Community Shield - as it happened: Manchester City outclass Chelsea to get season up and running
Re-live all the action from Wembley Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.Premier League champions Manchester City take on FA Cup winners Chelsea in the annual Community Shield top raise the curtain on the new football campaign, just three weeks after the World Cup brought last season to a conclusion.
With the Premier League set to get underway next weekend, City and Chelsea will play out the traditional fixture at Wembley for the first trophy of the season, although its importance this year has been even more diminished by the absence of many World Cup stars as they enjoy a much-deserved holiday.
City are set to be without a number of players, including star midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling, but could hand a full debut to £60m summer signing Riyad Mahrez, while Chelsea are set to feature Jorginho for the first time. Eden Hazard remains an absentee though as he remains on holiday along with the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Michy Batshuayi, N’Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud, while Willian remains AWOL following what he claimed were “passport problems” that delayed his return from Brazil.
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What time does it start?
Manchester City vs Chelsea kicks off at 15:00 BST on Sunday 5 August.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 1 from 14:00 BST.
Team news
Manchester City without Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling (all holiday), Joe Hart (unpicked), Danilo (injured).
Chelsea without Thibaut Courtois, Gary Cahill, N’Golo Kante, Michy Batshuayi, Olivier Giroud (all holiday), Willian (absent), Cesc Fabregas (injured).
Odds
Manchester City to win: 21/20
Chelsea to win: 13/5
Draw (after 90 minutes): 13/5
(Odds provided by Betfair)
Prediction
Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea: Both sides are expected to field weaker sides, but having not been overly active in the transfer market the players should already have a strong bond together. City’s defence is about as full-strength as it can be that should see them prevail, and with Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus fit, they should have no problem finding the back of the net.
The battle of the youngsters?
Phil Foden and Callum Hudson-Odoi are two of the brightest examples of promising young English talent. Both have played bit part roles in their respective clubs as they grow and learn, with Chelsea fans in particular keen to see more of a talented academy product in Hudson-Odoi.
Today, sees a rare opportunity for both to start for their clubs, and an opportunity they must grasp with both hands if they are to play a part in the Premier League season once the more established names are back at full fitness from their various World Cup exploits.
Anyone that followed our World Cup coverage, will know there's been plenty of nice kits and training shirts over the summer. The Chelsea warm up one I'm not sure quite makes the cut...think chequered white, blue and red. But nowhere near as good as Croatia.
Keep them under the bibs lads.
Remember we have to find a winner here, even if that means a penalty shootout. We are familiar with those after the World Cup, but if we get that far this one will be decided by the 'ABBA' format - designed to make the system fairer, although all the more confusing for everyone else, at least initially.
10 minutes until kick off at Wembley.
Wembley looking fairly full considering the lack of excitement around this one for many. The teams are in the tunnel and we are almost ready for them to walk out on the hallowed Wembley turf. It's hot, really hot and that could play a part here later on, with both sides not quite at peak fitness.
As a side note, Willy Caballero will be against his former club after a less than convincing (that's being kind) World Cup. His opposite number Claudio Bravo also not always the most assured in goal. Could be an interesting one.
The red carpet is down on the Wembley turf, hopefully the sun doesn't bake it on permanently.
We have the official handshakes ahead of this one, and the national anthem is also getting underway.
Pep Guardiola sporting a T-Shirt and green chinos, Maurizio Sarri going for the Chelsea tee. The managers coming prepared for the weather here.
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