Manchester City and Chelsea renew their rivalry on Jan. 25 as the blue sides of Manchester and London do battle in the Premier League.
Both sides have had their fair share of success in recent history lifting Premier League and Champions League trophies. The two sides have battled each other not just in England, but also on the grandest stage in Europe in the 2021 Champions League final. This year, there's an added dimension to the fixture. Not only has Cole Palmer, a former Manchester City talent, become the man at Chelsea, but Enzo Maresca is making a name for himself in his first season with the Blues.
Maresca previously spent time with Manchester City as an assistant manager, similar to that of Mikel Arteta. Another Pep Guardiola disciple looks to topple his former boss and carve his own path as a manager.
Let's look back at five classic matches between the two sides over the years ahead of Manchester City vs. Chelsea.
2021 Champions League Final – May 29, 2021
The 2021 Champions League final was an all-blue affair with the trophy guaranteed to come back to England. A Chelsea side that was in transition under Thomas Tuchel after spending big on transfers for the likes of Kai Havertz and Timo Werner was the underdog in the eyes of many against Guardiola's juggernaut. It felt like Manchester City was finally going to achieve what they've chased for so long despite their domestic success.
Havertz immortalized himself in Chelsea history when he scored the opener and only goal of the tie to lift the trophy in Portugal. Even though his time with the club came to an end moving to rival Arsenal, fans will always remember the goal that, at the time, denied Manchester City European glory.
