Could Key Battles Sway Community Shield in City's Favour?

The annual curtain raiser for English football's domestic season is upon us, and a fierce derby between Manchester's United and City should wet the appetite nicely ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

Any worries that this season's Community Shield could lack passion and competitiveness went out the window when Manchester United sealed the Premier League title last term on the same weekend as City's success in the FA Cup. The red and blue of Manchester will go head-to-head once again at Wembley, after a Yaya Toure strike gave City a sweet victory in the semi-final of the cup last year.

For City's standards, their summer spending has been somewhat subdued other than the £39m signing of Atletico Madrid frontman Sergio Aguero. Roberto Mancini has bolstered his back-line with the likes of Stefan Savic and Gael Clichy from Arsenal, while United have been doing some rebuilding of their own in recent months.

Following the retirements of Gary Neville, Edwin van der Sar and Paul Scholes last season, a fresh batch of new blood was needed and the Red Devils have certainly looked to the future, investing in young talent. Speaking of Young talent, Alex Ferguson wrapped up the signing of Aston Villa's Ashley Young, as well as bringing in David De Gea, who like Aguero, comes to England from Atletico Madrid. Both are set to start this Sunday, with Blackburn defender Phil Jones also hoping for a debut.

Central Alternatives
Although Alex Ferguson has strengthened, in the middle of the park United still seem somewhat short, with Darren Fletcher's mysterious stomach virus an ongoing and very real concern for the club. Despite Scholes retiring, Ryan Giggs remains at the club, as he always will in his legendary capacity, and although the annual assumption that his legs will give up on him eventually has yet to materialise, United still look weaker in the central areas.

Michael Carrick is all but certain to start for the Reds though his partner, be it Park Ji-Sung, Anderson, Giggs or even youngster Tom Cleverley, remains unknown. The former’s exceptional work rate usually ensures that he plays in the big games for United and this weekend's clash should be no different, but with a wealth of options available to Mancini, United will need to weather the City storm.
 

United Lacking Midfield Metal?

With Fletcher missing, United are not only void of a tireless presence in midfield, but a keen tackler. City on the other hand, have the likes of De Jong and Barry whose work rates see them pick up exceptional defensive statistics.

Of the 4 choices likely to make up a midfield 3, De Jong scores top for tackles per game (3), interceptions per game (2.7), pass accuracy (90%) and aerial success (70%), the latter of which is surprising due to a somewhat diminutive stature. Barry's figures are not far behind with 2.7 and 2 for tackles and interceptions respectively, while the more attacking duo of Milner and Toure still chip in with 3 tackles between them.

Yaya Toure proved his worth last season despite the worth of his wages being astronomical. The leggy Ivorian was a constant threat and dominated Carrick in the FA Cup fixture in April, while De Jong continues to steady the ship in front of the defence. A likely Man City central trio should be completed by one of their former Villans, Gareth Barry or James Milner, though the former's inclusion would allow more freedom to the likes of Toure and Silva.

For United, Michael Carrick is the side’s most effective defence minded midfielder, making 2.2 tackles and 2 interceptions per match. Perhaps his likeliest partner for Sunday's showdown, Park, makes slightly more tackles with 2.3 per game, but falters somewhat with interceptions at just 1.1 per game. Anderson and Giggs' lesser defensive figures may mean they will have to make do with a place on the bench.

Of the four categories analysed that are key to any holding midfield player, the four City midfielders top the four United contenders in every department on average.

With an average of 2.17 tackles per game between them, City's quartet significantly trump United's figure of 1.92. The same could also be said for interceptions, with City's 1.77 topping United's 1.27, though the pass accuracy sees little between the two sides. Perhaps the most significant gulf in success rate lays in the City middlemen's aerial success rate, with an average of 52.75% boosted by De Jong and Barry's exceptional scores. United's lowly success rate in the middle of the park of 39.75% could see their rivals dominate both on the ground and in the air come this weekend. 

Key Battle: David Silva vs Rafael
Despite highlighting that the real contest will be won in the middle of the park, we have pinpointed the likely head-to-head of Sunday’s match-up between David Silva on the left and United's right-back Rafael, as a key battle.

Spaniard Silva made some eye-catching displays in his debut season at Eastlands, proving his attacking class despite playing second fiddle to Tevez for much of the campaign. Young full-back Rafael appears to have filled the vacated boots of Gary Neville and stepped up to the Manchester United first team with minimum fuss to great effect last year.

In Silva, the 21-year-old will arguably face his toughest direct opponent in the league on Sunday, and the youngster will need to show the maturity that led him to a WhoScored.com rating of 7.02 last term, picking up 1 man of the match award in the process. Silva's rating of 7.14 is superior and indicative of the test that awaits the young Brazilian after the City winger picked up 4 man of the match awards in the previous campaign.

The Man City man's threat from wide positions can see him leave defenders in his wake, cutting in or taking on his opponent down the flank. The Spain international averaged 1 successful dribble per game last season and Rafael will need to stay aware throughout. However, United will be encouraged that Rafael was only successfully taken on 0.6 times per game last season, better than Evra at left-back (0.7).

Silva weighed in with 2.1 key passes per game for City last season, more than any other player, and has a keen eye for threading passes between the opposition defence. Despite making 2 interceptions per game last season, Rafael's figure was the lowest of the United back-line, a feature that Silva will be keen to exploit.

When it came down to tackling however, the Brazilian's figures were unparalleled throughout the United squad, having made a fantastic 3.6 tackles per game. Silva was dispossessed on 1.6 occasions per match on average last term, which will give the United defender confidence as he approaches this stern test.