This weekends Saturday Night Football pits the champions of the past two seasons against one another at Stamford Bridge. In August, few would have anticipated that, come the business end of the season, Manchester City - buoyed by a summer spending spree in excess of ￡150m - would trail Leicester by 15 points. Fewer still that defending champions Chelsea would be embroiled in a battle to simply finish in the top half.Kevin De Bruynes emphatic impact on his return to the Premier League was far easier to predict. Chelsea paid ￡6.7m to Genk for De Bruyne in January 2012, but it wasnt until Jose Mourinhos return to the club ahead of the 2013/14 season that he was awarded his chance in west London. Kevin De Bruyne has been a key man for Man City this season Then, after only nine appearances in all competitions, and just 132 minutes of Premier League football, he was sold to Wolfsburg in January 2014.The Belgian playmaker excelled last season with the Bundesliga outfit, and hasnt looked back since. Most assists in Europes top five leagues since August 2014 Player Team Assists Kevin De Bruyne Wolfsburg/Man City 29 Lionel Messi Barcelona 28 Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid 27 Luis Suarez Barcelona 26 Dimitri Payet Marseille/West Ham 25 His creative capabilities have been clearly demonstrated throughout his inaugural season in Manchester.Despite a recent 12-game absence with a knee injury, only Mesut Ozil and Dimitri Payet have created more chances per 90 minutes than De Bruyne this season, while only Ozil, David Silva and Gerard Deulofeu have averaged more assists per 90 minutes than Man Citys number 17. His influence for Manuel Pellegrinis side is evident. Man City with and without De Bruyne - all comps 2015/16 With Without 35 Games 16 21 Wins 8 60 Win % 50 22.8 Lose % 31.25 2.2 Goals per game 1.6 Since De Bruynes 2014 departure, Chelsea have spent ￡96.5m on midfielders, and even the most devoted Chelsea supporter would surely agree that only Cesc Fabregas has been a success - although even he divides opinion amongst Chelseas fan base. Chelseas midfield signings since De Bruynes departure Mohamed Salah - Jan 2014, Basel, ￡11mCesc Fabregas - Jun 2014, Barcelona, ￡30mJuan Cuadrado - Feb 2015, Fiorentina, ￡23.3mNathan - May 2015, Atletico Paranaense, ￡4.5mPedro - Aug 2015, Barcelona, ￡21.4mKennedy - Aug 2015, Fluminense, ￡6.3m So exactly how much has Fabregas achieved at Stamford Bridge? His initial impact was spectacular. He created two goals on his debut for the club in a 3-1 Premier League win at Burnley, and finished the campaign with a league-high 18 assists - although 15 of those came within his first 21 appearances. Cesc Fabregas performances have improved under Guus Hiddink Since returning to the Premier League, only Ozil (23) has more assists than Fabregas 22, and no player has attempted, or completed, more passes in the English top flight this season. Premier League passes - 2015/16 Player Passes Successful passes Cesc Fabregas 2,340 1,964 Andrew Surman 1,988 1,698 Mesut Ozil 1,896 1,636 Glenn Whelan 1,807 1,572 Aaron Ramsey 1,759 1,513 Fabregas return of four goals and four assists from 31 Premier League appearances this season, however, has done little to stem the tide of discontent from certain sections of the Chelsea faithful. It could be argued that he is a victim of his own success, or that his connections to Arsenal make him an easier target than the likes of Eden Hazard and Oscar, who would surely be the first to admit they have failed to replicate the form of seasons past - they have a combined nine goals and assists in the league this season.After all, Fabregas is one of the divisions all-time top creative talents. Premier League - all-time assists Ryan Giggs - 162Frank Lampard - 102Dennis Bergkamp - 94Wayne Rooney - 94Cesc Fabregas - 92 The pessimism directed at Fabregas from the terraces earlier this season was as much down to his perceived contribution in Mourinhos demise as it was to his form, although under Guus Hiddink, he has flourished in comparison. Cesc Fabregas - 2015/16 Premier League Under Mourinho Under Hiddink 16 Apps 14 0 Goals 4 2 Assists 2 1.56 Chances created per game 1.79 68 Passes per game 84 Since arriving at Chelsea in June 2014, the diminutive Spaniard has either scored or assisted goals against every side currently above them in the Premier League table, barring one - Manchester City. Fabregas is yet to score or assist against Man City since joining Chelsea He does have a particularly strong record against City throughout his career, and scored in successive Premier League home wins for Arsenal in 06/07 and 07/08. Cesc Fabregas record v Man City Played Won Drawn Lost Home 8 6 2 0 Away 10 6 1 3 Overall 18 12 3 3 This Premier League campaign will be one both Chelsea and Manchester City will be pleased to consign to the history books. Both have new faces in the hot-seat for next season, and De Bruyne is undoubtedly one of the few players who can feel secure of his place in Pep Guardiolas re-shuffled pack at the Etihad next season.Fabregas struggles over the last 14 months mean his place in Antonio Contes Chelsea squad come August is less assured, and he will need to maintain his recent improvements to ensure he doesnt become another expensive acquisition of Roman Abramovich that doesnt fulfil their substantial price tag.Watch Chelsea v Man City live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Saturday Night Football from 5pm. Also See: De Bruyne one of Europes best Hazards rapid decline Pat McAfee Youth Jersey . