Our prediction for this Premier League match:
Sheffield United
Match Time & Date:
27/08/2023
15:00
Prediction: 0-2
Man City
Sheffield United and Manchester City face each other in a David-vs-Goliath clash at Bramall Lane on day 3 of the new Premier League campaign. The Blades aim to make amends for back-to-back losses to Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, but they will have a mountain to climb in Sunday’s encounter. Even though Paul Heckingbottom has no fresh injury worries, we do not believe that the hosts are capable of claiming a major scalp in round 3.
The Citizens, on the other hand, aim to keep their 100% record in the 2023/2023 season intact. Despite Kevin De Bruyne’s absence through injury, Pep Guardiola is capable of fielding a very strong starting XI and we predict that the visitors are going to extend their winning run to three games this weekend. John Stones remains in the recovery room, while influential midfielder Bernardo Silva faces race against the clock to be fit for Sunday’s showdown.
Highlighted Player (Nathan Ake):
Ake is a professional footballer who plays for the Dutch National Team and AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The versatile defender who was born on the 18th of February, 1995, started his youth career in 2003 with local club ADO Den Haag. He then moved to Feyenoord in 2007 before joining Chelsea's youth academy four years later.
Ake made his first professional appearance at the age of 17, playing for the Blues in a 0-1 away victory against Norwich on the 26th of December, 2012. Barring a few starts and substitute appearances, Ake spent his next few years at Chelsea mostly in the reserves before being sent out on a one month loan to Reading in 2015. Upon his return, he immediately joined Watford on a season-long loan where his displays earned him the Watford's young player of the season award. Another successful loan spell at Bournemouth succeeded his time at Watford before Chelsea recalled him in January 2017.
At the start of the 17/18 season, the 24-year-old rejoined his current club Bournemouth permanently on a five-year contract worth 20 million pounds. On the International stage, Ake has represented the Netherlands at every youth level and has even captained the under-17 and under-19 sides. He made his first senior appearance on the 31st of May, 2017, featuring in Hollands 2-1 friendly win over Morocco.
Highlighted Team (Sheffield United):
Sheffield United are a professional football club that compete in the Championship. The Blades finished the 2016/2017 League One campaign in top position in the standings, with the team collecting exactly 100 points in the process. Sheffield United last competed in the Premier League in the 2006/2007 season and they were more than unfortunate not to secure the top flight survival.
The Blades finished the season in 18th place in the process and it has to be noted that they were level on points with Wigan Athletic, who managed to avoid the relegation to the English second tier. Sheffield United welcome their rivals at Bramal Lane, the stadium which was opened on April 30, 1855. The current capacity of the venue is 32.702.
The club have numerous rivalries, but the most notable one is the rivalry with their city neighbors Sheffield Wednesday. The two teams face each other in the Steel City derby and it has to be noted that United share rivalry with the likes of Barnsley, Rotherham United, Doncaster Rovers and Leeds United as well.
