August 12 – Manchester City avenged their FA Cup defeat by Manchester United at Wembley on Saturday, securing the first silverware of the season with a Community Shield victory.
Just eight weeks after Erik Ten Hag’s side claimed the FA Cup in an unlikely victory in the English capital, their blue neighbours were back in the driving seat, just.
The match was decided by penalties, with City defender Manuel Akanji scoring the decisive goal in a tense 7-6 shootout.
First blood was drawn by Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho, who notched a tidy left-footed finish into the bottom right corner to give his side a deserved lead in the 82nd minute.
However, City responded against the run of play, with Bernardo Silva heading in a last-minute equaliser to force penalties.
Neither of Man Utd’s summer signings featured in the clash. Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee remained on the bench, while €62 million centre-back Leny Yoro is sidelined until November with a knee injury.
In contrast, City’s new signing Savinho made his competitive debut under Pep Guardiola, coming on for Jeremy Doku in the 63rd minute. While the Brazilian showed promise, it was Bernardo Silva who stole the spotlight after coming off the bench to score the crucial equaliser.
With many of Manchester City’s players yet to return after the events of the summer, Guardiola lined up with an unfamiliar side. Phil Foden, Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne were the notable absentees, although the latter watched on as an unused sub from the bench.
In their place were Mateo Kovacic flanked by academy players James McAtee, who spent last season on loan at Sheffield United, and 19-year-old Nico Reilly.
Meanwhile, Man Utd had virtually their whole squad available (bar a long list of injuries), including Kobbie Mainoo who returned early from England duty.
Man City open their Premier League title defence versus Chelsea at the Etihad stadium on Sunday, after Man Utd host Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday night to lift the curtain on the 2024/25 league season.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1726804250labto1726804250ofdlr1726804250owedi1726804250sni@g1726804250niwe.1726804250yrrah1726804250