Our prediction for this League 1 match:
Derby
Match Time & Date:
05/08/2023
16:00
Prediction: 2-1
Wigan
Expect and earthquake shake at Pride Park when Derby County and Wigan Athletic square off against each other in the opening match of the season. The Rams are seen as one of the main candidates for promotion and they will surely rely on summer signing Conor Washington in Saturday’s encounter. Winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing will be yet another man to watch in the home team.
The Latics, on the other hand, did well to beat Morecambe 2-0 in their last warm-up game, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry against Derby, who are a real force to be reckoned with at home. Even though Wigan chiefs have signed the likes of Callum McManaman, Matt Smith, Sean Clare, Jonny Smith, and Liam Shaw in the summer transfer window, we are tempted to put our money on the promotion hopefuls (the Rams) this time out.
Highlighted Player (Conor Hourihane):
Conor Hourihane is an Irish footballer who plays for Barnsley. The midfielder was born on 2 February, 1991 and he started his youth career at Premier League club Sunderland. In 2011 he joined Plymouth Argyle and he spent three years at Home Park.
After scoring 15 goals in 125 appearances for the Pilgrims in 2014 Hourihane decided to take next big step in his career. On 23 June he signed a three-year deal with Barnsley for a fee of £250,000. In August he won the League One Player of the Month award and, no doubt, he made a flying start to his Barnsley career. Hourihane made 46 appearances for the Tykes in the 2014/2015 League One campaign, scoring 15 goals and he certainly helped the team return to the Championship.
The Irish midfielder has eight caps for the U-21 team. His main position is central midfield, but he is capable of playing as defensive and left midfielder as well. Conor Hourihane is a right-footed footballer.
Highlighted Team (Wigan):
Wigan Athletic are one of the winners of the English FA Cup. The Latics won the prestigious trophy in 2013, with the team upsetting Manchester City in the title game. This is considered the club’s biggest success, but it has to be noted that Wigan played in the UEFA Europa League in the 2013/2014 season.
Wigan have been playing their home games at the DW Stadium since 1999 and they had played at Springfield Park in the past. Chorley are considered Wigan’s fierce rivals, but the two teams last met in 1971, when they competed in the Northern Premier League. The likes of Preston North End, Bury, Oldham Athletic, Burnley and Blackburn Rovers are regarded as Wigan Athletic’s rivals as well.
The club was founded in 1932 and they competed in the English Premier League from 2005 to 2013. The colour of Wigan’s home kit is blue and white (stripes).
Sturm Graz
Girona 
Aston Villa 
Juventus 
Celtic
Club Brugge
Dinamo Zagreb
Borussia Dortmund 
Liverpool
Real Madrid 
Monaco 
Benfica
