This weekend sees the football season get underway across England. The Championship, League One and League Two teams will all get their campaigns underway this week, with the Premier League starting next weekend.
However, two teams will be in action this weekend in the traditional opener of the Premier League season, the Community Shield. This annual fixture pits the winners of last season’s Premier League title against the FA Cup winners of last season, which means this year Manchester City will face Leicester City in the showpiece game.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City ran away with the Premier League title last season and added the League Cup to their trophy cabinet too, but they fell short in the FA Cup and Champions League, losing to Chelsea in both competitions at the semifinal and final stages respectively.
Leicester City took on Manchester City’s conquerors Chelsea in the FA Cup Final and
landed a 1-0 win thanks to Youri Tielemans spectacular strike from distance, and the fact VAR disallowed a late Chelsea equaliser from Ben Chilwell due to Chilwell being offside in the build up.
Both teams will harbour big ambitions of another very positive season this time around and to kick start it with a win in the opening match would be the perfect boost ahead of next week’s Premier League kick-off.
You can enjoy a wide range of bets on the game with bet365 Sport, which has an extensive range of bets available in the pre-match markets and the site will also be offering extensive In-Play betting once the game gets underway at 5.00pm this Saturday night.
Remember too that if you are based in the United States then BetRivers Sportsbook offers an excellent selection of soccer bets from all over the world, including on this week’s Community Shield and next week’s Premier League season start.
Saturday’s game should be an interesting indication of how ready these two teams are ahead of the new season, so let’s take a look at both the teams in a bit more detail to gauge how likely they are to be amongst the front-runners in the EPL, as well as potential Community Shield victors this weekend.
Manchester City Preview
Manchester City were convincing Premier League Champions last season, reclaiming the
title back from Liverpool. Pep Guardiola is a manager that takes the Community Shield very seriously, so I don’t think we will see him playing a weakened side in the game
City have won this trophy on six occasions previously, the most recent being back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019. They also landed the trophy in 1937, 1968, 1972 and 2012.
Pre-Season Transfers
- Major Transfers Out – Angelino (to RB Leipzig), Sergio Aguero (to Barcelona), Lukas Nmecha (to Vfl Wolfsburg), Jack Harrison (to Leeds Utd), Eric Garcia (to Barcelona)
- Major Transfers In – Scott Carson (from Derby County)
- Linked With A Transfer Bid For – Jack Grealish (Aston Villa, ÂŁ100m), Harry Kane (Tottenham – ÂŁ120m)
Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia’s moves to Barcelona were expected ahead of the summer, while Angelino, Harrison and Nmecha’s departures were all expected. City’s only major transfer in this summer has been a backup keeper in the shape of veteran Scott Carson.
However, City are believed to be hot on the heels of two England stars to bolster their squad ahead of the season, with a bid for Aston Villa star Jack Grealish already believed to have been made around the ÂŁ100m mark, while City have long been linked with a move for Spurs wantaway England striker Harry Kane.
While neither are likely to arrive at the club imminently, City may well look to get the deals done before the transfer window closes at the end of August.
Current Manchester City Squad
Goalkeepers
- Ederson
- Zack Steffen
- Arijanet Muric
- Scott Carson
Defenders
- Ruben Dias (DC)
- Aymeric Laporte (DC)
- Nathan Ake (DC)
- John Stones (DC)
- Ko Itakura (DC)
- Philippe Sandler (DC)
- Oleksandr Zinchenko (DL)
- Bernard Mendy (DL)
- Joao Cancelo (DR)
- Kyle Walker (DRC)
Midfielders
- Rodri (DMC)
- Fernandinho (DMC)
- Ilkay Gundogan (MC)
- Yangel Herrera (MC)
- Kevin De Bruyne (MC)
- Bernardo Silva (AMC)
- Phil Foden (AMLC)
- Raheem Sterling (AMRC)
Attackers
- Ferran Torres (AMR)
- Riyad Mahrez (AMRL)
- Gabriel Jesus (AC)
When you look at City’s squad, you can see why Pep Guardiola has targeted attacking players as Sergio Aguero has not been replaced and Grealish would be able to play a central supporting role behind the attackers, while Kane would be a direct replacement for the Argentinean legend.
City always tend to play a 4-3-3 formation and I can’t see Pep Guardiola moving away from that for this season opener.
