Manchester City will start the English Premier League without Rodri as they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, August 18. The Spain midfielder is still recovering from an injury sustained during the Euro 2024 final. City manager Pep Guardiola also has fitness concerns over Phil Foden, John Stones, and Kyle Walker. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is confident that his team will challenge City for the title despite a summer of upheaval and a bloated squad.
The match will be a test for Maresca, who served on Guardiola’s coaching staff at City. City will be without Rodri, who injured his hamstring, and Oscar Bobb, who fractured his leg bone. Jack Grealish is also a doubt. Chelsea will be without captain Reece James due to suspension and injury.
This will be the 177th meeting between the clubs, with Chelsea having won 69 matches compared to City’s 65. The last encounter saw City emerge victorious with a 1-0 win in the FA Cup semifinal in May. City will aim to make a strong start to their title defense despite the absences and fitness concerns, while Chelsea will look to challenge City and close the gap in the Premier League standings. Fans can follow the build-up and full-text commentary of the game on Al Jazeera Sport.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com