Betfred gives you a great promotion for this game: Double Delight – bet on Goalscorer market, and if your player happens to score and then score another goal, Fred will double your odds; Hat-Trick Heaven – bet on a Goalscorer market, and if your player happens to score a hat-trick, Fred will triple your odds;
PaddyPower has a special Round 1 promotion. Read more here.
Bet365 reminds you that you can include these games in your accumulators for percentage bonus on your profit. For more info read here.
This game can be watched live on Sky Sports 1.
Stoke City
Stoke City had a great season in 2010-2011, despite the fact that the team finished 13th (only 3 points behind the 8th), and got a qualification for Europa League participation, after playing an FA Cup final against Manchester City. Although they lost, City had already qualified for Champions League. The team acquired so far 2 new players, both from the relegated West Ham, Matthew Upson and Jonathan Woodgate as free transfers. Stoke played 3 friendly games during the summer, and 2 Europa League qualification games so far, won none of the friendly games (2 draws 1 loss) but won both qualification games. The team awaits now FC Thun, who eliminated Palermo.
Chelsea
Chelsea starts the season with a new manager, the well known André Villas-Boas, the man who made FC. Porto quite the goal machine in Europa League last season. Chelsea bought so far two new players Oriol Romeu from Barcelona for €5m and Thibaut Courtois a goalkeeper for €9m. Still in doubt for this match is Fernando Torres, who has a minor concussion. Chelsea has great ambitions to buy Luka Modric from Tottenham, but chairman Daniel Levy has said, he is not for sale. Chelsea has played 6 pre-season games, winning all 6 of those, scoring a total of 15 goals and conceding just 1. What a great shape, the Blues show at the moment!
Prediction
Stoke was able to put an end to Chelsea domination on Britannia Stadium, last season in a game where the final score was 1:1.
02/04/2011 Premier League Stoke vs. Chelsea 1:1
12/09/2009 Premier League Stoke vs. Chelsea 1:2
27/09/2008 Premier League Stoke vs. Chelsea 0:2
16/02/2003 FA Cup Stoke vs. Chelsea 0:2
Two victories and a draw in the Premier League for Chelsea, Stoke City still without a victory over the Blues from London. Judging from the pre-season games, Chelsea is in a great shape will most likely have no problems in this match.
The odds for Stoke City are quite high, if you decide to look for a surprise, something that usually occurs in Round 1, price at 5.50 (bet365)
The valuable bet here would be a draw, priced at 3.50 (bet365) as Stoke managed to counter Chelsea last season.
My prediction however is that this game can be your banker, and a victory for Chelsea.
Recommended Bet:
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Chelsea to win @ 1.72 | Visit Bet365 Now |
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