Manchester City travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday with a massive opportunity to reignite their title charge.
Arsenal’s surprise defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday handed Pep Guardiola’s men a significant opening. The Cityzens currently sit nine points behind the Gunners with two vital games in hand.
Confidence is surging after dominant domestic cup victories over Arsenal and Liverpool recently. Resultantly, City look ready to begin their traditional spring winning streak.
Chelsea are fighting their own battle as they chase a top-five finish. Liam Rosenior’s side recently hammered Port Vale 7–0 in the FA Cup. However, their league form remains a concern after four losses in five games.
The Blues sit narrowly outside the Champions League qualification spots. They enter this clash as underdogs despite holding home advantage in West London.
Chelsea vs Manchester City – Match preview and team news
- Date: Sunday, 12 April 2026
- Kick-off: 16:30 BST
- Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
- Referee: Chris Kavanagh
- VAR: Paul Howard
- Last Meeting: Manchester City 1–1 Chelsea (4 January 2026, Premier League)
Team news
Chelsea
Liam Rosenior faces a significant defensive crisis with several key players sidelined. Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, and Levi Colwill remain unavailable through injury. Enzo Fernández serves an internal suspension following comments about a potential transfer. Winger Mykhailo Mudryk is also out while awaiting a doping ban verdict. Furthermore, backup goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen and Jamie Gittens miss out due to fitness issues.
Manchester City
The visitors also navigate defensive absences as Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol are ruled out. John Stones is nearing a return but will likely sit out this fixture. Gianluigi Donnarumma returns between the posts after a rest in the domestic cups. Bernardo Silva is set to make his 297th Premier League appearance today. This milestone sets a new record for a Portuguese player in the competition.
Form
Chelsea W-L-L-L-L
Chelsea approach this fixture following a turbulent run of results. Before the break, the Blues suffered four straight defeats while conceding 12 goals. Their 0–3 loss at Everton particularly highlighted defensive fragilities. A recent 7–0 cup victory over Port Vale offered some relief.
However, the squad remains under immense pressure to perform against elite opposition. Marc Cucurella and Moisés Caicedo are both expected to return to the starting XI. Meanwhile, key attackers like Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto have been carefully managed for peak fitness.
Manchester City W-W-L-D-L
Manchester City arrive at Stamford Bridge in devastating form. Pep Guardiola’s side recently secured the EFL Cup before dismantling Liverpool in the FA Cup. They currently enjoy an eight-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League. The Cityzens consistently score at least twice per game during this impressive run.
Erling Haaland’s recent hat-trick against Liverpool confirms he has rediscovered his clinical edge. Furthermore, Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to return between the posts today. City appear to be hitting top gear at the most critical stage of the season.
Predicted lineups
Chelsea Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Fofana, Tosin, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Estêvão, Palmer, Neto; Pedro
Manchester City Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Silva; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
How to watch Chelsea vs Manchester City?
The match is live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Coverage begins at 16:00 BST.
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