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Dwayne Allen Womens Jersey . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. http://www.coltsproshopnfl.com/AUTHENTIC-MARVIN-HARRISON-COLTS-JERSEY/ . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Erik Walden Colts Jersey . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. Pat McAfee Womens Jersey . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. RIO DE JANEIRO -- What do you get the pro athlete who has everything?How about a cramped room, bad food and enough bug spray to last a lifetime?Welcome to the Rio Olympics and a new twist on the old game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? In this case, were asking millionaires Who Wants to Be an Olympian?For all those who answered no because of concerns over the Zika virus, we present this contrasting view from U.S. golfer Patrick Reed:Mosquitoes are mosquitoes, he said. You see them all around the world.And all those other basketball, golf and tennis tycoons who didnt think the Olympics were a big enough deal should have seen Serb Novak Djokovic, the biggest earner in mens tennis history, reduced to tears after being upset in the first round by Argentinas Juan Martin del Potro. Or watched Venus and sister Serena Williams, the richest female athlete in the world, wheeling their own luggage carts through the arrival area of the Rio airport without a single toady in tow.Never mind that this was the fourth Olympics for Venus and third for Serena, who missed the 2004 Games due to knee surgery, and that each has her own singles gold medal and three more golds from playing doubles together. Serena said it never gets old.To play for a medal is actually something I never dreamed of, she said, because growing up, we always just wanted to go for the Grand Slam (tournaments).But to have this opportunity to be among the elite of the elite, where youre not the center of attention, she added a moment later, is just awesome.Professionals were first allowed in the 1988 games -- officially, at least -- and when USA Basketballs Michael Jordan-led Dream Team showed up four years later in Barcelona, everyone knew it would be a tough act to follow. No pros have caused anywhere near the same stir since.That hasnt stopped them from trying. And to be fair, none of them need the bonus money that a gold medal might bring.According to a list compiled by Forbes.com, the top dozen earners at these games took home an average of $32 million in the past 12 months, led by just-signed Golden State Warrior Kevin Durant at $56.2 million. Five of the athletes each were drawn from basketball and tennis; the other two were Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and home-grown soccer star Neymar.So while some play for the flag and others for the all-exppenses-paid vacation, others, like Serena, show up to see how the best in other sports get to the top and stay there.dddddddddddd. Still others, like NBA star Carmelo Anthony, come to win the championships theyve been denied back home.Klay Thompson already won an NBA championship with Golden State two years ago. But after his Warriors lost this years Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the last thing he wanted to do was sit home and sulk over what could have been.You see what it means to all these other guys and I wanted to experience that. Besides, Thompson added, nothing is ever guaranteed.Just before practice Wednesday -- at the training ground of revered Brazilian soccer club Flamengo -- a handful of his USA Basketball teammates made the hike up the nearby hill to see the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. But not -- as Cleveland-based AP sportswriter Tom Withers cracked -- to make sure it hadnt been replaced by a statue of LeBron James.Teammate Jimmy Butler saw the statue on a previous trip to Rio with the Chicago Bulls. Asked what sightseeing hes done this time around, he replied grumpily, So far, the inside of my room mostly.But dont feel too bad for Butler. Both the U.S. mens and womens teams are staying on the luxurious Silver Cloud cruise ship.Several players went to swimming Tuesday night to see Michael Phelps as he won his 21st gold medal.Several golfers, including Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler, opted for the athletes village instead, where pingpong tournaments and other late-night diversions are legendary.Many liken it to a high school cafeteria, former USA womens soccer player and current TV analyst Julie Foudy said memorably a few years ago, except everyones beautiful. Wed graze over our food for hours watching all the eye candy, wondering why I got married.Others expect to take home slightly more wholesome souvenirs.I cant wait for my little daughter to get old enough so I can tell her, `Hey, your dads been an Olympian, Reed said. I can show her the pictures from the week, show her pictures of us hanging out with the guys . Its so cool. ---Jim Litke is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. 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