Manchester United and Chelsea have both had relevantly mixed seasons by their own standards but the Red Devils’ home form means it could be another tough evening for the Blues on Thursday.
The pair meet in their penultimate Premier League outing of the campaign, with the hosts sitting fourth and having all but guaranteed Champions League football for next season.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are 12th, an incredible 26 points behind Thursday’s opponents and already looking towards another big summer in the transfer market under the guidance of a yet-to-be-confirmed new manager.
They lost 1-0 at Manchester City on Sunday and a similar outcome could be on the cards at Old Trafford.
Football Bet of the Day – Thursday 25th May
- Manchester United to win to nil @ 2/1
Date: Thursday 25th May, 2023
Time: 20:00
Location: Old Trafford, Manchester
These two will both have been eyeing a Premier League title push last summer but they have each been caught up in a transitional phase.
United brought in Erik ten Hag to introduce a long-term vision on the field, while away from the pitch, they are also in the midst of being sold.
Chelsea, were, of course, bought by the consortium led by Todd Boelhy last summer and the American has not been shy in the transfer market, acquiring around £600m worth of talent.
Boelhy has also seen the back of managers Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter and is still trying to confirm a replacement for interim boss Frank Lampard.
That has only added to the chaos surrounding the Stamford Bridge club and has been reflected on the pitch in their record of just one league win in their last 10 games.
United also look to have gaps in their squad that they need to address and while his team have occasionally played with flamboyance, Ten Hag has often favoured pragmatism. This approach has clearly worked, winning the EFL Cup, reaching next month’s FA Cup final and qualifying for next season’s European top table.
A fundamental tenet of their success has been their defensive record, especially at home, where they have conceded just eight times in 17 outings, the last of those goals going past David De Gea on February 8.
The last five meetings between these sides have ended up in draws but while on paper there is more than enough talent in the Chelsea squad to head to Old Trafford with confidence, their results this season hint that will not be the case.
Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at City was very much a containing job, while United’s victory at Bournemouth by the same scoreline a day earlier was a bit more exciting and very much deserved.
Another 1-0 in United’s favour could be on the cards at 15/2 and with Chelsea’s lack of firepower, they may again struggle to score, having averaged less than a goal a game on the road (17 goals, 18 games) this season.
Therefore, United to win with an 18th clean sheet of the campaign looks like the way to go.
Welcome Offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in FREE Bets
New 18+ UK customers.
1st bet on sports of £10+ in one transaction at evens (2.0)+ settled within 7 days of registering.
£30 paid in free bets within 10 hours of bet settlement, 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply.
Full Terms & Conditions apply.
