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Richest league becoming predictable contest
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-06 10:15

LONDON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich looks to have turned the world's richest league into the kind of predictable title race usually reserved for Europe's poorer nations.

Arsenal's scrappy 0-0 draw with Manchester United in midweek means Chelsea now have one hand plus a few fingers on a second consecutive Premier League title with over four months of football still to play.

Chelsea's Hernan Crespo (2nd L) scores past Birmingham City's Matthew Upson (L) and Maik Taylor (2nd R) during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London, December 31, 2005.
Chelsea's Hernan Crespo (2nd L) scores past Birmingham City's Matthew Upson (L) and Maik Taylor (2nd R) during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London, December 31, 2005. [Reuters]

The idea that New Year, rather than Easter, should be the decisive period in a European season seems absurd. Yet Chelsea's four wins over the festive spell -- part of a run of nine consecutive league victories -- has all but achieved that.

Defeated only once, they are already 13 points ahead of second-placed United and a staggering 24 points in front of Arsenal, who were unbeaten champions in 2003-04 and are now languishing in fifth place.

Clearly, with another 17 matches to play, the arithmetic still makes it an open contest.

Chelsea's defence, which set an all-time record for the fewest goals conceded last season (15) and has only let in 10 during their 21 games to date, could suffer an impromptu collapse in confidence, ability or both.

A top-scoring attack that has hit 46 league goals or a midfield featuring the second-best footballer on the planet last year in Frank Lampard, according to world governing body FIFA, could yet implode under the sheer pressure, or lack of it.

But the omens for Chelsea's rivals are not encouraging.

The west London team, who have only drawn one league match, look set to add to their winning sequence against rock-bottom Sunderland, a Charlton Athletic side with only two wins since October and mid-table Aston Villa.

Abramovich's $400 million investment in Chelsea to date, since buying it as an indebted club in 2003, has effectively made the English top-flight a one-horse race.

Money has enabled coach Jose Mourinho to strengthen his ample squad with top quality players, often those sought by his anguished rivals.
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