Fresh off massive 7-0 and 4-0 FA Cup wins, Chelsea vs Man City collide at Stamford Bridge. Get the latest injury updates, H2H stats, and predicted XIs.
Chelsea vs Manchester City is undeniably the marquee fixture of Premier League Matchday 32 in the 2025/26 season.
Both heavyweights march into this weekend’s blockbuster clash riding the immense momentum of emphatic FA Cup victories. Liam Rosenior’s Blues successfully boosted their morale by ruthlessly dismantling lower-league side Port Vale 7-0. However, Pep Guardiola’s men delivered an even louder statement of intent, obliterating title rivals Liverpool 4-0, spearheaded by a lethal Erling Haaland hat-trick.
Ahead the fixture, Chelsea are desperate to secure all three points to keep their fading top-five aspirations alive. Conversely, City knows that anything less than a victory could prove fatal in their mission to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal in the title race.
Truth be told, Chelsea’s domestic form has been concerning, with the team managing just a single victory in their last six Premier League outings. Compounding this challenge is a daunting psychological hurdle: the Blues have failed to register a single win against Manchester City in their last 11 head-to-head encounters.
The ultimate question now hanging over West London is this: can the fortress-like atmosphere of Stamford Bridge provide the spark Liam Rosenior’s men need to shatter the curse and take down Guardiola’s juggernaut?
Match Details
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Fixture: Chelsea vs Manchester City
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Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026
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Kick-off Time: 16:30 BST
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Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
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Competition: Premier League (Matchday 32)
Team News
⚪ Chelsea Team News: The Blues are dealing with significant absences in the middle of the park, heavily impacting their tactical setup.
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Suspensions: Vice-captain Enzo Fernandez is officially ruled out. He is serving a club-imposed two-game suspension following controversial comments made regarding a potential move to Real Madrid.
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Injuries: The treatment room remains crowded, with long-term absentees like Levi Colwill (cruciate ligament tear), Trevoh Chalobah (ankle), Caleb Wiley (adductor), Jamie Gittens (hamstring), Filip Jorgensen (groin surgery), Reece James (hamstring) still unavailable.
⚪ Manchester City Team News: Pep Guardiola’s squad is in terrifying form but continues to manage a few defensive rotations.
- Out: Josko Gvardiol remains a long-term absentee. Meanwhile, Ruben Dias is currently struggling with a hamstring injury.
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Rising Stars: Keep an eye out for Nico O’Reilly. After establishing himself as the hero in the League Cup final earlier this year, the youngster has proven he can be trusted in high-pressure scenarios and might feature.
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Goalkeeping: Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to return between the sticks for Premier League duties.
Predicted Lineups: Chelsea vs Man City
Chelsea Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Tosin, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho, Joao Pedro.
Manchester City Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Silva; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.
Head-to-Head: Chelsea vs Man City
In the last five meetings across all competitions, Chelsea have only managed to salvage two hard fought draws against Guardiola’s formidable side.
Stretching the timeline even further back highlights a staggering drought: the Blues’ last victory over Manchester City dates all the way back to 2021. That solitary triumph, however, remains etched in history, as it came on the biggest stage of them all – the UEFA Champions League final in Porto, courtesy of a decisive match-winning strike from Kai Havertz.
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Jan 04, 2026: Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
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Jan 25, 2025: Manchester City 3-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
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Aug 18, 2024: Chelsea 0-2 Manchester City (Premier League)
- Apr 20, 2024: Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea (FA Cup)
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Feb 17, 2024: Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
Prediction
While Chelsea’s recent 7-0 FA Cup thrashing proves they have the attacking firepower to dismantle teams, doing so against a peak Manchester City side is a completely different proposition.
With Enzo Fernandez suspended and the Citizens looking unstoppable after crushing Liverpool, the visitors possess too much quality across the pitch. Cole Palmer will undoubtedly look to haunt his former club, but Guardiola’s men should have enough to secure a crucial away win in their title pursuit.
Score Prediction: Chelsea 1-3 Manchester City
FAQ
Q: Why is Enzo Fernandez not playing against Manchester City?
A: Enzo Fernandez is currently serving an internal two-match suspension handed down by Chelsea due to public comments he made “flirting” with a potential transfer to Real Madrid.
Q: When did Chelsea and Manchester City last play each other?
A: The two sides last met on January 4, 2026, in the Premier League, where they played out a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
Q: Where can I watch Chelsea vs Man City?
A: The match is broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and NBC Sports / Peacock in the USA.
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