Football Results

Manchester United and Chelsea don’t win titles in England lately but both teams can boast with fact that they won the Europa League; Manchester United did so two years ago, while Chelsea is the reigning champion of the Europa League. Manchester United underperformed in the Premier League last season, while Chelsea did well as it won the third place. Both their league matches played last year had ended as draws, while Manchester United won in the FA Cup.

Manchester United

The season in which Manchester United will be under strong pressure is about to begin. The United has been sidelined for years and if we exclude the second place won two years ago and title in the European League, they are very far from trophies. The fourth, fifth or sixth places, as was the case last season, are not what the old Trafford wants and this season is an opportunity to change that. They played great in the preparatory period and mostly won, including several matches against very strong teams.

Last season was a real torture for the United especially while Mourinho was still the manager. The United’s game and results improved with arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but only in first ten matches. Later on, they again play to vary a lot and that is why they lost the Champions League. They brought two valuable reinforcements, Wan-Bissaku for the right flank and stopper Maguire, and there is also young striker James from Swansea. They sold R. Lukaku to Inter, while Herrer and A. Valencia left the team.

Probable lineups Manchester United: de Gea – Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw – McTominay, Pogba – Rashford, Lingard, James – Martial

Chelsea

Chelsea had a pretty good season as they finished in the third place and that was a nice result. They couldn’t have done better than that as Manchester City and Liverpool played like they played last season, and on top of it the Blues won the Europa League. Season with the title and lost final of the League Cup, besides the above mentioned third place, wasn’t good enough to keep manager Sarri in the club. Instead of him the new manager is the club legend, Frank Lampard. He was a top player but needs to prove his coaching skill. He did a great job with Derby County in the Championship last season and it needed just a bit to earn promotion for the Premier League.

The Blues played quite well during the preparatory period although they are under transfer ban. They can only buy only players who were borrowed, and they decided to retain midfielder Kovacic. Besides him there is Pulisic, who had been “reserved” previously from Borussia Dortmund. Several players are back from loans and we would mention forward Batshuayi and midfielder Bakayoka. Still, they lost far more with departure of Eden Hazard and that is impossible to make up, while experienced stoppers D. Luiz and Cahill are no more with the team.

Probable lineups Chelsea: Arrizabalaga – Azpilicueta, Zouma, Christensen, Emerson – Jorginho, Cante – Pedro, Kovacic, Pulisic – T. Abraham

Verdict:

It is the very beginning of season and such strong match comes too early for both teams. It seems that the United performed better in the preparatory period. They didn’t lose too many players this summer and have strengthened their defence. Chelsea lost the team’s first star and that must have left a scar, so we will forecast a victory of the home team.

Pick:  Manchester United 2.22 - 122/100 @1XBet