Vitoria is considered a must for Chelsea this Saturday, December 2, in a match for the fifteenth round of the English Championship. The rival will be Newcastle. In Stamford Bridge, London, the game begins at 10:30 am (GMT).
Chelsea’s recent performance
The situation repeats the picture found by the blues on Wednesday, November 29. Also in its stadium and against a team of small investment, the London team managed to impose its favoritism to Swansea. He scored 1-0 and climbed to 29 points (nine wins, two draws and three losses). He is the third place in the Premier League. It has 11 points of disadvantage compared to Manchester City, leading, and three against Manchester United, runner-up.
The spectacular campaign of City certainly is responsible for the long distance in the score between the current English champion and the team led by Pepe Guardiola on the leaderboard. It is not, however, the only explanation. Chelsea’s homey performance has left something to be desired.
The situation has improved, at least in terms of scoring, with three straight wins in the last fixtures at Stamford Bridge. But when you do a general analysis, it’s still bad. With 13 points (four wins, one draw and two losses) plus 21 possible, he is only the fifth best entente of the English Championship. Still below the scoring, is the standard of performances of Chelsea, who have had great difficulties to impose themselves against rivals that are considered technically inferior.
Swansea, for example, tried 21 finals, sent less than half of them (ten) on the target and only reached the goal after an accidental throw when the ball was left for defender Antonio Rudiger (ten games in the English Championship 2017/2018, a goal) send to the net.
This has caused speculation behind the scenes a month before the opening of the European winter transfer market. Brazilian midfielder William, for example, is placed as one of the possible exchange coins that Italian coach Antonio Conte could use to get reinforcements. One of his targets would be another national athlete, midfielder Lucas, who has not been used frequently by Paris Saint-Germain.
However, that does not seem to be the biggest lack of Chelsea’s squad. The team has only two center-backs and one of them is injured. It is the Belgian Michy Batshuayi (seven games, two goals). Thus, Conte has no way to reduce the isolation of Spaniard Alvaro Morata (13 games, eight goals) in games against teams that put a large number of athletes in the defense reducing the spaces for the movement of opponents. As the window is still closed, Conte will have to deal with what he has and seek tactical options capable of turning his team’s technical advantage into goals.
The current form of Newcastle
With just one win in the last nine matches, Newcastle certainly qualifies as one of those opponents. Despite being quite traditional and relying on features many times higher than most of the rivals, the Blackpool was relegated to the Second Division and still did not show great quality in his return season to the Premier League.
With 15 points (four wins, three draws and seven losses), he keeps a ‘respectable’ distance from the relegation zone, but does not signal that he can go further. It’s the twelfth place. It is 11 points below the European qualifying block and five above the sticking region.
Commanded by Spanish coach Rafa Benitez, Newcastle has three athletes in the infirmary. Defenders Paul Dummet (a 2017/2018 English League game without a goal) and Jamaal Lascelles (11 matches, two goals) are doubtful for this Saturday’s duel; and striker Christian Atsu (11 games, one goal).
History of the bouts between Chelsea and Newcastle
Chelsea have won their last four matches at Stamford Bridge against Newcastle. The most recent successful visitor in London happened in the 2011/2012 season.
Although Chelsea’s recent performances have not been the most convincing, Newcastle’s fragility suggests avoiding hints of risk for the duel. So, the option for home owners is the best. Has a prize of 1.20 in Rivalo. Draw shows return of 6.50 and successful visitor multiplies the investment by 15.00.