Match Previews

country flag Community Shield Round Final
Leicester City vs. Manchester United
Sun 07 August 2016 16:00
Referee
Craig Pawson
Weather at KO
Travel Info
Distance

Leicester City

Last updated: Sun 07 August 2016 08:47

The most unlikely of champions Leicester will want to impress at the start of the new season … Returning from the USA just 48 hours before this game … The Foxes lost Kante (r) (mid) this summer, with Mahrez (k) (att) also on the doorstep but remaining for now … Benalouane (sp) (def) sidelined … James (sp) (mid) doubtful; Vardy (r) (att) passed fit … Leicester’s unthinkable story from last year will be told for many years to come but there are hardly any believers that Ranieri’s Foxes can continue mixing with the big boys for the second year in a row. N’Golo Kante, who was the best defensive midfielder in the league all spring joined Chelsea, while Wednesday morning brought the news that Leicester’s player of the season Riyad Mahrez has agreed terms to join Arsenal. If Kante’s departure was covered by the signing of Mendy Ranieri looks unprepared for Mahrez leaving and without him there won’t be a single typical right winger in the squad. Ranieri reacted and Kapustka joined on Wednesday. Mahrez is also still a fox and he seems destined to start this game even if he leaves after it. The Foxes are still dreaming big after the title and they will definitely want to send everyone a statement in this Community Shield clash, but the truth is that hardly anyone takes this game seriously. Leicester’s clash vs. Barcelona in the States on Wednesday night is generating much more interest than the coming game this weekend and the fact that Leicester are landing back in England only 48 hours before the Sunday game shows that. On Saturday Leicester suffered a painful lesson when being hammered 4:0 by PSG in a game that exposed many defensive weaknesses. Ranieri is likely to keep his successful 4-4-2 formation for this game, with Okazaki and newcomer Musa tipped to lead the attack. Last season’s top goalscorer Vardy recovers from wrist surgery but he made his first appearance in a 2:4 defeat against Barca on Wednesday and will be available for the coming curtain-opener. Matty James is also a doubt after he didn’t even board the plane to the USA with a serious illness. Defender Benalouane is sidelined, but he is not part of Ranieri’s plans anyway. 

Manchester United

Last updated: Sun 07 August 2016 11:49

Will be desperate to kick season off with some silverware....Displayed mixed form in pre-season...Have won just once in last four meetings against Leicester City....New signings Zlatan Ibrahimovic(k)(att), Henrik Mkhitaryan(r)(mid), Eric Bertrand(r)(def) all expected to start....Cameron Borthwick-Jackson(def), Chris Smalling(k)(def), Timothy Fosu-Mensah(sp)(def) fit....Manchester United will be desperate to show that they are back in big time as they look to strike an early blow against defending champions Leicester City when the two teams meet in the Community Shield on Sunday. After a dismal campaign last season which saw them miss out on a Champions League spot for a second time in last three years, it has been another summer of major changes at Old Trafford starting with their coach as Louis Van Gaal was sacked in favor of Jose Mourinho. The former Chelsea coach has been busy in the summer, bringing in three new players so far in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrik Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly while a central midfielder is also on the agenda for the club, with Paul Pogba tipped to make a return to Old Trafford. All the three new signings are expected to make their debut against Leicester on Sunday as Mourinho looks to get the season off to a winning start. United though have not had the best of times against Leicester in recent games, managing to win just once in their last four games. While Chris Smalling is back in training after overcoming a groin injury, the defender has not featured in the pre-season which could see Daley Blind retain his place alongside Bailly in the center of the defense. Timothy Fosu-Mensah is also back in training following a calf injury while Cameron Borthwick-Jackson featured in a reserves game against Salford City and is also available for selection

