Chelsea are aiming to end their season on a high after being dethroned as Premier League champions, but they need to bounce back from last weekend's first defeat since interim boss Guus Hiddink took over in December.
The West London outfit face a Manchester City side fresh from reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, and Manuel Pellegrini's men are hoping to strengthen their position in the top four with a win at Stamford Bridge in the late kickoff on Saturday.
Chelsea
© Getty Images
Overall, it has been a disappointing season for Chelsea as they dropped out of contention for the Premier League crown months ago following a horrendous start that included just three wins in 16 games.
Jose Mourinho was sacked as manager in December while the club were lingering dangerously close to the relegation zone, but they managed to pull off a revival of sorts under Hiddink as they moved up the table and went 15 games unbeaten in the top flight.
The Blues are in a healthier 10th position in the table, but they suffered a wobble last weekend when they were beaten by Swansea City for the first time in the club's history.
In a game where chances were created by Chelsea but not taken, it was Gylfi Sigurdsson who condemned the Blues to their first league defeat since the turn of the year by scoring the only goal of the game in the 25th minute.
Despite that little dip, Chelsea have the eighth-best form in the division having taken 11 points from their last six games, but there is a danger that they could slip up further if they lose to Man City this weekend.
This season, in games against the current top four - Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Man City - they have managed to win two of their five fixtures so far and both were against Arsenal.
The Blues lost to Leicester in December, but are yet to play them at Stamford Bridge, and they were held to a goalless draw by Tottenham Hotspur in November.
Considering that the Blues have nothing to play for given that they are out of all cup competitions and the Champions League, thoughts may already be turning to next season when new manager Antonio Conte takes over, but they still have six games to play and are nine points off a European spot.
Recent form: WWDDWL
Recent form (all competitions): DLLDWL
Manchester City
© Getty Images
Pellegrini's farewell season is unlikely to result in another Premier League title as his team are 15 points off the pace with six games left to play.
However, they are in contention to be crowned European champions as they managed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Citizens claimed a 3-2 aggregate win over Paris Saint-Germain by earning a 1-0 triumph in the quarter-final second leg at the Etihad Stadium in midweek.
Kevin De Bruyne, who scored in the first leg at Parc des Princes, netted the only goal of the game, helping City into the final four of the tournament for the first time in the club's history.
Many will be hoping that City draw Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals, therefore freeing up a potential final against Bayern Munich, whose manager Pep Guardiola will take charge of City next season.
With regards to their Premier League form, City went through a period of inconsistency having recorded four defeats, one win and one draw in games between February 6 and March 20, but they seem to be getting back on track.
Pellegrini's side followed up their emphatic 4-0 win over Bournemouth with a 2-1 triumph at home West Bromwich Albion.
City head into the game against Chelsea with the second-best attack in the league as they have scored 58 goals this season, with Sergio Aguero contributing 18 of them.
Tottenham Hotspur are the only team with more goals than City as they have netted 60, with Harry Kane scoring 22.
Recent form: LWDLWW
Recent form (all competitions): DLWDWW
Team News
© Getty Images
Chelsea have a long list of players on the treatment table, but they could welcome back Gary Cahill, who has been struggling with a hip injury.
Captain John Terry is still expected to be on the sidelines given that he is continuing treatment on an Achilles injury, while Loic Remy, Nemanja Matic and Willian are all likely to miss out.
Eden Hazard has been out of action with a hip tendon strain, but the playmaker may have a chance of returning to the squad for this weekend's fixture.
As for City, skipper Vincent Kompany is likely to miss out, despite returning to training earlier this week to step up his recovery from a calf injury.
Reports have claimed that the defender still feels some tightness in the area and does not want to risk playing due to fears that he could miss the Champions League semi-final.
Raheem Sterling could make a surprise return to the squad following a groin injury, but is unlikely to start the game at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Baba Rahman; Fabregas, Mikel; Oscar, Loftus-Cheek, Pedro; Pato
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Hart; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov; Fernando, Toure; Navas, Silva, De Bruyne; Aguero
Head To Head
When the two sides met earlier this season, Aguero, Kompany and Fernandinho scored to give City a 3-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.
Chelsea got their revenge in the FA Cup when they sealed a 5-1 win over a weakened City side in February.
The last time that Chelsea and City played at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League was in January and it ended all square at 1-1 following goals from Remy and Silva.
In fact, both meetings last season resulted in the same scoreline.
The Dugout Podcast
Hit play below to listen to Sports Mole's new podcast 'The Dugout' for our take on the week's biggest football talking points:
We say: Chelsea 1-1 Manchester City
City thumped Chelsea earlier this season, but that was against a troubled team under Mourinho, and despite losing last weekend, the Blues have been steady under Hiddink. Pellegrini's side are also travelling to Stamford Bridge following their exploits in Europe on Tuesday, meaning that there could be some tired legs. Both are more than capable of getting on the scoresheet, but it could end up being a close contest.
Danielle Joynson
