Chelsea are set to face Stoke City next in the Britannia Stadium where they will face a rejuvenated hosts after they handed Arsenal a defeat in dramatic fashion. Although the Potters drew their midweek game against Leicester City, everyone knows that Stoke City bring their best games for the big ones and at the moment there is no bigger game than Chelsea at home. Here at Soccersouls, we discuss the three key battles for the Stoke City Vs Chelsea match.
Asmir Begovic Vs Diego Costa:
This will probably be the toughest battle of the entire match as the result of this encounter will decide how the match is decided. Diego Costa is finally looking a bit more human after making that superb goalscoring start to the season. Asmir Begovic on the other hand, despite making one or two gaffes this season, is still one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and the question as to whether Diego Costa will be able to score past him at the Britannia Stadium will probably decide the fate of this match. Stoke City are a compact side defensively, and even more so at home, and thus it is upto Diego Costa to fulfil the words, ‘It is goals that wins you matches’.
Bojan Krkic Vs John Terry:
There cannot be any doubt that Bojan is the most creative attacking force at Stoke City at the moment. The potters will always have the high balls aiming for Peter Crouch as an attacking option but now they have a new outlet in Bojan Krkic who has truly been a revelation ever since his move to the Premier league. Playing in the central position of midfield he will be trying to get behind John Terry, who despite being one of the best defenders in the world, does not like defending the space behind him. If Bojan can use his intelligence, then this duel between Bojan Krkic and John Terry can be the most intriguing of the entire match.
Steven N’Zonzi Vs Cesc Fabregas:
The battle in midfield which will determine which team will control the match. Although there is no doubt that Cesc Fabregas is the better player who will try to control the game at his own pace, it is unlikely that Stoke City will allow Chelsea to set the pace on the ball. They will harry and press the Chelsea players for every ball and especially Cesc Fabregas as he is the biggest creative string that gets the Chelsea attack going. Steven N’Zonzi will be doing most of the dirty work of breaking up attacks and it will be his duel with the Spaniard which will be the most interesting of all.