Manchester City (-115) over Chelsea
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- City is unbeaten in their last nine competitive matches against Chelsea dating back to 2021.
- Even without Rodri, City is the deeper team here and should be able to get a win to start their season.
The biggest game in the first week of the Premier League season is easily Chelsea vs Manchester City. Both of these clubs have their sights set on accomplishing great things this year, as City looks to repeat as league champions while Chelsea aims to get back to the top of the mountain. Continue reading for our soccer betting picks for this massive matchup in England.
This match will be played at 11:30 AM ET at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
Chelsea
Last season, Chelsea finished sixth in the Premier League, which was another disappointing campaign for them. But they have a new manager this season, with Enzo Maresca taking over the club after leading Leicester City to the top of the Championship table and back to the Premier League last year. His first test is a daunting one as he gets to face Manchester City in his opening match as the Chelsea boss.
The key to this Chelsea vs Manchester City matchup for the home side will be aggressively attacking a weakened City midfield defense. Rodri being out for City is a pretty substantial blow for them and Chelsea have to take advantage of that. Whether or not they can do that remains to be seen, but the blueprint is clearly there for Chelsea to have success in this significant match to open their season.
Manchester City
Manchester City won the Premier League again last season, winning the league for the fourth straight year and the sixth time in seven seasons. Their latest title defense will begin with a tough fixture on the road against a Chelsea team that may not be at its absolute best but is still always a threat with the money they throw around to improve their squad. And without a key player in Rodri, the players who are on the pitch for City will need to be at their best to start this season with three points.
City’s attacking prowess is never really in question as they are always one of the top-scoring teams in the Premier League. But they will need to be solid at the back in this curtain-raiser to avoid giving up a goal or two that could see them drop points right from the beginning of the year. Having a competitive match in the Community Shield against Manchester United should have them ready for this game, but they will need to remain strong at the back to avoid a loss here.
