With the start of the new Premier League season just days away, this weekend will witness the curtain raiser of the new PL season: the FA Community Shield.
Premier League winners, Manchester City, will lock horns with the FA Cup winners, Chelsea, inside the Wembley stadium as both sides look to win their first silverware of the season.
Both managers will take part in the game for the first time in their careers. And they’ve both had quite a lot to say in the build-up to the game.
One hand, Pep Guardiola guided the Manchester Blues to a record-breaking 2017/2018 league season. They famously became the centurions as Pep added two titles to his already-glistering career.
On the other hand, Maurizio Sarri, who made the move from Napoli to the London Blues this summer, is still trying to adjust to the English climate.
It may seem like a match with “not too much at stake,” but both teams will be looking to win the first silverware of the season.
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Both clubs, being Premier League sides, have plenty of history between them.
Looking at the recent history between both clubs, Manchester City defeated Chelsea both times they met in the Premier League last season. And both games ended in a 1-0 scoreline.
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The last six meetings between both sides have ended in 3 wins apiece for both sides, with an average of 3 goals being scored per game. Being a neutral ground, home advantage does not come to the fore.
History aside, there are quite a number of factors that could determine who wins this game, including
1. Extended holidays
Some of the players that ply their trades in these clubs are still enjoying an extended lay-off following their exploits in the just-concluded World Cup finals.
Players like Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Raheem Sterling, N’golo Kante, amongst others won’t be available for selection for this game. What this means is that both teams will have to set up in a way that they can cope without the presence of these regulars.
2. History between both managers
This may seem like a meeting between the beginning of a fresh rivalry between the old guard (Pep Guardiola) and a new one (Maurizio Sarri), but both managers have some history between themselves.
In the 2017/2018 Champions League season, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli were in the same group. Both managers clashed twice during the season, with Pep Guardiola wining both games (2-1, 2-4).
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Looks like the Citizens are favorites to win this one. On NairaBET, as at the time of this writing, they’re priced at 2.10 to win while Chlesea to win stands at 3.55.
Which of these two teams do you think will win? Leave us a comment and share your thoughts with us.
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