What: Barclays Premier League
Who: Wigan Athletic (15th, 0pts) v Chelsea (1st, 3pts)
When: Sunday, 24 August, Kick-off: 13:30 BST
Where: JJB Stadium, Wigan
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Chelsea have been basking in the glow of an emphatic 4-0 opening day victory at home to Portsmouth all week.
Starts In Historical Perspective
Chelsea has won both of their opening Premier League fixtures in all but one of the last five seasons, and will be looking to do just that at the JJB. In fact it was Jose Mourinho’s Blues who inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Paul Jewell’s Wigan on their first-ever game in the Premier League. That was in August 2005 at the JJB, when Argentine striker Crespo finally broke the Latics’ determined resistance in the 90th minute.
Form Guide
Bruce steered the Latics from the bottom of the Premier League to 14th place last season; now they go into Sunday’s clash in 15th, after just one game of the current campaign – that 1-2 loss at West Ham, when Zaki scored a superb debut goal. They are one of nine clubs who go into the second match day without a point on the board.
Chelsea started their campaign with a bang, their thumping of Portsmouth putting them top of the table with a goal difference of plus four – goals scored by Joe Cole, Nicolas Anelka, Frank Lampard (a penalty) and Deco. Joint top-scorers along with Aston Villa, Chelsea are also one of three clubs who have yet to concede a goal; the other two are fellow-Big Four members Arsenal and Liverpool.
Midfielder Michael Ballack has been struggling to overcome an ankle injury he picked up in the first half against Portsmouth. “He will not train until Friday after which another evaluation will be made,” a statement read earlier this week; but he has responded well to treatment and could start. Fellow midfielder Michael Essien could also be fit. If Ballack is not available to start, Florent Malouda is likely to start afterr coming on as substitute last Sunday. Strikers Didier Drogba (knee) and Andriy Shevchenko (groin) are both out, but Salomon Kalou is available after returning from the Olympics. League.
Squad
Cech, Cudicini, Bosingwa, Belletti, Terry, Carvalho, Alex, A Cole, J Cole, Lampard, Essien, Ballack, Deco, Mikel, Anelka, Wright-Phillips, Malouda, Di Santo.
Possible Starting 11: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack or Malouda, Lampard, Obi, Deco, Joe Cole, Anelka.
Players to Watch
A key player for Chelsea would be Nicolas Anelka. Anelka‘s pace is likely to be a threat to Wigan, especially if the midfielders can release him with through-balls or passes over the top.
Prediction
Wigan 1-3 Chelsea
