The penultimate game to be played in the FA Cup this weekend is between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
The match will be played on the 8th of January and the hosts are currently second in the Premier League while the visitors are in 10th place.
.@Mahrez22's match-winning moment! ✨ pic.twitter.com/1AyZT61A7M— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 6, 2023
.@Mahrez22's match-winning moment! ✨ pic.twitter.com/1AyZT61A7M
Manchester City come into the game on the back of a 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Premier League on Thursday night.
Pep Guardiola’s team were poor by their own high standards in the first half but some changes saw them take control in the second period and they scored the only goal of the game in the 63rd minute.
That result means Manchester City are undefeated in 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions and in each of their 4 fixtures following the World Cup.
There have been wins over Leeds United and Chelsea away in the Premier League plus Liverpool at home in the League Cup. In their most recent home match, Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton.
Manchester City have won 8 of their last 10 FA Cup games and 4 of their last 5 matches in the competition. The Citizens have won each of their last 10 home FA Cup ties and they have scored 3 or more goals in 9 of their 10 most recent wins on home soil.
Chelsea travel to the Etihad Stadium having lost 1-0 at home to Manchester City in the Premier League on Thursday. The Blues will feel they should taken the lead in the first half but Manchester City were much the better team in the second half and scored the only goal of the game.
Chelsea are on a poor run of form by their usual standards and have recorded only 1 win from their last 6 competitive fixtures.
The victory came at home against Bournemouth but there have been defeats against Arsenal, Newcastle United, and Manchester City in the Premier League.
Chelsea were eliminated from the League Cup by Manchester City and were held to a draw at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Chelsea reached the final of the FA Cup last season but lost on penalties to Liverpool.
They have won 10 of their last 12 FA Cup matches, including each of their last 3 on the road. Chelsea have scored at least one goal in each of their last 8 away FA Cup games.
Team news and Manchester City are without injured central defender Ruben Dias. There are doubts over the fitness of Aymeric Laporte and Guardiola may choose to play some of his younger players.
Chelsea have injuries building up with Armando Broja, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, and Ngolo Kante unavailable. Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic are doubts having been withdrawn on Thursday.
Manchester City have already beat Chelsea twice this season and will be confident of making it three.
This could be an entertaining game, with both teams scoring but form suggests Manchester City will win the match, with over 2.5 goals scored.