FA Cup: Manchester City host Chelsea at Etihad Stadium in fifth round showdown
Chelsea head to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday looking for their third victory over Manchester City this season as the pair do battle in a mouth-watering FA Cup fifth-round tie (kick-off 5.15pm).
The two favourites for the title must place their Premier League aspirations to one side as they vie for a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Either City or Chelsea have featured in the last five FA Cup finals; with Chelsea claiming three titles and City just one after their defeat to Wigan last term.
The Blues recorded an impressive 1-0 win on their last visit to the Etihad less than two weeks ago and Jose Mourinho will hope his side can repeat the feat on Saturday.
City enjoyed the luxury of an unexpected rest in midweek when their fixture against Sunderland was postponed due to the inclement weather, while Chelsea were frustrated by a late West Bromwich Albion equaliser at The Hawthorns.
Chelsea currently sit at the Premier League summit and remain unbeaten in their last 12 games in all competitions, winning eight of their last 10 outings.
Manuel Pellegrini's City side are third in the title race at present, but hold a game in hand over Chelsea and Arsenal above them.
City's free-scoring form has faded somewhat of late, with the goal-scoring machine firing blanks in their last two outings, having played out a stalemate against Norwich after the Chelsea reverse.
In their two previous meetings this season, Chelsea have emerged victorious, with an opportunistic Fernando Torres goal earning a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge before Branislav Ivanovic fired them to victory at the Etihad.
However, it was City who triumphed when the pair met in the FA Cup last season, at the semi-final stage, as goals from Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero powered the blue half of Manchester into the final.
