If Chelsea win the league this season and Manchester City do not then October 1^st and 2^nd will be regarded as a pivotal 48 hours that shaped the course of the whole campaign. It was on this weekend that the trajectories of each club crossed, with Chelsea closing the door on a horrendous September by putting a stubborn Hull City to the sword. City meanwhile travelled to White Hart Lane on the Sunday full of confidence after gaining maximum points from their opening six games. Second to every second ball, Guardiola’s men were comprehensively dismantled before our very eyes.

[ffc_insert title="" name="FM17 Project" image_ link="https://www.footballfancast.com/championship/aston-villa/villans-to-heroes-the-fm17-aston-villa-project-episode-3" link_text="Episode Three" ]

There is far more to it than mere results, of course. After being shown up for the disorganised chaos they had become – by arch rivals Arsenal of all sides – Chelsea teetered on the first mini-precipice of a mini-crisis forcing Antonio Conte to publicly state that enough was enough. There would be changes, he promised, and true to his word the Blues’ trip to the KCOM Stadium debuted a 3-4-3 formation he was well familiar with from his time in Italy. The new set-up afforded Victor Moses a biblical return from the wilderness and he did all but part the red sea in an outstanding performance that was matched by his team-mates. Whether it was born of desperation or design, Chelsea had evidently found a system that suited their coach and players.

Their return to winning ways at the start of October kick-started a startling run that has seen the west London giants concede just the once while banging in 19 goals to secure seven consecutive victories in the top flight for the first time since 2007.

Manchester City’s winning streak occurred from the off. Which was was surprising, given that they – like Chelsea – were bedding in a new foreign coach who had never before experienced the demands of English football. Yes this was Pep Guardiola, a managerial maestro credited with changing the face of the modern game, but even geniuses require some time to settle in and adapt. Don't they? Apparently not as the Blues of the north shot from the blocks playing sophisticated, high-tempo attacking fare that contrasted greatly with the predictable stodge served up by Pellegrini last term. A tweak here, a new signing there, and City already looked the finished article before a tree had dropped a single leaf.

Only then came Spurs and maybe the mental fragility of the squad was immediately exposed or perhaps Guardiola himself was jolted into realising his side’s limitations but the warning lights flashed and everything seemed to change. Everything, that is, but the results: City have not lost a second time in the league, though a trio of home draws have certainly frustrated the Etihad faithful.  But the performances visibly have dipped while the fluid, fast and commanding build-up play has slowed to a pedestrian pace. At times – against teams that are their inferior – they have blundered through. A Pep Guardiola team has blundered through.

Still, it hardly constitutes an emergency, not when they currently lie just a point off the top having already guaranteed qualification to the Champions League knock-outs with a game to spare. But make no bones about it, this is a pale imitation of the free-scoring eleven who were prematurely crowned as champions elect just a handful of games into 2016/17.

Which brings us to this Saturday’s momentous lunchtime clash, and if the first weekend of October was noteworthy as one side began their ascent and the other declined, then this fixture could have far more of a literal bearing on the title’s destination than an imaginary graph.

Understandably, much of the attention will focus on Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa, each with ten goals already and only requiring a split-second of space to make the difference in a game expected to be frenetic but nullifying. In truth though there are fascinating match-ups across the pitch with perhaps the most intriguing aspect being Guardiola’s team selection. We know how Chelsea will set-up. So does Pep.

This then is one for the neutrals who want to be engrossed in drama. And it is one for the chin-strokers who equate football to chess.

The similarities between City and Chelsea way back in the summer were striking. Both had endured underwhelming seasons and consequently both placed reborn optimism into coaches steeped in silverware and plaudits. It was a new chapter in the capital of the north and the capital of the south.

And those similarities have continued as the season edges past its first third in that each have excelled for a spell apiece. The key difference for me is, for Chelsea that time is now.