Manchester United vs. Wigan: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Premier League champions Manchester United and FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic are set to battle for the 2013 FA Community Shield trophy. A victory would increase United's record total to 20 while Wigan are searching for their first triumph in the event.
The match marks the first competitive fixture for new Red Devils manager David Moyes, who took over from Sir Alex Ferguson. He oversaw a lackluster preseason, but that will quickly become an afterthought with a win on Sunday to open the new campaign.
Wigan were relegated from the Premier League last season, which made their run to the FA Cup title even more surprising. It also means they have already started their new season in the Championship. They did so with a convincing 4-0 victory at Barnsley.
The Latics shocked Manchester City to earn their spot in this match and have their sights set on another upset. On the flip side, United want to get Moyes' tenure started with a notable win. So let's check out all the key information for the match, followed by a preview and prediction.
Where: Wembley Stadium in London, England
When: Sunday, Aug. 11 at 9 a.m. ET (2 p.m. BST)
Watch: Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Deportes
Live Stream: Fox Soccer 2Go
Preview
Preseason results should always be viewed with the proper perspective. The matches are meant to shake off the rust and get clubs ready for the new campaign. That said, the fact United only won two over their seven tune-up fixtures following the managerial switch raises minor concerns.
While it would be easy to overlook the lack of victories if the Red Devils were playing well, there were some patches of poor form throughout the warm-up slate. They certainly didn't look like the club that cruised to the Premier League title last season.
A strong showing in the Community Shield would go a long way to alleviate any budding concerns. It's the perfect opportunity to get everybody on the same page against a Championship side before beginning their title defense next weekend.
As usual, look for Robin van Persie to lead the attack after scoring 30 goals across all competitions last season. He was one of the players who struggled to find form during the preseason and needs to make a quick turnaround to help United capture the trophy.
Even though Van Persie is the star, it will be interesting to see what type of role Wilfried Zaha plays. The 20-year-old rising star has been a rare bright spot early on and is in the process of earning himself more playing time. Perhaps he's more prepared for the EPL challenge than originally anticipated.
Already having a league match under their belt is one of the few advantages Wigan has in the match. There's a significant difference between preseason games and competitive matches, especially with a trophy on the line.
The Latics were able to gain some momentum and confidence by crushing Barnsley. Four different players scored and the back line held up when the Tykes did put on a little pressure. So it was a solid all-around showing to start the season.
If they are going to upset United, it will start with terrific play in the midfield. They have a talented group, headlined by Shaun Maloney, James McArthur and James McCarthy, who will have to control the middle of the pitch and force United to work for possession.
Although that trio is capable of keeping the match close, Wigan would still need United's struggles from the preseason to carry over in order to win the match. They simply can't match the Red Devils' overall talent level.
All told, it should be an entertaining match that will see Manchester United pull away in the second half to capture the Community Shield title.
Prediction: Manchester United 3, Wigan 1











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