Game Week 36 Predictions: Newcastle and Chelsea to settle for a draw

Newcastle host Chelsea in a crucial Champions League race clash; both sides level on points, with a top-five spot and pride on the line.

Chelsea knows only a win would suffice as they face top five rival Newcastle on Sunday, which of them will earn the bragging right? (Photo credit: Opta)

 Newcastle vs Chelsea

St James’s Park

12:00pm

It’s an early kickoff on Sunday, one that means so much to the race for Champions League football, especially after Aston Villa beat Bournemouth on Saturday.

It is also crucial that either of these two teams win for Newcastle to make a return to the Champions League after their showing last season and for the Blues, who couldn’t make it in last season after a poor showing in the league, which only led them to the Europa Conference League.

Manchester City was left frustrated by a spirited Southampton side on Saturday as the former champions played out a goalless draw at St Mary’s Stadium. This ultimately means that the winner of this fixture goes above Manchester City on the log and just one point behind the Gunners in second.

It’s a straight six-pointer for Newcastle and Chelsea as they currently sit neck-to-neck on the log, with Eddie Howe’s side ahead only on goals scored; anyone who wins this would fancy their chances to end up in the top five. However, a draw could be devastating with Forest playing against Leicester on Sunday.

Chelsea has a tougher run-in; they still play Manchester United and then travel to Nottingham Forest on the final day. This helps Newcastle, who understand that one or both of Chelsea and Forest will drop points on the final day.

The Blues could still win the Conference League, as they’re in the final to play high-flying Spanish side Real Betis. The win is only for a feel-good factor, though, as they can only earn a Europa League ticket from there and nothing more; they want Champions League football, so they must beat Newcastle.

How will they approach this? Chelsea have been interesting to watch of late, and with Cole Palmer returning to scoring form last weekend, this could be a huge game for the Blues, who must go for it from the blast of the whistle.

Romeo Lavia is proving to be a great asset in the midfield, which helps the duo of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez to roam freely in the third quarter of the pitch. If Chelsea are going to do anything special in this game, they will need their midfield to battle hard against Newcastle.

On the other side, there’s no doubt that Alexander Isak is the man to watch; he will trouble the fragile Chelsea defence, but the real key battle will be in the middle, where Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton will be immense for the hosts.

Verdict: Full-time draw.