Manchester City Legends vs Premier League All-Stars: Team News, Preview and Prediction

Competition/Round: Vincent Kompany’s Testimonial Match

Date/Time: Manchester City Legends vs Premier League All-Stars – Wednesday, 11 September 2019, 19:45 GMT (UK); 14:45 EST, 11:45 PST (USA)

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, UK

Match Officials: Unknown

TV Info: Sky Sports (UK)

Live Stream: Man City for TV (UK)

Radio: N/A

Preview:

Whilst Manchester City’s senior men’s team is away on international duty, the Etihad Stadium will host a different team. After departing the club in the summer of 2019, former Sky Blue captain Vincent Kompany has organized a testimonial match which will feature some of the English Premier League’s best talent. The match’s proceeds will go to Tackle4MCR, a charity founded by Kompany and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham in an effort to address homelessness in Manchester.

Kompany will play for the Manchester City Legends. The team, which he will captain, will feature City fan favourites such as Joe Hart, Joleon Lescott, Pablo Zabaleta, David Silva, Sergio Agüero, Edin Džeko and Mario Balotelli. Current Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will manage this side.

The Manchester City Legends will face the Premier League All-Stars, a team comprised of several opponents Kompany faced throughout his career in the EPL. The players on this team include former Manchester United players Edwin van der Sar, the Neville brothers, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs and Rafael van der Vaart whilst also featuring Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie. Current Belgian national team manager Roberto Martinez will manage this team.

Team News:

The Manchester City Legends squad:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Costel Pantilimon

Defenders: Vincent Kompany, Aleksandar Kolarov, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Kolo Touré, Pablo Zabaleta, Richard Dunne, Gaël Clichy

Midfielders: Nigel De Jong, Samir Nasri, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Ireland, David Silva, Dietmar Hamann, James Milner

Forwards: Craig Bellamy, Sergio Agüero, Edin Džeko, Mario Balotelli, Benjani

The Premier League All-Stars squad:

Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar, Shay Given

Defenders: Phil Neville, Gary Neville, John O’Shea, Wes Brown

Midfielders: Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Rafael van der Vaart, Cesc Fabregas

Forwards: Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie

Possible Lineups:

Manchester City Legends

Formation: 4-4-2

Hart; Zabaleta, Lescott, Touré, Clichy; Nasri, Barry, de Jong, Wright-Phillips; Džeko, Balotelli

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Premier League All-Stars

Formation: 3-5-2

van der Sar; G. Neville, Brown, P. Neville; O’Shea, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, van der Vaart; van Persie, Henry

Manager: Roberto Martinez

Prediction:

Overall, this testimonial match will allow fans to gather and watch some of their favourite players compete against one another. The event will be heavily attended, and should be a good outing for family and friends. Manchester City fans will also be looking forward to seeing Kompany lead their club for one last time.

Finally, as fans gather for the match, and with the proceeds going to charity, participants will be reminded of Kompany’s great Mancunian character. After all, once a Sky Blue, always a Sky Blue.

Manchester City Legends 5-4 Premier League All-Stars

Update: Unfortunately, Vincent Kompany has a hamstring injury and will not play in the testimonial match.