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Preview: Chelsea vs. Manchester City

Preview: Chelsea vs. Man City
© PA Photos
Sports Mole looks ahead to this Sunday's FA Cup semi-final battle between Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester City.

The European and Premier League champions go head-to-head at Wembley this Sunday with a place in the FA Cup final up for grabs.

Chelsea and Manchester City have had an inconsistent season where the domestic league is concerned, as the Blues are striving to secure Champions League football for next season, while their North-West opponents are poised to lose their league title to Manchester United.

Despite concerns over their league campaigns, both sides can finish the season with silverware, but only one will be able to contest for the FA Cup trophy either against Millwall or Wigan Athletic.

Chelsea may head into the clash as slight favourites due to their status as the competition's current holders, but a battling Europa League clash against Rubin Kazan in Russia could leave the Blues with tired legs.

Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez is expected to ring the changes for this weekend's match, bringing Oscar, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata back into the fold, while John Terry is likely to drop to the bench.

Meanwhile, Mancini has revealed today that he will hand playmaker David Silva a late fitness test on a hamstring strain, but the Spaniard is unlikely to start the game even if he is declared fit to be in the squad.

While a goalless draw and a 2-0 victory for Man City have materialised between the two clubs in the league this season, a cup tie is always a different story.

Recent form

Chelsea: LWWWL

Manchester City: WWLWW

Possible starting lineups

Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Luiz, Bertrand; Ramires, Mikel; Hazard, Oscar, Mata; Torres

Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy; Toure, Barry; Milner, Tevez, Nasri; Aguero

Sports Mole says: 1-2


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Man City's David Silva celebrates his second goal against Fulham on January 19, 2013
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3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
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14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
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17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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