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Cardiff City vs Chelsea: 31/03/2019 – match preview and predicted starting XIs

Cardiff City vs Chelsea

Date: 31/03/2019

KO: 14:05

Venue: Cardiff City Stadium

Referee: Craig Pawson

TV: Sky Sports Main Event

Struggling Cardiff seek to continue their momentum on Sunday and after results going against them on Saturday, they will attempt to make up some ground on their relegation rivals as they play host to Mauricio Sarri’s struggling West London outfit.

Cardiff are continually written off by most of the Premier League media but every time they are, they seem to bounce back, as seen by their victory against West Ham last time out. Due to both Southampton and Burnley picking up wins on Saturday, the Bluebirds are now five points off safety yet a win could bring them to within two points of three sides. Taking into account that Chelsea have lost five of their last six on the road, don’t rule out a Cardiff victory just yet.

It is fair to say that Chelsea are in utter disarray at the moment. Goals seem to have dried up for the Londoners as they are relying on Eden Hazard to perform every single week for them, with the pressure clearly a lot to take for the possibly Madrid bound Belgian. Higuaín is also expected to do more having only scored against sides in the relegation zone thus far, however Chelsea will be hoping he carries that on this at the Cardiff City Stadium.

In terms of squad fitness, Cardiff will be without Callum Paterson and Sol Bamba for the rest of the season due to ankle and knee ligament damage respectively. Cardiff will hope that Harry Arter is fit to play after pulling out of the Ireland squad due to a ‘minor injury’ and Neil Warnock gave no update on his fitness in his latest press conference.



They will be unlikely to alter the winning squad from the West Ham game but with two huge games coming up against Chelsea and then Manchester City, if they are to put energy into one, it is likely to be this game as they will see this as the more winnable match.

Chelsea have no new injury concerns after the international break but the fitness of both David Zappacosta and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be monitored prior to kick off.

The main questions around the Blues will be over team selection with most of Sarri’s press conference earlier in the week being focused on Hudson-Odoi after he impressed on England duty. Sarri said the winger may start 2-3 games over the next few weeks but the Italian must feel the pressure building on him to give the young Englishman a start. IF he does start this week it will likely be alongside Higuain and Hazard in a front three with the rest of the team remaining largely the same as it always has been.

Predicted Starting XIs

Cardiff (4-4-1-1): Etheridge; Peltier, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Bennett; Hoilett, Gunnarsson, Arter, Josh Murphy; Camarasa; Niasse

Chelsea (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Hudson Odoi, Higuain, Hazard

Score Prediction: Cardiff City 1 Chelsea 2

I do think Chelsea will win this week however I don’t believe for one second that it will be an easy ride for them. The Blues have been dreadful away from home this season but with fresh impetus from hopefully a starting Hudson-Odoi, they could well get that elusive away win.

 

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