Starting lineups have been announced for Manchester City's trip to Stamford Bridge, a battle that may well decide the European fate of each team for next year. Manchester City currently stand in third place, but lose to Chelsea and they'll slip into fourth and into a major battle with Tottenham Hotspur to seal Champions League qualification next year. City's recent record against the Blues is impressive, with three wins out of their last three, but Chelsea are a tricky proposition at Stamford Bridge, so Roberto Mancini is treading carefully with his lineup.
Chelsea FC Vs. Manchester City: Lineups
City will field a lineup without captain Carlos Tevez, the striker failing a late fitness test on his groin, so Edin Dzeko will start up front with Mario Balotelli on the bench. The rest of Mancini's starting XI comes with few surprises, although James Milner gets a rare start on the right wing, where he'll presumably be fielded against Ashley Cole. Aleksander Kolarov, who's been recently fielded as a winger, will return to his more traditional left-back position.
Carlo Ancelotti will counter with a 4-3-3 featuring Florent Malouda, Fernando Torres and Salomon Kalou up front, with both Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka relegated to the bench. Ramires, Michael Essien and Frank Lampard will be called on to go up against the trio of Nigel De Jong, Gareth Barry, and Yaya Toure.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Petr Cech; Ashley Cole, John Terry, David Luiz, Branislav Ivanovic; Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Ramires; Florent Malouda, Fernando Torres, Salomon Kalou.
Substitutes: Ross Turnbull, John Obi Mikel, Jose Bosingwa, Yuri Zhirkov, Paulo Ferreira, Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba.
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Joe Hart; Aleksander Kolarov, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards; Gareth Barry, Nigel De Jong; Daivd Silva, Yaya Toure, James Milner; Edin Dzeko.
Substitutes: Stuart Taylor, Dedryck Boyata, Jerome Boateng, Patrick Vieira, Adam Johnson, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Mario Balotelli.
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