Lee Dixon: Rafa's bouncing Blues can keep good run going against United

 

Chelsea have hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks and could get the better of Manchester United in Sunday's big match, says Lee Dixon...

 

Chelsea are finishing the season in style and might just be taking on Manchester United at the best possible time.

 

Odds-on both to win the Europa League and finish in the top four, I fancy the Blues to get something from Sunday's big match, especially with United on cruise control  as the champions' season comes to a close.

 

Of course taking on a United side managed by Sir Alex Fergusonis never going to be easy. Alongside talent to burn, they have plenty of heart and determination and they  won't want to give anything to one of their fiercest rivals, so this may well finish a point apiece.

 

But a lay of the home side or a back of Chelsea on the Asian handicap is very tempting with the visitors looking stronger by the game. April was another good month for  the Blues, the club winning five matches from seven at home and abroad, only suffering defeat once. A solid run that was good enough to land Rafa Benitez the manager  of the month award.

 

The Chelsea support nevertheless spent much of Thursday night's match chanting Jose Mourinho's name, but Benitez appears to have ridden out the worst of their abuse  and looks set to leave Stamford Bridge with his head held high. The Spaniard has always liked to tinker but he has rotated well recently, resting key players regularly  and using the full squad. They seem to be reacting well to that, sticking by him during the run-in.

 

But whether the next Chelsea manager is Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp or someone else, whoever takes over at the Bridge will inherit a very good squad, certainly one that  won't be finishing next season 20 points behind United anyway.

 

With Arsenal and Spurs hot on their heels, Benitez's Blues are used to playing at high tempo and getting the results they need. I sense that Rafa would consider a draw  a decent result at Old Trafford as he is surely more confident of getting the better of Spurs next Wednesday.

 

This will be the fifth game between Chelsea and United this season with an astonishing 19 goals scored so far, but I think we're more likely to see a tight match  similar to April's FA Cup fixture which ended 1-0 to Chelsea. That game was goalless at the break and I will back a repeat here at 3.35 and, tempted though I am to back a full-time draw, I will lay the hosts just in case Chelsea's winning streak goes on.

 

Recommended Bets

Back 0-0 halftime score @ 3.5

Lay United @ 2.24

 

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