FA Cup Preview: Chelsea host Man City at Stamford Bridge

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Chelsea captain John Terry will miss Sunday’s FA Cup tie because of the hamstring injury he suffered against Newcastle last weekend.

Oscar returned from a calf injury in midweek and could start, but Alexandre Pato is still short of match fitness.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says he will rest several senior players, so youngsters such as Bersant Celina and Manu Garcia could feature.

Bacary Sagna is back in training and may return from a knee problem.

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink: “I will make hardly any changes because we take the FA Cup very seriously. Winning the FA Cup is a prestigious prize in England but also worldwide.”

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini: “We have just 13 (senior) players available to play. We have to play Champions League on Wednesday. We’ll see the best team we can play on Sunday. Young players have the option and they must take their chances.

“For me the priority is always the next game but we must make an exception now because of so many injuries.

“We never think about four trophies – we go game by game.”

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

  • This is their third FA Cup meeting in four seasons. Manchester City won the previous two: knocking out holders Chelsea in an enthralling 2013 semi-final and then enjoying a convincing 2-0 home win in the fifth round in 2014.
  • Chelsea have only lost once in the last 17 meetings at Stamford Bridge – a 4-2 league defeat in February 2010 when they had Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack sent off.

Chelsea

  • The Blues are in the fifth round for the 16th time in 18 seasons.
  • Their only defeat in the last 29 FA Cup games at Stamford Bridge came after they surrendered a 2-0 lead against League One Bradford in last season’s fourth round (W24, D4, L1).
  • Six of their seven FA Cup trophy wins have come in the last 19 years. They have won five FA Cup finals in the 21st century – the joint most with Arsenal.
  • Guus Hiddink has won all five of his FA Cup matches in charge of Chelsea.

Manchester City

  • Manchester City won the trophy for the fifth time when they beat Stoke in 2011, but they were beaten by Wigan in the final in 2013.
  • They have not lost an away tie in the FA Cup for six years since a 3-1 fifth-round replay defeat by Stoke after extra-time (W3, D3).
  • City beat Premier League opposition away in each of the previous two rounds: 3-0 v Norwich and 4-0 v Aston Villa.

Source: BBC Sport

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