Predictions 16 – 19.08.2024
Manchester United vs Fulham | Premier League
16/08/2024 20:00
Prediction: 2-1
Manchester United is set to kick off their 2024/2025 Premier League campaign against Fulham at Old Trafford in Manchester. The Red Devils are favored to win in this season opener.
However, Erik ten Hag’s team enters the new season on a sour note. In the Community Shield, United suffered a defeat on penalties to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. United may face some lineup challenges, as they are confirmed to be without three players, while three others remain doubtful. Recent signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui are also unlikely to feature in the match against the Cottagers.
On the other side, Marco Silva’s Fulham appears to have a relatively healthy squad, although Emile Smith Rowe, a summer signing from Arsenal, is a serious doubt for the London team. Fulham wrapped up their pre-season preparations with a 2-0 friendly win against Hoffenheim.
- There have been 9 matches with Over 2.5 goals in the last 11 meetings between Manchester United and Fulham.
- Both teams have found the back of the net in the last 8 encounters at Old Trafford.
- Moreover, Manchester United has remained unbeaten in 15 of their last 16 home matches against Fulham.
- In 6 of the last 7 head-to-head games, both teams have scored.
Ipswich Town vs Liverpool | Premier League
17/08/2024 12:30
Prediction: 1-2
The first Saturday of the new Premier League 2024/2025 season brings with it a classic matchup: a newly promoted team hosting one of the league’s big teams. At Portman Road, Ipswich Town, last season’s runners-up in the Championship, will face off against Liverpool. The Reds, who had aspirations of winning both the Premier League and Europa League last season, ultimately fell short of those goals, though they did secure the League Cup in February with a win over Chelsea.
Looking at Liverpool’s squad now, there haven’t been many significant changes in the squad, but there has been a major shift on the bench. Jurgen Klopp has been replaced by Arne Slot, the former Feyenoord coach. On the other hand, Ipswich has been more active in the transfer market but will continue under the guidance of Kieran McKenna, who has been at the helm since 2021.
Pre-season has indicated that Liverpool is in fine form, going unbeaten and often winning, including impressive victories against long-time rivals Arsenal and Manchester United. Their attacking trio, featuring Nunez, Diaz, and Salah—who is about to embark on his eighth season with the club—has been firing on all cylinders. Ipswich, despite being newly promoted, also had a strong pre-season, highlighted by a narrow victory over Nice. However, memories of their last two encounters with Liverpool in 2002—where they suffered heavy defeats of 5-0 and 6-0—will linger, and the home team will be eager to redeem themselves.
- Liverpool secured 4 wins and 1 draw in their 5 pre-season friendlies, including notable victories over Manchester United and Arsenal.
- Ipswich is one of the three newly promoted teams from the Championship.
- Liverpool retains nearly all of their potent attacking force that scored 86 goals in 38 Premier League matches last season.
This match promises to be a challenging debut for Ipswich, as they face a Liverpool side that is determined to start their campaign strong under new management.
Arsenal vs Wolves | Premier League
17/08/2024 15:00
Prediction: 2-1
After another season of high performance, Arsenal, despite their efforts, only managed to add a Community Shield to their trophy cabinet. This season, the Gunners are more determined than ever to win the Premier League title, which has eluded them for twenty years. They kick off their campaign at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers, a team that exceeded expectations last year by playing impressive football and finishing closer to European qualification than to the relegation zone, which was never a real concern for them.
However, Wolves face a tough challenge as they head into this season opener without two key players from last year, Max Kilman and Pedro Neto, whose departures leave significant gaps in their squad. Replacing these crucial players in such a short time is a daunting task, especially for a debut match at the Emirates, where the Gunners are heavy favorites. Arsenal, already well-equipped, have strengthened further with the recent addition of Riccardo Calafiori, the former Bologna player.
For Arsenal, there hasn’t been much change, and they are likely to field a starting eleven similar to last season’s lineup. Wolves, on the other hand, will likely have a few more changes to their squad. Pre-season has been favorable for Arsenal, with convincing victories over Lyon and Bayer Leverkusen, both featuring multiple goals. In contrast, Wolves concluded their pre-season with a home defeat to Rayo Vallecano. Despite the loss, the intensity and chances created in that game were positives, but they will need much more efficiency to challenge Arsenal at the Emirates.
- Last season, Arsenal won both of their matches against Wolverhampton with scores of 2-1 and 2-0.
- Both teams are led by the same managers as last season: Mikel Arteta for Arsenal and Gary O’Neil for Wolves.
