of the top eight teams this season (Man City, Liverpool and obviously themselves are the sides they have not faced) and these five games have produced a total of just five goals.

Also one last value bet I want to recommend comes in the man of the match markets where I think the game is one that will benefit the Blues centre-back duo of John Terry and Gary Cahill. Terry is 16/1 (GENERAL) while Cahill is a remarkable 25/1 (betfred/BETVICTOR/ladbrokes).

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Game between Man City and Chelsea to end drawn, 11/4 (GENERAL) SAVER: Winning margin of game to be one goal, evens (betway)
SILVER: Under 2,5 goals between Man City and Chelsea, 11/10 (GENERAL)
BRONZE: No goalscorer between Man City and Chelsea, 13/1 (BETWAY) VALUE 1: John Terry man of the match, 16/1 (GENERAL) VALUE 2: Gary Cahill man of the match, 25/1 (betfred/BETVICTOR/ladbrokes)

Go To bet365

#Ad

03/02/2014     © Frixo 2026