Burnley vs Manchester City Prediction & Match Preview
Burnley vs Manchester City
English Premier League
Date: 11 August 2023, Friday
Kick-off at 20:00 UK / 21:00 CET
Venue: Turf Moor (Burnley).
Manchester City will kick off their mission to defend the Premier League title this Friday evening at Turf Moor, as they take on newly promoted Burnley.
The City squad is determined to recover from a recent setback at Wembley, where they suffered a late shock by conceding a last-minute equalizer, ultimately leading to a penalty shootout loss against Arsenal in the Community Shield clash on Sunday.
The match at Wembley was a tightly contested affair with limited opportunities for both teams. Substitutes made a significant impact, with Cole Palmer, who came on during the second half, brilliantly securing the lead for Manchester City with a well-executed strike.
On the contrary, this marks the second consecutive loss for Pep Guardiola’s team, following their earlier 1-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the final preseason check.
Guardiola has expressed concern about his team’s defensive performances, as Manchester City struggled to maintain solidity at the back in any of their four summer outings, three of which were friendly matches.
In contrast, Burnley has showcased a strong defensive record, keeping three clean sheets in six preseason matches. However, they faced a 0-1 defeat against Mainz last Saturday on German soil, despite putting up a solid performance throughout the entire 90 minutes under the guidance of Vincent Kompany.
Head-to-head between Burnley and Manchester City:
The two teams crossed paths just five months ago in the FA Cup quarterfinals, where Manchester City secured a commanding 6-0 victory. Manchester City boasts an impressive track record against Burnley, winning eleven consecutive encounters and limiting the Clarets to just one goal in the process. Notably, ten of these victories for Manchester City came with a goal difference of at least two.
Prediction for Burnley vs Manchester City:
Burnley makes a return to Premier League football following an outstanding title-winning campaign in the Championship, amassing 101 points last year. While Burnley has showcased a strong defensive front in preseason, the transition to elite-class competition presents them with their toughest challenge yet.
It’s difficult to envision anything other than a victory for Manchester City. Given Burnley’s recent struggles to find the net against Manchester City, the odds are favorable for a Manchester City win to nil, with odds of 2.00. Alternatively, consider placing a bet on Erling Haaland to score at any time, with odds of 1.72.
