West Ham United – Manchester City

The opposing teams will engage in compelling football action and both will score goals

Pep Guardiola started his ninth season at the helm of Manchester City as an absolute triumphant. Last year, the Mancunian club took three key European and national titles: Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup. The upcoming season is likely to be even tougher for the Spanish coach and the English champion, as it is always easier to raise the bar than to keep it. At the same time, Manchester City began to justify their status as favorites for the regular season already from the first round. By the fifth day of play, the Citizens are the only representative of the Premier League who has never lost points. At the same time, Guardiola's team is followed by a tight group of pursuers in the form of Tottenham, Liverpool, West Ham, Arsenal and Brighton. It is one of the catching-up clubs Manchester City will need to prove the non-randomness of their championship status in the next meeting. West Ham, who failed in the first half of last season, have started the new championship as another English triumphant European champions. The London club won the Conference League in June, which will allow them to play in the new Europa League. Ten points in four rounds emphasise that after the continental victory "Hammers" on the national arena are not afraid of anyone. Bookmakers expectedly offered the guests as favourites for the meeting, whose victory can be bet at odds of 1.48. West Ham in the off-season lost the leader of the central part of the field - Rice. Instead, the Hammers have added several good players to their squad. As a result, David Moyes' team played even more confidently than last season. West Ham confirmed this in a meeting with mediocre Luton Town, as well as against high-profile Brighton and Chelsea. So far, only Brighton managed to take points away from the capital's team at their own arena, scoring in the 82nd minute (1:1). Manchester City, after the defeat in the Super Cup of England in early August, has never upset its own fans. During this period, the Mancunians won the UEFA Super Cup, as well as alternately in the championship divided with Burnley, Newcastle, Sheffield United and Fulham. In London, the hosts are sure to put up a fight against the champions, which will be reflected in an exchange of goals with them.