Community Shield 2024/25 Preview: Manchester United vs Manchester City

The annual curtain raiser for the English football season takes centre stage this weekend as Wembley Stadium hosts the 2024/25 Community Shield.

The blockbuster clash between Manchester United and Manchester City is a rematch of last season’s FA Cup final between the two sides, when all bookmakers and online gambling platforms such as GoPlay backed the Premier League champions to win, only to see those bets defeated by the plucky ‘underdogs’.

The Red Devils triumphed 2-1 on that occasion and will be eager to repeat the feat to lay down an early marker ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign.

The Community Shield has not been kind to Pep Guardiola’s side in recent seasons, with his team defeated by Leicester City, Liverpool and Arsenal in the last three years. Given that they have been largely successful in the league (and in Europe) during this time, the result will not bother the Citizens much, although beating their local rivals is always a plus.

Man United Have a Point to Prove

United’s FA Cup final victory over their local rivals ultimately kept manager Erik ten Hag in a job and he will be desperate to record another success on Saturday.

Ten Hag tactically outwitted Guardiola on that occasion and it will be intriguing to see if he can repeat the trick this time around.

Pre-season has been a mixed bag for United. They were defeated 1-0 by Rosenborg in their first outing before recording a 2-0 victory at Rangers.

United then slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Arsenal, but bounced back with a 3-2 win over Real Betis. A 3-0 reverse against Liverpool rounded off their pre-season fixtures.

Ten Hag will be mindful that his team must hit the ground running when the season starts and he needs them to produce the goods against City.

Man City Gunning for Revenge at Wembley

Man City went into the FA Cup final as big favourites with the bookmakers to lift the trophy, but they came up short against a fired-up United team.

That result scuppered their hopes of clinching the double and they will be eager to gain some semblance of revenge in the Community Shield.

City have been involved in several entertaining games during pre-season, although results have not been to Guardiola’s liking.

They suffered defeats against Celtic, AC Milan and Barcelona, before finally getting a win on the board with a 4-2 victory over Chelsea.

Guardiola will be eager to use that performance as a springboard to put United to the sword this weekend and head into the season in a buoyant mood.

Recent History Against Man City

As mentioned earlier, City’s recent record in the Community Shield is nothing to write home about.

Their third consecutive Community Shield defeat last season equalled a club record set by Man United in 2001.

Intriguingly, their successes in 2018 and 2019 are the only times in the last ten years that the league champions have triumphed in this fixture.

Man United’s 2-1 victory over Leicester in 2016 was their 21st success in the Community Shield and they will fancy their chances of adding another to their tally.

Man Utd vs Man United Team News

Injuries hit Man United hard last season, scuppering their hopes of mounting a serious challenge for a top four finish in the Premier League.

They have continued in the same vein during pre-season, with Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund sustaining injuries which will keep them out for several weeks.

Manager Erik ten Hag will be desperate to avoid any further issues, particularly with their league season scheduled to start against Fulham on August 16.

By contrast, Man City head into the game with no major injury concerns which should boost their chances of winning the Community Shield.

Guardiola had suggested that Erling Braut Haaland needs to have his minutes managed, but he looked in fine fettle when he bagged a hat-trick against Chelsea.

Rico Lewis and Kalvin Phillips could also feature in the starting XI, while Jack Grealish may be handed the chance to impress after playing a bit-part role last season.

Man United vs Man City Potential Starting XIs

• Man United: Andre Onana, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro, Amad Diallo, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho.
• Man City: Stefan Ortega, Kyle Walker, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Braut Haaland.

Man United vs Man City Prediction

Given City’s recent record in the Community Shield, it would be foolish to underestimate United’s chances of upsetting the odds this weekend.

The Red Devils deservedly triumphed in the FA Cup final and are capable of matching the feat if their players reproduce the same level of form.

City are generally not fully tuned up at this time of year and United can take advantage by claiming a narrow 2-1 victory on Saturday.

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