The stage is set for the 194th Manchester derby as Premier League champions Manchester City and FA Cup winners Manchester United square off in the 2024 Community Shield at Wembley Stadium today.
The match, which kicks off at 3 p.m., marks the official curtain-raiser for the 2024/25 Premier League season and will be broadcast live on DStv and Gotv.
Despite Manchester City’s recent dominance in English football, winning the league four times in the last five seasons, the rivalry with United remains fiercely competitive.
Over the last 46 Manchester derbies, City has claimed 22 victories, scoring 75 goals, while United has won 20 times, netting 59 goals.
Four of those encounters ended in a draw.
However, City’s supremacy was challenged in the last derby when they fell 2-1 to United in the 2023 FA Cup final.
As the two football giants prepare to reignite their rivalry, the build-up to the match has been eventful.
The Football Association had to replace the original match-day referee, John Brooks, who sustained an injury. Premier League referee Jarred Gillett will now officiate the match.
Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, is entering his ninth season with the club, boasting an impressive record of six Premier League titles.
However, his performance in the Community Shield has been less stellar, with only two wins to his name.
Guardiola’s side will be keen to avoid a repeat of last season’s disappointment, where they lost the Community Shield to Arsenal at the same venue.
On the other hand, Manchester United is grappling with a slew of injuries.
New signing Leny Yoro is sidelined for three months with a foot injury, Aaron Wan-Bissaka was withdrawn during the last friendly due to an injury, and Harry Maguire is still recovering from an issue that kept him out of Euro 2024.
Jonny Evans is battling illness, while Victor Lindelof and Rasmus Hojlund are also on the injury list.
United’s manager, Erik Ten Hag, acknowledged the challenge ahead but emphasized the importance of securing a win.
“We always want to win, also in all the friendlies,” Ten Hag said. “It’s about the trophy. We will put out a team that is very competitive to win this trophy. It’s also pre-season, so we don’t take big risks with players. The normal approach into this game.”
In contrast, Manchester City enters the match with a fully fit squad, including key players like Erling Haaland, Rodri, Jérémy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden, all expected to feature at Wembley.
As the two sides clash in this highly anticipated encounter, football fans around the world will be watching to see who will lift the first piece of silverware of the new season.
