Match Preview: Manchester United vs Chelsea

Clash of the Titans

2004- The last time a club other than Manchester United and Chelsea lifted the Barclays Premier League trophy. For 7 years now, the two clubs have been dominating English football.. If there had to be an 'El Classico' in the Premier League, it would undoubtedly be this fixture. A packet of controversial goals, a handful of physical battles, a pinch of poor refereeing decisions, one teaspoon of red cards and half a dozen ban-inviting post-match comments- all the ingredients to a typical Manchester United-Chelsea match. Stir well. It's too early to be called a title-decider, but it is surely the biggest fixture of the season so far.

Let's look at the individual battles that will make this match an irresistible one:

Sir Alex Ferguson vs Andre Vilas-Boas
AVB was nine-years old when Alex Ferguson was appointed United's manager. Whilst one has built a Red empire, the other is leading a Blue revolution. An away trip to Old Trafford is always the biggest test for a new manager and the ever-so-patient Roman Abramovich will be watching the clash somewhere and it is AVB's headache to turn that trademark sulk into a smile. SAF has been 'out-managed' by a Portuguese-from-Porto-who-won-in-Europe-and-came-to-Chelsea before, remember the Special One?

Nani vs Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole, who is heavily involved in all of Chelsea's build-ups, certainly won't have the liberty to do that today as a skillful Portuguese man will be waiting to have a go at him in the wings. It will be an amazing contest to watch.

Wayne Rooney vs John Terry
The Premier League top-scorer averaging 2 goals a game, has been Roo-thless in front of goal and will pounce on any momen-Terry lapse of concentration from his English team-mate. But if a team can contain Wayne Rooney at the moment, it is Chelsea. There are only a few better than John Terry when it comes to organizing a defense, which was probably the reason why he was rested in mid-week against Leverkusen.

Chris Smalling vs Juan Mata
The winger has already scored two goals for Chelsea and is in red-hot form at the moment. Chris Smalling has been doing reasonably well at right-back and it will be interesting to see how he handles the Spanish wing-wizard. Will he end up being a devotee of the Mata or will he be able to keep him quiet?

Facts-inating:

• Man Utd have averaged fewer points per game at home against Chelsea than against any other opponent (1.47) and are the only team they have a lower than 50% win percentage against (37%)
  
• Wayne Rooney has scored nine goals in his last five Premier League starts. Ashley Young has a joint-high four goal assists in the Premier league this season. Man Utd have set a new Premier League record of 17 consecutive home wins.
  
• The last three Premier League meetings between Chelsea and Man United all ended 2-1.
  
• Man United have scored with 30% of their shots this term. The Premier League average is 11%.
  
• Chelsea have won more Premier League games at Old Trafford (five) than any other team.
  
• Man Utd have scored in their last 32 consecutive matches at Old Trafford in the Premier League, winning 30 and losing just one of those matches. The solitary defeat was against Chelsea in April 2010.

Odds:

Man United (1.83)

Draw (3.50) 

Chelsea (4.50)

Wayne Rooney to score a third consecutive Premier League hat-trick is priced at 23.00.