Balotelli in for City

Frank Lampard failed to earn a recall but Mario Balotelli did in tonight’s crunch Barclays Premier League clash between Chelsea and Manchester City.

Lampard was left out of another possible make-or-break encounter as Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas made just one enforced change at Stamford Bridge, Jose Bosingwa coming in for the suspended David Luiz.

Despite Balotelli breaking a curfew, City handed the striker his first start since his red card at Liverpool last month, with James Milner and Pablo Zabaleta also drafted into the side and Samir Nasri dropping to the bench.

Chelsea v Man City

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Romeu, Meireles, Sturridge, Drogba, Mata.

Subs: Turnbull, Lampard, Torres, Mikel, Malouda, Ferreira, Kalou.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Lescott, Kompany, Clichy, Milner, Toure Yaya, Barry, Silva, Aguero, Balotelli.

Subs: Pantilimon, Dzeko, Johnson, Savic, Nasri, Toure, De Jong.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)