Man City Probable XI – (4-3-3) – Ederson, Walker, Zinchenko, Dias, Stones, Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Torres, Mahrez, Jesus
Leicester City Preview
The Foxes missed out on a Champions League place right at the death last season so will
play in the Europa League this coming season once again, the second year in a row that this has happened to Brendan Rodgers men.
However, that disappointment was tempered by the fact that they beat Chelsea in the FA Cup Final at Wembley to land their first FA Cup Final win at the fifth attempt.
The Foxes have won the Community Shield once before, back in 1971.
Pre-Season Transfers
- Major Transfers Out – Christian Fuchs (to Charlotte Ind.), Matty James (to Bristol City), Wes Morgan (Retired)
- Major Transfers In – Patson Daka (from RB Salzburg), Boubakary Soumare (from Lille), Ryan Bertrand (from Southampton)
- Linked With A Transfer Bid For – Ozan Kabak (Schalke 04, £22.5m)
Leicester have managed to hang on to all their star names this season, with long-time club captain Wes Morgan retiring, Christian Fuchs heading to the United States and fringe player Matty James moving to Bristol City being the only departures.
However, they have strengthened their squad in key areas by snapping up Ryan Bertrand on a free, as well as spending big money on Boubakary Soumare from Lille and Patson Daka from Red Bull Salzburg.
The Foxes have so far had no offers for James Maddison, who was linked with a transfer away from the club this season, but Hamza Choudhury is believed to be on the radar of Newcastle United. The Foxes meanwhile retain an interest in Schalke 04’s Ozan Kabak, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Liverpool.
Current Leicester City Squad
Goalkeepers
- Kasper Schmeichel
- Danny Ward
- Eldin Jakupovic
Defenders
- Caglar Soyuncu (DC)
- Wesley Fofana (DC)
- Jonny Evans (DC)
- Filip Benkovic (DC)
- Sam Hughes (DC)
- Ryan Bertrand (DL)
- Luke Thomas (DL)
- Ricardo Pereira (DR)
- Timothy Castagne (DRL)
- James Justin (DR) (injured)
Midfielders
- Wilfred Ndidi (DMC)
- Boubakary Soumare (DMC)
- Nampalys Mendy (DMC)
- Daniel Amartey (DMRC)
- Youri Tielemans (MC)
- Dennis Praet (MC)
- Hamza Choudhury (MC)
- Marc Albrighton (MR)
- Harvey Barnes (ML)
- James Maddison (AMC)
Attackers
- Ayoze Perez (AC)
- Patson Daka (AC)
- Kelechi Iheanacho (AC)
- Jamie Vardy (AC)
- Rachid Ghezzal (AMR)
This looks a very nicely balanced squad and the addition of Soumare and Daka in particular gives the team added strength in central areas of midfield and attack. With Harvey Barnes back from injury and the club having held on to the likes of Tielemans, Maddison and Ndidi, Leicester should be a very strong opponent for the Premier League Champions on Saturday.
I expect Brendan Rodgers to go with a 4-2-3-1 formation against City this weekend to try and counter City’s possession of the ball in midfield.
Leicester Probable Team – (4-2-3-1) – Schmeichel, Ricardo Pereira, Castagne, Soyuncu, Evans, Soumare, Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes, Vardy.
Man City V Leicester City Historic Record
- Games Played – 122
- Man City Wins – 62
- Leicester City Wins – 31
- Drawn Games – 29
Leicester have won just two of the last 11 games between the two teams, Manchester City winning the other nine.
In last season’s matches between the two teams Leicester were 5-2 winners over Man City at the Etihad in September, but Man City gained revenge with a 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium in April.
This will be the first time the teams have met in the Community Shield game.
Manchester City v Leicester City Top Tips
I think this game on Saturday is going to be a very closely fought one. I think Leicester have made some astute signings and the lack of attackers coming into Man City so far this summer does mean they look a little light in attack.
Even so, Man City should have more than enough quality to win the game, but I do feel Leicester will push them hard and it will be just a single goal that separates them on the day.
Community Shield Tips
- Manchester City to win – 10/11
- Manchester City to win 2-1 – 15/2
- HT/FT – Draw/Man City – 4/1
Odds were provided by bet365 Sport and were correct as of 10am on Tuesday 3rd August.
Tags: bet365 Sport
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