2018-19 Premier League: Week 32 – Cardiff City vs Chelsea

Relegation battling Cardiff City welcome Chelsea to the Cardiff City Stadium in the first of this weekend’s Super Sunday clashes. 

Now five points adrift of safety, Cardiff need victory to boost their survival hopes whilst Chelsea cannot afford a slip-up here in their top four bid. 

Team news

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Cardiff could be without Joe Bennett and Harry Arter who are battling respective hamstring and muscular injuries.

Matthew Connolly (ankle) and Jazz Richards (thigh) are both sidelined but expected to return before end of season. 

Sol Bamba (anterior cruciate ligament) and Callum Paterson (ankle) however are both out until pre-season. 

Chelsea will hand Ruben Loftus-Cheek and David Zappacosta late fitness tests as they deal with respective back and ankle injuries. 

Ethan Ampadu (back) and Marco van Ginkel (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) remain out for the foreseeable future. 

 

Form

Cardiff have taken nine points from their last six with four different goalscorers from their last five goals. 

At home, the Bluebirds have claimed just seven points from six matches this calendar year compared to 12 from their previous six beforehand at the Cardiff City Stadium. 

Chelsea’s mini five match unbeaten revival across all competitions was halted last time out by Everton, as the Blues continue to leak goals on the road with 15 conceded away goals in 2019 alone. 

The Blues also have just one away league victory this calendar year, coming at start of month against Fulham, which also represents their only away goals since new year. 

 

Stat Attack

• Cardiff have lost their last four meetings across all competition with Chelsea, although three of those were 4-1 defeats at Stamford Bridge. 
• At home, the Bluebirds are unbeaten in two of last three meetings with Chelsea (W1, D1, L1). 
• Neil Etheridge has completed only 32.9% of his passes for Cardiff compared to 87.1% for Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga. 
• Chelsea have played 122 through balls, more than any other team this season. 
• Both teams are yet to score from a free-kick this season. 

 

Prediction

Having seen Burnley and Southampton move five points clear, Cardiff need a spirited reaction here because their next match is a trip to Manchester City which is a tough ask to get points from. 

Chelsea therefore need to be back to their recent clinical best and put their last performance behind them, otherwise they could bear the brunt of a feisty Cardiff side who don’t want to go down. 

I therefore can see a close game here with Chelsea’s quality just eventually pulling them through.

Prediction: Cardiff City 1-2 Chelsea

Jake predicts: Cardiff City 0-2 Chelsea

Result: Cardiff City 1-2 Chelsea