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.
Follow the live action below...
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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.
27 mins: We are back underway, and Sarri is left scratching his head - both literally and figuratively
29 mins: Manchester City corner, but Morata can clear, leaving Hudson-Odoi to break before he's fouled. Chelsea will look to get him on the ball more as the game goes on
31 mins: Hudson-Odoi cuts inside once again, gets his shot away but it's just over the bar. Kyle Walker a tough test for the young forward but he is playing with plenty of energy and confidence
34 mins: Hudson-Odoi cuts inside once again, and amid some defensive dithering he gets a shot away and tests Bravo, who drops it, but does enough to eventually gather
36 mins: Bernardo Silva with a great run through the middle, plays in Riyad Mahrez who's first touch is awful and allows David Luiz to clear. A big chance for City to double their advantage goes begging
39 mins: Hudson-Odoi growing into this one, with some nice touches and skill against Walker, but City still look more than capable of adding to their goal.
Meanwhile on the touchline, Sarri has a chat with Danny Drinkwater - perhaps we should expect to see him in the second half
43 mins: As we approach half-time, the game is following a similiar pattern...Chelsea break forward through Hudson-Odoi who lacks support, and City break back the other way. Hudson-Odoi at least seeing more of the ball
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