Suspended
  • ---
Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability) Rested
  • ---
Suspended
  • ---
Unavailable
  • ---
Doubtful (chance of availability)
  • ---
Rested
  • ---
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Transfer in
  • Ahmed Musa (att) CSKA Moscow; Nampalys Mendy (mid) Nancy; Ron-Robert Zieler (gk) Hannover 96; Luis Hernandez (def) Sporting Gijon; Yohan Benalouane (def) Fiorentina – end of loan; Bartosz Kapustka (mid) Cracovia Krakow;
Transfer out
  • N’Golo Kante (r) (mid) Chelsea; Andrej Kramaric (sp) (att) Hoffenheim; Jacob Blyth (att) Motherwell; Dean Hammond (sp) (mid) Sheffield United; Paul Konchesky (sp) (def) Gillingham; Ryan Watson (mid) Barnet; Jonny Maddison (gk) Yeovil Town; Marc Schwarzer (sp) (gk) released;
Transfer in
  • Henrik Mkhitaryan(mid) (Borussia Dortmund), Eric Bertrand(def) (Villarreal), Zlatan Ibrahimovic(att) (Free)
Transfer out
  • Guillermo Varela(def) (Eintracht Frankfurt - Loan), Victor Valdes(gk) (Free), Nick Powell(mid) (Free)
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Transfer in
  • Ahmed Musa (att) CSKA Moscow; Nampalys Mendy (mid) Nancy; Ron-Robert Zieler (gk) Hannover 96; Luis Hernandez (def) Sporting Gijon; Yohan Benalouane (def) Fiorentina – end of loan; Bartosz Kapustka (mid) Cracovia Krakow;
Transfer out
  • N’Golo Kante (r) (mid) Chelsea; Andrej Kramaric (sp) (att) Hoffenheim; Jacob Blyth (att) Motherwell; Dean Hammond (sp) (mid) Sheffield United; Paul Konchesky (sp) (def) Gillingham; Ryan Watson (mid) Barnet; Jonny Maddison (gk) Yeovil Town; Marc Schwarzer (sp) (gk) released;

Manchester United

Last updated: Sun 07 August 2016 11:49

Will be desperate to kick season off with some silverware....Displayed mixed form in pre-season...Have won just once in last four meetings against Leicester City....New signings Zlatan Ibrahimovic(k)(att), Henrik Mkhitaryan(r)(mid), Eric Bertrand(r)(def) all expected to start....Cameron Borthwick-Jackson(def), Chris Smalling(k)(def), Timothy Fosu-Mensah(sp)(def) fit....Manchester United will be desperate to show that they are back in big time as they look to strike an early blow against defending champions Leicester City when the two teams meet in the Community Shield on Sunday. After a dismal campaign last season which saw them miss out on a Champions League spot for a second time in last three years, it has been another summer of major changes at Old Trafford starting with their coach as Louis Van Gaal was sacked in favor of Jose Mourinho. The former Chelsea coach has been busy in the summer, bringing in three new players so far in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrik Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly while a central midfielder is also on the agenda for the club, with Paul Pogba tipped to make a return to Old Trafford. All the three new signings are expected to make their debut against Leicester on Sunday as Mourinho looks to get the season off to a winning start. United though have not had the best of times against Leicester in recent games, managing to win just once in their last four games. While Chris Smalling is back in training after overcoming a groin injury, the defender has not featured in the pre-season which could see Daley Blind retain his place alongside Bailly in the center of the defense. Timothy Fosu-Mensah is also back in training following a calf injury while Cameron Borthwick-Jackson featured in a reserves game against Salford City and is also available for selection

Suspended
  • ---
Unavailable
  • ---
Doubtful (chance of availability)
  • ---
Rested
  • ---
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Transfer in
  • Henrik Mkhitaryan(mid) (Borussia Dortmund), Eric Bertrand(def) (Villarreal), Zlatan Ibrahimovic(att) (Free)
Transfer out
  • Guillermo Varela(def) (Eintracht Frankfurt - Loan), Victor Valdes(gk) (Free), Nick Powell(mid) (Free)

Key

Key players
Regular players
Support players
75% - Chance of availability
Artificial Pitch
Universal Player Grid
Squad Confirmed
Played in Cup fixture
New Information

Team Strength*

Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Just Adequate
Poor
*Based on Available Players
Game Score
Round Final
Leicester City - Manchester United 1 - 2