Chelsea meets Manchester United Sunday- Who will win?

This is really the match up we have all been waiting for since that night in Moscow that established Manchester United's claim as the best club in Europe, while Chelsea & Co. bowed out as runners-up. Since the UEFA Champions League Final, both clubs have traveled very different paths, but have one thing in common this season... they are not 1st place, where they both expect to be come May. Manchester United have games in hand, therefore they are for all intensive purposes not able to be 1st at the present time, due to a congested schedule involving the FIFA Club World Cup in December that they took with ease. On the other hand, Chelsea have played all their matches. The Pensioners though, look nothing like Jose Mourinho's squad, and even sadly, Avram Grant's. Suffering from a lack of confidence, Chelsea are struggling for their high standards. Bowing out to Burnley in the Carling Cup and suprisingly taking qualification to the Knockout Stages of the Champions League to the final matchday, this season has been far from smooth sailing. Summer signing Deco has shown glimpses of quality but not nearly enough to really impress Stamford Bridge. Long term injuries to intimidating midfielder Michael Essien and powerful forward Didier Drogba have not helped. While in Manchester, ex-Tottenham Hotspur Dimitar Berbatov has also shown why 30 million was splashed on him but only in small bursts so far. After a draw at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, expect both teams to give 100 percent in this match. This is potentially make or break for Chelsea. If they win, expect The Blues to quickly catch up to Liverpool. And if they lose, don't expect Chelsea to lift the EPL trophy. Losses to Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United (potentially) could show Chelsea just dont have the team to do it this year. Manchester United losing will not be as painful for the Red Devils since games are left in hand, but will not help any catching up they have to do.

What to expect: A match very similar to the meeting in Moscow, and not the one earlier this season. Both sides will treat this like a Cup Final. Expect the Old Trafford faithful to sing about John Terry and his PK. Expect a much better Chelsea display than in recent weeks as well.

Prediction: An intense matchup that the world has its eye on will end up as a victory for the visitors. Chelsea will show up just like they did vs Manchester United last year at Stamford Bridge in their 2-1 victory and get the title chase back on. Manchester will fight to the death, but Chelsea will squeak this one out, 3-2.