Manchester United v Chelsea : Premier League Match Preview

02 May 2013 12:44

Manchester United welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford on Sunday, with nothing but pride to play for having already sealed their 20th league title. The Blues will rightly feel they should have provided a stronger title challenge, particularly after their group stage elimination in the Champions League.

Don’t be fooled though, this is anything but a dead rubber. The Blues are still some way off of a guaranteed spot in next season’s Champions League, with only three points separating them from fifth placed Tottenham Hotspur.

The last six Premier League meetings between these two sides have seen a whopping 29 goals soar into the net, with the Red Devils picking up three wins to Chelsea’s two, with just one draw at Stamford Bridge last season.

The recently elected PFA Team of the Year contains six players between these two clubs, with players like Robin van Persie and Juan Mata perhaps feeling they have a point to prove after being pipped to the Player of the Year award by Gareth Bale of Tottenham.

Manchester United’s absence from European competition at this stage has granted them a lengthy rest period for this game. Benitez’s boys, however, have had no such luck, and face off against FC Basel on Thursday night in the Europa League semi-final. The Spaniard is no stranger to squad rotation, and his willingness to mix it up may be vital.

With a vast amount of pride at stake for both sides, and a place in the greatest competition in club football on the line for the Blues, both sides will surely give 100% to be on the right end of the scoreline on Sunday. Not one to be missed.

Source: DSG