Prediction: Chelsea vs Manchester United

August 7th 2010

Following a three-month break, the new football season in England starts with a Community Shield match between Premier League champions Chelsea and Carling Cup winners Manchester United. With the two bitter rivals again the main candidates for the Premiership title, this match will give us a clear indication of where the teams are at in terms of form and fitness.

Surprisingly or not, but Chelsea have rarely filled the transfer news sections this summer. The Blues squad have undergone minor changes over the summer but the starting line-up should keep its old look. The only notable signing so far, Yossi Benayoun will need some time to adapt to the new surroundings but Carlo Ancelotti believes he will be a big hit at Stamford Bridge. On the other hand, Joe Cole, Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti left the club but since none of them was considered a key player last term, they are unlikely to be sorely missed. The Blues have had major problems in their warm-up games, having lost the last three of those, to Ajax, Eintracht and Hamburg, and that could have a negative effect to the players’ confidence. Ancelotti has already named his starting 11, with the only surprise Didier Drogba’s exclusion from the starting line-up. Hilario is set to deputize for sidelined Petr Cech, whereas Alex and Bosingwa are also out with injuries. Anelka, Kalou and Malouda will start up front.

Just like his Chelsea counterpart, Sir Alex Ferguson can virtually count on the same squad like that of last season. Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling have been signed with a view to the future, although they could make some impact this term as well. Seeing there were no major departures, United look a bit stronger than last term. The Red Devils enjoyed pretty good results on their traditional American tour, with Mexican Hernandez especially impressive. The players who took part at the World Cup are slowly being introduced to the side and they will probably be somewhat spared in the opening rounds of the season. Carrick, Anderson, Evra and Ferdinand have been ruled out, while Ferguson revealed Rooney and Owen would play at least 45 minutes each against Chelsea.

Conclusion

It was Chelsea who won the title last season after beating United on penalties and we are likely to see another very tight game. Even though this is seen more as a friendly game than a competitive match, neither side would want to start the season with a defeat and this match should resemble all the past meetings between the sides. Both managers will be more concerned with keeping their key players fit for the Premier League opener next week and I see draw as the most likely outcome here.

Verdict: Draw (X)

Best Odds: 23/10

Bookmaker: Ladbrokes