Chelsea vs Manchester City Prediction: Cagey affair expected at the Bridge

Manchester City won the Community Shield last weekend despite not being at their best and that should give them confidence for when they visit Chelsea in their opening game of the new season.

The Blues have undergone yet more transition behind the scenes this summer and there will be plenty of pressure on Enzo Maresca straight away due to the money spent by the London club. Here we pick out the best bets for Sunday’s huge Premier League clash, which kicks off at 16:30.

Football Odds

Team news

Reece James, Dorde Petrovic and Omari Kellyman are all injury absentees while Conor Gallagher is nearing a move to Atletico Madrid so will not be involved.

Oscar Bobb has been ruled out with a broken leg while Rodri is a major doubt. The likes of Kyle Walker, Phil Foden and John Stones are unlikely to start as they are eased back into the starting line-up following Euro 2024. Jack Grealish has been passed fit however.

Match odds

Manchester City can be backed at 9/10 for the victory, while Chelsea are 11/4 outsiders and the draw is available at 3/1.

Over 2.5 goals is on offer at 8/15, while both teams to score is priced at 1/2 and it is 5/4 for over 1.5 goals in the first half.

Under 2.5 goals @ 11/8

Manchester City tend to start the season slowly and with many of their key players featuring in international football over the summer, they may not be at full strength for a while.

Pep Guardiola’s side will also have to deal with the seemingly unplanned departure of Julian Alvarez.

They played out a 1-1 draw with rivals Manchester United in the Community Shield before winning on penalties and it may take a little bit of time for them to click in the new campaign.

However with Chelsea’s big changes behind the scenes it’s not hard to presume that they will be disjointed too and this could be a cagey affair as a result.

Four of the last seven meetings between these two teams have gone under 2.5 goals and if the first few games of the new season are anything to go by, teams may take some time to come to the boil.

Take the big price about under 2.5 goals.

Erling Haaland to score at any time @ 19/20

Erling Haaland was one of the few players to get a full preseason at Manchester City with his Norway side not featuring at Euro 2024 and he will be fresh for this game.

Despite concerns about how he will fit into the Citizens’ style of play, Haaland remains a goal machine, netting 63 times in 64 league matches for Pep Guardiola’s side and he can add to that tally with perhaps a decisive strike on Sunday.

Offers

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Betfred are running their famed Double Delight & Hat-trick Heaven Pre-Match offer on this match, meaning that if a player scores first and then nets again, you will be paid at double the odds. If he grabs a hat-trick, you will be paid at treble the odds!

We are Top Price on either side to win in the SIX televised Premier League fixtures! (West Ham vs Aston Villa - available from 09:00 - 17:30).

Football Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.