Chelsea v Man United Betting Tips: FA Cup clash to go the distance?
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Odds and preview of Stamford Bridge showdown
After their 6-0 mauling at Manchester City – the club’s heaviest loss since 1991 – Chelsea got back on their feet in midweek with a deserved 2-1 win in Malmo.
As for Manchester United, they’re enjoying life with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the wheel. But their road to the Champions League quarter-finals was effectively closed by a 2-0 home loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Tonight both teams’ focus turns to the FA Cup. And we have all the odds and info on the big game – live on BBC One from 7:30pm.
Head-to-Head
This fixture has been dominated by the Blues in recent times. The last 17 meetings have seen nine wins for the West London club, with the Red Devils bagging just two victories.
You have to go back to October 2012 for United’s last win here. That came against a nine-man Chelsea side, with Javier Hernandez grabbing a late winner for the visitors.
However, United did come close to three points in this season’s Premier League visit to Stamford Bridge. Only a late Ross Barkley equaliser grabbed a share of the spoils for Maurizio Sarri’s men, in a breathless 2-2 draw.
Likely XIs
No prizes for guessing Chelsea’s set-up. They’re 4-3-3 week in, week out. It should be Eden Hazard on the left flank and Gonzalo Higuain as the central striker. On the opposite wing to the Belgian, Callum Hudson-Odoi could get the nod.
In defence, Sarri tends to opt for a centre-back pairing of Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger for cup games.
United are without two of their key men for this game. Anthony Martial – who scored a brace here in October – and Jesse Lingard are both sidelined.
That means a likely strike pairing of Marcus Rashford and Alexis Sanchez, with former Blues favourite Juan Mata tucked in behind, in a 4-3-1-2 system.
This could be the ideal game for Diogo Dalot to start. With pace needed to handle Eden Hazard out wide, he’s surely a better fit than the more experienced Ashley Young.
Key Battles
Despite a sending off against PSG in midweek, there’s no doubting Paul Pogba has enjoyed a resurgence under Solskjaer. In his nine Prem games since the Norwegian’s arrival, he’s scored eight and set up five goals.
The Blues midfield will have to be at their best to cut out his supply line through to Rashford. The latter’s winning goals in the recent 1-0 victories at Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City have both been set up by the France international.
One player United don’t enjoy facing is Hazard. His winner in the 2018 FA Cup Final was the fifth game in which he’s netted against the Red Devils.
Whether it’s Dalot or Young at right-back, Hazard will need tight marking to prevent those electric runs where he cuts inside.
Match Odds
There are no replays from this stage onwards. It’s 1/2 for the Blues to progress tonight. As for Solskjaer’s men, they’re out at 6/4.
With the last meeting between the pair ending level, we go 13/5 for another Draw after 90 minutes.
Sarri’s side have been involved in some pretty high-scoring contests of late. Each of their last six games have seen Over 2.5 Goals scored, and it’s 3/4 for a repeat in this clash.
Fancy Hazard to inflict more misery on United? He heads the Anytime Goalscorer betting at odds of 7/5. As for Pogba to add to his superb recent tally, that’s a 21/10 shot.
Click here for the latest Chelsea v Man United odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
