Manchester City vs Southampton: Why Defending Champs Won't Disappoint in Opener

Arsenal and Liverpool floundered on the opening day of the 2012-13 Premier League season, but the fireworks will fly when Manchester City opens its campaign against Southampton. 

The Gunners attack was stifled in a scoreless draw against Sunderland. The Reds’ woes up front were only overshadowed by a calamitous second-half effort at the back, and they opened up their season with a shocking 3-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion.

Sunday’s action will see City take the pitch at Etihad stadium at 11 a.m. ET, and the team’s heralded attack will not be contained.

The reigning Premiership champions have an astoundingly talented attack, while the new-boys they will be facing are worryingly vulnerable at the back.

Reading edged Southampton out of the top spot in the Championship last season, but the Saints were led by a wonderfully creative attack, which produced a league-best 85 goals. However, the midfielders and strikers will have to break through the Premier League’s stingiest defense in front of nearly 50,000 manic Mancunians at Etihad Stadium.

This is an astoundingly difficult match for the Southampton players, many of whom have never played in the Premiership. This will also be Nigel Adkins' first time managing in England’s top flight.

But the true mismatch will be City’s attack going against the Southampton defense. Jose Fonte and Jos Hooiveld were the Saint’s most often used centerbacks last season, and neither has faced a Premiership attack during their careers.

They will have to withstand the efforts of players like David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri and whichever striker Roberto Mancini fancies at match time. This frighteningly potent attack produced 93 goals last season and averaged 19.4 shots per match, according to Whoscored.com. All of the key players are still with the club.

Be it Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko or Carlos Tevez who makes his way into the starting-11, City’s forward players will relentlessly press the Southampton defense, which is mediocre at best.

This is a lopsided matchup, and the statistics will reflect that. City may not run up the score, but it will take drastically more shots than Southampton and it will also dominate possession.

This match will never be in doubt as Southampton proves to be little more than a speed bump on City’s road to defend their title.