Frank Christian
The Manchester City and Chelsea clubs have engaged in a competitive rivalry in recent years, both in the Premier League and European competitions.
The 2023/24 season witnessed two draws between the teams, with the second one resulting in a 1-1 tie at the Etihad Stadium following a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge.
In the early tenure of Pep Guardiola at City, Mauricio Pochettino posed as a formidable opponent on the sidelines, notably when his Tottenham team eliminated City from the 2018/19 Champions League. Currently, Enzo Maresca, Guardiola’s ex-assistant at City, is working to mold a solid team from a young, talented, and expensively assembled Chelsea squad acquired swiftly under Todd Boehly’s ownership.
The heavy investments during Roman Abramovich’s era at Stamford Bridge propelled Chelsea to the forefront of English football, while City, with their wealthy owners, enjoyed dominance. This rivalry epitomizes modern football, though Chelsea has struggled to keep up with City since claiming victory in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final in Porto.
This article delves into a long-standing rivalry that has become more prominent in recent times.
Head-to-Head Record and Historical Results Between Chelsea and Man City
Chelsea holds a slight edge in the overall head-to-head comparison, although Man City has narrowed the gap with a strong run in recent domestic fixtures.
The latest significant win by Chelsea in the 175 matches against City was when Kai Havertz scored the decisive goal in the 2021 Champions League final.
This wasn’t the first time Chelsea thwarted City on the European stage. The reigning champions City were defeated 2-1 on aggregate in the 1970/71 European Cup Winners’ Cup semifinals.
Prior to November 12, the most recent of the 41 draws between the teams concluded with City clinching a trophy. A goalless draw in the 2019 Carabao Cup final was settled on penalties, with current Chelsea player Sterling converting the crucial penalty into the top corner.
Summary of Chelsea vs. Man City Results Across All Competitions
| Games | Chelsea wins |
Man City wins |
Draws |
|---|---|---|---|
| 178 | 71 | 65 | 42 |
#OnThisDay in 2019, #ManCity won the @Carabao_Cup (again). pic.twitter.com/uSl6q1975X
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) February 24, 2021
Recent Performances Between Chelsea and Man City
Following their disappointment in Porto, Man City achieved a six-game winning streak without conceding a goal, including four victories across different competitions last season, culminating in the intense match in November 2023.
Summary of the Last 10 Matches between Chelsea and Man City
| Competition | Date | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | Aug. 18, 2024 | Stamford Bridge | Chelsea 0-2 Man City |
| Premier League | Feb. 17, 2024 | Etihad Stadium | Man City 1-1 Chelsea |
| Premier League | Nov. 12, 2023 | Stamford Bridge | Chelsea 4-4 Man City |
| Premier League | May. 21, 2023 | Etihad Stadium | Man City 1-0 Chelsea |
| FA Cup | Jan. 8, 2023 | Etihad Stadium | Man City 4-0 Chelsea |
| Premier League | Jan. 5, 2023 | Stamford Bridge | Chelsea 0-1 Man City |
| Carabao Cup | Nov. 09, 2022 | Etihad Stadium | Man City 2-0 Chelsea |
| Premier League | Jan. 15, 2022 | Etihad Stadium | Man City 1-0 Chelsea |
| Premier League | Sep. 25, 2021 | Stamford Bridge | Chelsea 0-1 Man City |
| Champions League | May 29, 2021 | Estadio do Dragao | Chelsea 1-0 Man City |
| Premier League | May. 8, 2021 | Etihad Stadium | Man City 1-2 Chelsea |
Is There a Rivalry Between Chelsea and Man City?
Chelsea is the only club besides City to have secured multiple Premier League titles since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure from Manchester United in 2013.
Jose Mourinho claimed his third Premier League trophy in his second tenure at Chelsea when they toppled Manuel Pellegrini’s City in 2014/15. Two seasons later, despite Guardiola’s highly anticipated arrival in English football, another newcomer emerged victorious.
Both of Chelsea’s Premier League triumphs over City during their success under Antonio Conte were fiery encounters. Guardiola’s team ended a 3-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium with nine players after Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero were red-carded, and a tunnel altercation ensued at Stamford Bridge following a 2-1 victory for Chelsea.
### Summary: Chelsea and Man City’s Ever-Changing Rivalry
An era-defining rivalry seemed to be brewing between Chelsea and Manchester City, but City’s dominance in claiming the title with a record 100-point haul shifted the balance. Conte’s departure from Stamford Bridge further added to the tension.
The two clubs have not spent much time in each other’s orbit since then, except for the initial months of Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea tenure, where he seemed to outsmart Guardiola. However, Guardiola responded impressively with consecutive 1-0 wins in the 2021/22 season.
Things took a turn when Tuchel received significant backing in the transfer market but was later dismissed. Subsequently, City enjoyed a historic treble while Chelsea endured a challenging 2022/23 campaign.
In 2023/24, City continued their dominance by winning four consecutive top-flight titles. Chelsea, led by former Spurs manager Pochettino at the start, struggled but showed promise towards the end of the season, reaching the EFL Cup final and securing a spot in the Europa Competition League.
Despite this positive turn, Chelsea’s ownership group opted for a change, replacing Pochettino with Maresca, the mastermind behind Leicester City’s promotion bid. The rivalry between the two clubs continues to evolve with each passing season.