- Arsenal finished the last Premier League season in second place, while Wolves finished in fourteenth, winning only one of their last ten matches.
- Arsenal’s pre-season form has been strong, with victories over Lyon and Bayer Leverkusen.
Arsenal will be eager to start their season on a high note, while Wolves will need to find extra grit and efficiency to stand a chance against the title-contending Gunners at the Emirates.
Valencia vs Barcelona | La Liga
17/08/2024 20:30
Prediction: 0-1
Barcelona is entering a new era under Hansi Flick, the man tasked with leading the Blaugrana out of a prolonged crisis that has seen them fall short of their lofty ambitions. While the team’s style of play has often been praised, the results have not matched the expectations of a club of Barcelona’s stature. This La Liga season must mark a turning point, especially as their bitter rivals, Real Madrid, continue to collect trophies, increasing the impatience among the Barça faithful.
While Valencia is not the powerhouse it once was, the Mestalla remains a challenging venue, and the match poses several potential pitfalls for Flick’s side, who are favored but not invincible.
Barcelona’s pre-season has been a mixed bag. They started strong with victories over Manchester City (on penalties) and Real Madrid (in regular time), suggesting a promising campaign ahead. However, their form dipped with a penalty shootout loss to Milan following a 2-2 draw in regular time, and a disappointing 0-3 defeat to Monaco in the Gamper Trophy, which was their heaviest loss in the build-up to the season.
Defensive issues have also been evident, as Barcelona has conceded goals in all four of their pre-season matches. Flick will need to address these concerns quickly to avoid a rocky start to the campaign, especially against a Valencia side that will be eager to take advantage of any weaknesses.
In summary, while Barcelona is the favorite to win, they face a stern test at the Mestalla, and much will depend on how quickly Hansi Flick can stabilize the team and iron out the defensive frailties that have plagued their pre-season.
Chelsea vs Manchester City | Premier League
18/08/2024 16:30
Prediction: 1-3
It’s been a tumultuous summer at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea once again in the midst of significant changes. Enzo Maresca, the former Leicester manager, has been brought in as the fourth permanent head coach under Todd Boehly’s ownership in just two years. Unfortunately, the early signs have been far from encouraging, as the Blues managed just one win from their six pre-season fixtures.
Despite the rocky start, all could be forgotten if Maresca’s Chelsea can make a statement by defeating reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in their season opener. However, recent history is not on their side. Since their famous 1-0 victory over City in the 2021 Champions League final, Chelsea has struggled in this matchup, failing to win any of the nine subsequent encounters and failing to score in seven of those games.
Manchester City, meanwhile, has already hit the ground running this season by claiming the Community Shield, defeating Manchester United on penalties at Wembley. With their focus now shifting back to the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s side is aiming to extend their dominance by securing a fifth consecutive title. However, off-field issues loom, as the club faces allegations of breaching 115 Premier League rules, with the case set to be heard next month. The outcome of this case could significantly impact the league’s landscape this season.
Despite this potential distraction, City will be keen to start the season on a strong note. Their recent head-to-head dominance over Chelsea and their impressive track record in season openers—winning 12 of their last 13 Premier League openers —bode well for Guardiola’s men.
Mallorca vs Real Madrid | La Liga
18/08/2024 20:30
Prediction: 1-2
As Mallorca gear up for the new season, there’s a clear desire to improve on last year’s 15th-place finish. Changes have been made, with former Osasuna boss Jagoba Arrasate stepping in to replace Javier Aguirre, and a reshuffle in the squad following the departure of goalkeeper Predrag Rajković to Saudi Arabia. Pre-season has been promising for the Pirates, with six wins and one draw, although a scuffle during their 1-0 victory over West Brom hinted at a need for better discipline. This is crucial, as last season saw Mallorca among the six La Liga teams that received over 100 cards.
Mallorca’s home games were often tight affairs, with five of their last six league matches at Son Moix ending 1-0. One of those narrow losses was to Real Madrid in April. Now, Los Blancos return to Mallorca fresh off a 2-0 win over Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup, adding yet another trophy to their collection. With Kylian Mbappé and Endrick bolstering their squad, the 36-time La Liga champions look more formidable than ever.
Despite an impressive unbeaten run in competitive fixtures since mid-January, Real Madrid knows they can’t afford to be complacent. They were defeated on this very ground in February 2023 by, unsurprisingly, a 1-0 scoreline. As they kick off their La Liga campaign away from home for the sixth consecutive season, Carlo Ancelotti’s men will need to remain vigilant, even though they ended last season scoring four goals in three of their final five La Liga away games.
