Chelsea are looking to extend their winning streak to five matches when they meet newly-promoted Cardiff at Stamford Bridge in London on Saturday. The two teams have not met since the 2013-2014 season, when the Blues defeated Cardiff 4-1 at home and 2-1 away as they got relegated to the Championship. Chelsea have won the last three direct matches, the only direct matches after the year 2000, but some Cardiff fans might still remember that their team defeated Chelsea 2-1 in the League Cup in 1986.
Chelsea had a perfect start to the Premier League season, with four wins out of four matches and a healthy ten goals scored. They have conceded three goals, though, two of them in the 3-2 derby victory against Arsenal. Before the international break the Blues defeated Bournemouth 2-0 at Stamford Bridge with goals from Pedro and Eden Hazard. Head coach Maurizio Sarri will most likely choose to field the same starting eleven as Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas is his only injury concern ahead of this match.
Cardiff are struggling to adjust to life in the Premier league, they have not won any matches in any competitions so far this season but they have grabbed two draws out of their four league matches. They also got knocked out of the League Cup before the international break, they lost 3-1 at home to Norwich just a few days before losing 3-2 against Arsenal in the Premier League. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Aron Gunnarsson are injured and won't be able to play on Saturday, but Josh Murphy might recover in time.
Probable line-ups:
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga - Azpilicueta, Luiz, Rudiger, Alonso - Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic - Pedro, Morata, Hazard
Cardiff: Etheridge - Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett - Camarasa, Arter, Ralls, Hoilett - Ward, Zohore
My prediction: Chelsea to win 2-0, the Blues are superior and Cardiff won't be able to handle them.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Chelsea win - 1.18
Draw - 8.00
Cardiff win - 19.00
Your feedback
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
