This week Chelsea made a trip to St. Petersburg, where they shared the tournament points with Zenit (3:3) in the Champions League group stage match. This result brought them 13 points and a pass to the spring stage of the main club tournament in Europe, having four wins and a draw, while the Londoners distinguished themselves 13 times. A successful start in the League Cup, where the “retirees” beat Southampton on penalties and advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament. In the Premier League Thomas Tuchel’s charges did not hold the first position. The team was in the lead for a long time, but the loss of concentration brought the capital’s team to the third position. The gap from the leader is only two points. After beating Watford (2:1), the Blues were unexpectedly unable to cope with West Ham (2:3). It is impossible not to note the best indicator in the nuclear submarine in terms of the quality of defense, with the second strongest line of attack. Kante, Kovacic, Chillwell and Chalobah, who has a thigh injury, will not be able to play today.
Manchester United had an unsuccessful start in the League Cup, where already at the first stage they suffered a fiasco in a duel with West Ham. The team performed much better in the Champions League, where the Mancunians managed to chalk up three victories and two peaceful outcomes in six rounds, which allowed them to bypass Villarreal, Atalanta and Young Boys in the group. It should be noted the performance of the team in the attacking line, where Manchester United have scored 11 times. After a failure in the championship and a change of coach, the team entered the struggle for a place in the top six with renewed vigor. Over 15 rounds Ralph Rangnick’s charges have won seven victories and three peaceful outcomes, which corresponds to 24 points and sixth position. After a draw with Chelsea (1:1), the Red Devils celebrated success twice with Arsenal (3:2) and Crystal Palace (1:0). Of the 25 goals scored by the team, six are scored by Cristiano Ronaldo. Today Varane, Pogba, Cavani, Lingard, Martial and Van Bissaka will not be able to enter the field.
