Community Shield Preview

10/08/2012

Finally. Finally. Finally football is back. OK there’s barely been a day without football in this packed sporting summer. The Olympic games football competition followed quickly on the heels of Euro 2012. Addicts craving their football fix never had far to look.

But finally, football is back. The community shield is the traditional start of the English football season. Domestic football. Club football. Real football.

European and, crucially in this case, FA cup champions Chelsea will face Premier League champions Manchester City.

In many ways they are the prefect opponents to kick start a feast of football through to next May. Along with Manchester United, City and Chelsea are likely to be leading the championship race. City have been relatively quiet in the close season; only dishing out new contracts to captain Vincent Kompany and Manager Roberto Mancini. And of course Carlos Tevez is well and truly back in the mix at City.

Chelsea on the other hand have been rather busy. Roman Abramovich has written, new permanent boss, Di Matteo a blank cheque. WIth Eden Hazard, Marko Marin and Oscar joining the club. Such talent doesn’t come cheap.

So this will be the first tentative skirmish in the title race. No points are on the line. And not many fans lose sleep the night before the community shield desperate for their team to win. But we will learn something about how two of the top dogs are shaping up going into what promises to be a thrilling season.

If it’s half as fun as last season; with the title decided in the last minute. We’re in for a treat. And with a stronger Chelsea - their European triumph not withstanding - the title race should be all the more exciting; with the London club challenging the dominance of the Manchester duopoly.

Of course traditional opening to the season or not; the community shield always has an air of preseason about it. With Chelsea’s Oscar still at the Olympics and various other players in different stages of preseason conditioning; the teams will be shaped by who is further along in their preseason preparation.

Micah Richards was involved for GB at the Olympics while Gareth Barry is injured. David Silva and Mario Balotelli are fresh off the Euro 2012 final.

But whoever lines up. Finally. Welcome back real football.

Remember you can watch all the events live on your computer or mobile on ITV1. Need a UK IP? Click Here