Elijah Sofoluke
What: English Premier League
Who: Chelsea vs Man Utd
When: Sunday 28th October, 2012, at 16:00 UK Time
Where: Stamford Bridge, London, England
Back from defeat against Shakhtar Dontesk in the Ukraine, Chelsea face the task of taking on the 19-times champions Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. The Red Devils have not taken all three points from this encounter in the league since 2002, with matches close affairs which have been decided by one or two goals, at the most.
Expected Line-up – Chelsea
Chelsea’s performance against Tottenham Hotspur was something of a continuations of their season so far: Producing stunning football going forward yet looking generous in giving away goals when tested by the opposition. The midfield area of the team is where most of the plaudits have come. Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar have been the recipients of the majority of the praise and the, before much maligned, possession sitter, John Obi Mikel. However, Ramires could be the most important player in the midfield in this clash, given the lack of mobility that the Red Devils suffer from in midfield, when Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick start together.
Expected Line-up – Manchester United
If not for an attack that has been consistent in its output of goals, Manchester United would have endured a difficult start to the season. However, in customary fashion, they have won 10 games out of 12 in all competitions. This has been mainly due to the fact that Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney have secured the points for the team through their ingenuity in the final third, garnering either goals or assists for themselves on the majority of the occasions. In the current campaign, Manchester United have toyed with many different formations, such as 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 and the 4-4-2 narrow diamond. Ferguson gives the team unpredictability with this and, as a result, the exact formation is extremely hard to predict.
Key Tactical Battles
Roberto Di Matteo vs Sir Alex Ferguson
In keeping with what he usually does when approaching a big game, respecting the opposition, Ferguson will match Chelsea, in their formation, at least. The Manchester United defence, which has been shaky this season, will have to deal with the exhilarating movement and fluid interchangeability between the three attackers behind Torres. Whether a special role will be handed out or not, Manchester United will concentrate on the defensive side of the game given the quality of the team they are facing. If Paul Scholes plays, Oscar should do a job which was very similar to that which he performed against Arsenal against Mikel Arteta. With respect to the 30-year-old Spaniard, Scholes is of a higher ilk and therefore the size of the task for the nippy Brazilian will be a much greater than that he faced some three weeks ago.
Patrice Evra and Rafael vs Juan Mata and Eden Hazard
Although their position is not fixed to the grass along the chalk, Evra and Rafael will have to have good games in order to combat the threat of Mata and Hazard, respectively. The problem they will encounter is whether to follow them if they venture inside to the areas where they can influence the game more. When Stoke faced Manchester City, the full backs, Andy Wilkinson and Marc Wilson, were instructed to keep the space between their full backs to a minimum. This was to stop Silva and Nasri getting into spaces where they can thread balls through to make clear cut chances for the runners. It will imperative for Manchester United to employ a similar tactic if they want to minimise the influence Mata and Hazard have on the game.
John Obi Mikel vs Wayne Rooney
As usual, Rooney will be occupying the space between the defence and midfield. It will be up to Mikel to stop him from having a major say on the direction the points will go. After a few weeks out due to a deep gash, Rooney has been in sparkling form and struck up a rich relationship with the striking Dutchman, Van Persie. Last season, the burden of goals wore heavy around the neck of Rooney and affected his performances. His play when dropping deeper has shown what he is best at: Creating chances, scoring goals, putting in tackles and making the team more creative. While Mikel is usually focused on being the metronomic figure in the Chelsea side, setting the tempo in possession, this game could see him handed the a added job of stopping Rooney dominating.
Key Tactical Area – Central Midfield
This game could well be won in the battle that will ensue in the middle of the park. For Chelsea, this will not be as much a problem as could be for Manchester United. The Red Devils remain vulnerable in midfield and have struggled to find a true replacement for the ageing Scholes, while Chelsea have found a duo that works in Mikel and Ramires. The pair offer stability, through the comfortable on the ball Nigerian and the dynamism in the legs of the Brazilian. If in form, the pair could make easy work of a midfield containing Scholes and Carrick.
Tactical Prediction
Chelsea have enjoyed a great start to the new Premier League campaign, in contrast to lacklustre performances in the Champions League. Manchester United meanwhile have only really shown their dominance on a handful of occasions this season. Tactically, it all depends on which defence copes best with the creative flair players on the other team. The odds are this will be Chelsea, but Manchester United’s firepower may ensure they grab a draw. Chelsea 2-2 Manchester United.
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