Carlos Tevez – Chelsea v Manchester City
The FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley Stadium this weekend serves up two contrasting fixtures. Relegation contenders Wigan come up against Championship strugglers Millwall on Saturday while Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester City will battle it out in the second semi-final. Both sides have found some good form of late and boast recent victories against league leaders Manchester United. These sides have not met in the FA Cup since City travelled to Stamford Bridge in 1971 and won 3-0.
Chelsea booked their place in the semi-final with a Sixth Round replay win over Manchester United on Easter Monday. The Blues came back from 2-0 down in the first tie at Old Trafford last month to earn themselves the replay at Stamford Bridge against Sir Alex Ferguson’s men and a second-half strike from Demba Ba was enough to secure victory for Rafa Benitez and his squad in the second leg. The Blues have lost only one of their last six games, before playing their second leg Europa League match on Thursday, and have moved up to third in the Premier League.
Chelsea may not have been at their fluent best against Sunderland in their most recent match on Sunday, but the three points the Blues won could prove vital in their chase for a Champions League slot come the end of the season. After playing four games in nine days, the Blues did well to take all three points against a well-organised Black Cats side, especially after going behind through Cesar Azpilicueta’s own goal just before half-time. The arrival of Fernando Torres, who replaced the injured Demba Ba at half-time, proved to be the key to Chelsea’s victory.
The in-form Spaniard set up the Blues’ equaliser with a blistering run, and although there was an element of fortune about the goal—as, indeed, there was about Branislav Ivanovic’s winner—the home side probably just about deserved to take the honours. Petr Cech has been in remarkable form between the sticks. His save from United’s Javier Hernandez was reckoned by many observers to be the best in the FA Cup since Jim Montgomery’s in 1973 – an extraordinary piece of switchback reaction that defied all known laws of physics.
Manchester City ensured rivals Manchester United would have to wait a little longer to claim the Premier League title as they secured a hard-fought 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Monday night, though Sir Alex Ferguson’s team remain 12 points clear at the top. City took the lead through James Milner, whose powerful shot wormed its way past David de Gea, before a Vincent Kompany own goal restored equilibrium just minutes later.
But it was the away side who struck the decisive, final blow through substitute Sergio Aguero, whose vicious near-post effort rocketed into the top corner to earn Roberto Mancini’s side victory. City earned their semi-final spot with a 5-0 win against Championship side Barnsley last month. David Silva is out after picking up a hamstring injury late on during the win at Old Trafford. Sergio Aguero should be welcomed back into the starting line-up. City have been in solid form, winning five of their past six matches across two competitions, which includes a 2-0 league home win over Chelsea. Their most recent league result was a comprehensive 4-0 win over Newcastle United.
Chelsea have been in good form but most of that form is due to their home form as they are winless in their last six away matches. The Blues are also likely to be without striker Demba Ba and will have to rely on the unreliable Fernando Torres. City are unbeaten against Chelsea in the last four head-to-heads with three victories and one draw. Back City to build on their wins over Newcastle and Manchester United here.
