Chelsea Cruising to the Title
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Chelsea host Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Monday night knowing a win will leave them tantalisingly close to winning the title this season.
With closest rivals Tottenham Hotspur losing at West Ham United on Friday night, Antonio Conte’s team have the upper hand. Chelsea have been waiting patiently all weekend for this match to come around and will be chomping at the bit to get the job done.
Middlesbrough are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table and need to win this match, if they are to have any chance of staying in the Premier League. Steve Agnew’s team are 7 points adrift of Swansea City, who are in 17th place and although a point would keep them in contention for next week, realistically they must win.
Having tasted defeat to Manchester United in mid-April, Chelsea have responded very well by winning an FA Cup semi-final and two Premier League matches. Their most difficult remaining game was said to be last weekend at Everton and Chelsea brushed Ronald Koeman’s team aside, with the look of champions.
Trends show Chelsea have lost only one of their previous thirteen Premier League games at Stamford Bridge. A look back over the whole season shows they have lost just twice at home in the Premier League and if they can keep that record until the end of the season, they will surely go on to win the title.
Recent victories have been convincing and Chelsea have defeated Bournemouth, Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Everton all by at least two goals. However, Chelsea have shown a slight weakness at the back in home games, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last five in the Premier League.
Middlesbrough travel south to London in desperate need of a win. Trends show they have won just one of their last eighteen Premier League games, form which is only good enough for the drop. However, Middlesbrough have managed to pick up 4 points from the last 6 available, defeating Sunderland at home and drawing 2-2 with Manchester City, also at the Riverside Stadium.
Away form has been dreadful for Middlesbrough this season and they have failed to win any of their previous sixteen away league games. They have managed to win only 1 point from the last 18 available when on the road and this is not good form ahead of a trip to Stamford Bridge.
Looking at the team news and Chelsea have doubts over David Luiz and N’Golo Kante but Thibaut Courtois has trained and should start the match. Daniel Ayala, Victor Valdes and Grant Leadbitter are all doubts for Middlesbrough and it remains to be seen if Gaston Ramirez will return to the team this season.
Everything points to a Chelsea win in this game. They have their confidence back following the defeat to Manchester United and will feel Middlesbrough are there for the taking. Middlesbrough have failed to score in six of their last seven league games and Conte will be hoping to win this won and keep a clean sheet, as they head towards the title.
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