Samir Nasri grabs a goal and assist as City see off Chelsea in a five-goal thriller, while strikes from Carlos Tevez and Fernando Torres are likely to see hike in their respective Fantasy ownership. Lukas Podolski scores twice against former club Cologne, Raheem Sterling’s wonder goal sets Liverpool on the way against Leverkusen and a depleted Wigan slump at Celta Vigo…
Man City 3 Chelsea 2
Roberto Mancini continued with the 3-4-1-2 formation recently used in pre-season for yesterday’s Community Shield win over Chelsea. Pablo Zabaleta started on the left of the back-three, with Aleksandar Kolarov once again wide left of the midfield four and Samir Nasri tucked in behind the front two. For Chelsea, David Luiz got the nod ahead of Gary Cahill in central defence and Ramires began on the right of the attacking midfield three, with Juan Mata playing in “the hole” behind Fernando Torres.
Torres’ opener will no doubt instil plenty confidence in his Fantasy suitors ahead of the Blues’ double Gameweek 1 – Ramires provided the assist, while Branislav Ivanovic will also be set to pick up plenty more interest. The FA have confirmed to us earlier this morning that the right-back will not miss any league action after yesterday’s dismissal, despite the reports in various media outlets overnight suggesting he would be suspended:
Ivanovic will miss 3 Non First Team games commencing 14 days from the date of the offence – 26th August. The Community Shield is classified as a Non First Team match.
A goal and assist from Samir Nasri added to an earlier Yaya Toure effort served a reminder of the attacking potential of Mancini’s midfield ahead of their Gameweek 1 home clash with Southampton, while Carlos Tevez’s superb effort hinted he may well prove strong value at 9.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL). Mancini revealed after the game that he anticipates the Argentine to be a crucial player for the league champions next term, revealing:
I am very happy because this year Carlos has worked very well in pre-season and his form is better than last year. Also this year he wants to play football. For a player, it is difficult when he does not play. Last season he did not play for six months and this is difficult. I expect him to be a very important player. He is a top player if he wants to play. Last year we had Carlos for the last 10 games and it was important because he scored five or six goals. But he was not 100%. This year is the first time in four, maybe five years he has done a full pre-season and for every player this is important.
Intriguingly, the new system looks to favour City’s full-backs in terms of game time; the opposite of last season, where rotation frustrated Fantasy managers on an almost-weekly basis. Mancini ended the match with all three of his available full-backs on the pitch, with Gael Clichy joining Zabaleta at the back – an indication their versatility could be crucial to the manager’s plans. Post-match, however, Mancini was asked whether he will start the season with the new formation but the Italian admitted that it was unlikely:
I don’t know…No, I don’t think so. But it’s important we know another system we can change during the game. We tried this because we worked for one month in pre-season without 12 players.
Chelsea Starting XI: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Mikel, Lampard; Ramires, Mata (Sturridge 74), Hazard (Bertrand 70), Torres
City Starting XI: Pantilimon, Savic (Clichy 45) Kompany, Zabaleta; Milner, Y Toure, De Jong, Kolarov; Nasri (Silva 76); Tevez (Dzeko 88), Aguero
Liverpool 3 Leverkusen 1
Brendan Rodgers gave Fabio Borini the afternoon off for the visit of Sami Hypia’s side, with Luis Suarez moving to the centre and Raheem Sterling starting on the left of the front three. Overall, it was a much-changed side from the one that saw off FC Gromel in midweek and Rodgers made a further five changes at the break in order to afford some of his main men a rest. Sterling was the headline-maker with a superb effort giving his side the lead (Jose Enrique provided the assist) before a rare Lucas effort put the Merseysiders further ahead. The Reds’ third came in the second-half after Fulham target Charlie Adam dummied a Jay Spearing pass to allow Andy Carroll to fire home from 20-yards.
Post-match, the former Swansea manager lauded the much-maligned forward, while also admitting his players are adapting rapidly to his tactics and style of play:
“It was a terrific goal from him (Carroll). He’s got stick that he can’t play this way, but it was a wonderful piece of skill letting the ball go through his legs, getting the shot on target and tucking the ball away very well. It was very pleasing all round. The players had a wonderful idea of the game tactically and I am seeing an improvement every single day in terms of our passing game.”
Liverpool Starting XI: Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Coates, Enrique; Lucas (Spearing 46), Shelvey (Henderson 46), Gerrard (Adam 46); Downing (Robinson 46), Suarez (Carroll 46), Sterling
Cologne 0 Arsenal 4
Arsene Wenger fielded three of his new summer signings up front together in the first-half against an under-strength Cologne side. Lukas Podolski bagged a double – including a penalty, intriguingly – while Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud both impressed. Cazorla set up chances aplenty over his 45 minutes and was immediately handed set-pieces on his debut; his corner was nodded on by Per Mertesacker for Thomas Vermaelen to give the Gunners the lead and Giroud was unlucky not to find the net – he had four efforts saved before making way for Marouane Chamakh at half-time. Wenger made 10 changes at the break, leaving Podolski on against his former club and while he also grabbed a third, it was Gervinho who completed the scoring before the German made way for Robin Van Persie.
Arsenal First Half: Mannone; Yennaris, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Coquelin, Cazorla; Walcott, Giroud, Podolksi
Arsenal Second Half: Szczesny; Jenkinson, Koscielny, Djourou, Santos; Diaby, Song, Gnabry; Gervinho, Chamakh, Podolski (Van Persie 69)
Celta Vigo 1 Wigan 0
Roberto Martinez was without many of his first-team regulars as the Latics slipped to a second successive defeat at the hands of Spanish opposition. Gary Caldwell, Antolin Alcaraz, Shaun Maloney, Jean Beausejour and James McCarthy all missed out due to upcoming international duty, forcing the Wigan boss to field an under-par side for the trip to Celta Vigo. The visitors lined up in a 3-4-3 with Franco Di Santo on the right and Mauro Boselli the lone striker, though Wigan’s decision to return to a back-four later in the game proved to their detriment as the hosts took control in a comfortable win.
Wigan Starting XI: Al Habsi; Lopez, Ramis (Mustoe), Figueroa; Boyce, Watson, Fyvie (Gomez), Jones (McArthur); Di Santo (McManaman), Boselli, Crusat (Sammon)
