Diego Costa v Chris Smalling: The key battle when Chelsea host Manchester United
Saturday 6 February 2016 18:42, UK
Sunday will be the first time Diego Costa and Chris Smalling have clashed in club football - but the Manchester United defender had the upper hand when the pair met on the international stage.
Striker Costa was suspended for the 0-0 draw between Chelsea and Manchester United at Old Trafford in December, and missed both fixtures between the clubs last season with hamstring injuries.
However, he did come up against Smalling when Spain hosted England in a friendly last November. Spain eventually ran out 2-0 winners, but the game was goalless when Costa was substituted on 64 minutes.
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This will be Costa's first-ever game against Manchester United. He'll hope it goes better than his previous encounter with Louis van Gaal - Costa and Spain were on the end of a 5-1 group stage defeat to the Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup.
However, Costa has rediscovered some good form and has flourished under interim boss Guus Hiddink with five goals in six Premier League appearances under the Dutchman. That is a marked improvement on his goal ratio under Jose Mourinho this season.
Overall, Costa is taking twice as long to hit the back of the net this season compared to last, scoring a goal every 211 minutes compared to a goal every 104 minutes.
Only one of Costa's eight league goals this season have come against a side currently in the top eight - good news for fifth-placed Manchester United - against Arsenal two weeks ago. It was a similar story with his 20 league goals last season as only three came against last season's top six.
Smalling, meanwhile, is Manchester United's top appearance maker in all competitions this season, starting 35 of their 36 games. He's played every minute of 23 of their 24 league fixtures, only missing United's 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth in December due to a groin injury.
Smalling has made the most clearances (128) and made the most interceptions (62) for United in the Premier League this season.
Smalling has been a major contributor to United having the second best defensive record in the Premier League this season, conceding just 21 goals in 24 games. The 26-year-old has been involved in 12 clean sheets in the league this season, more than any other player.
Smalling has faced last season's top-six sides six times in the Premier League this season and has contributed to clean sheets in four of these games, including the 0-0 against Chelsea at Old Trafford in December.
Costa will be looking to extend Hiddink's nine-match unbeaten run since re-joining Chelsea in December, but will have to be at his best to find a way past Smalling.
Watch Chelsea v Man Utd live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 3.30pm on Sunday
