Man City are favourites on Sunday, but Chelsea look strong

The Community Shield is the weekend football highlight – although the beginning of the new domestic season has been overshadowed by a quite magnificent Olympic Games.

Over the next three weeks I’ll look at each of the three local teams’ chances for the forthcoming season as well as previewing that weekend’s fixtures. I’ll start with Chelsea.

The Champions League and FA Cup holders are 11/5 outsiders to win the Wembley curtain-raiser in 90 minutes, with Premier League winners Manchester City the 13/10 favourites with the draw at 12/5.

It promises to be an intriguing match and one which will give us an insight into how manager Roberto Di Matteo sees his starting XI for next weekend’s trip to Wigan. I think the 11/5 is too big for Chelsea despite their surprise 3-1 reverse at Brighton last weekend.

Chelses boss Di Matteo has every reason to be optimistic.

The Blues are 9/2 to wrestle back the title with Manchester United 13/5 and City even-money to win it again.

Correct me if I am wrong but they only nicked the title in extra time against 10-man QPR, who knew they were safe. Some of the odds suggest they won at a canter.

We have any number of Blues specials at BetVictor and a few that caught my eye included:

Top London club: 8/13 (certainties)

Season match bets (handicap):
Chelsea – 4.5 points v Arsenal Evens
Chelsea +3.5 points v United 4/5
Chelsea + 6.5 points v City 4/5
Chelsea – 9.5 points v Spurs Evens

We have a season-long handicap on the Premier League, offering 15/1 for every club with Manchester City scratch and the rest having a handicap:

Thus PL Handicap 2012/13; EW ¼ First 4 and ALL Clubs at 15/1; handicaps include:
Man City Scratch
United +3
Chelsea +6
Arsenal +10
Spurs +15
Liverpool +16
Fulham +33
QPR +37

Other Blues specials:
To go through the 2012/13 league season undefeated: 250/1
To be undefeated in the league at Stamford Bridge: 20/1
To be undefeated away from home in the league: 66/1

What will Chelsea win? Markets include:
No trophies: 1/2
Any major trophy: 6/4
Premier League and FA Cup: 25/1
Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup: 250/1
Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup: 750/1

Top Chelsea Premier League goalscorer:
Torres: 6/4
Sturridge: 4/1
Hazard: 6/1
Lampard: 8/1
Oscar: 10/1
16s bar.

Chelsea have three league fixtures during the month of September; QPR (A), Stoke (H) and Arsenal (A) and we are asking how many points and wins will they pick up in the month?

League wins in September?
Under two: 5/4
Two: 11/10
Three: 9/2

Points in September?
Under six: 6/5
Six or seven: 23/20
Over seven: 9/2

For all your weekend odds check out betvictor.com.

Next week, as well as previewing the opening day, we will look at the season-long prospects for Fulham as we see them at BetVictor.

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