Manchester City v Sunderland

Posted Saturday, August 13, 2016 by foxsportsasia.com

Manchester City v Sunderland
Manchester City will look to open their 2016/17 Premier League campaign with a win when they welcome Sunderland to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

With all eyes on the two debutant managers Pep Guardiola and David Moyes the affair has more at stake than just three points.

For Guardiola's side, fans will be eager to see what kind of impact of the former Bayern Munich coach has had on the squad since his arrival.

Speaking ahead of the match, the former Barcelona mentor, whose sides are known to play attractive passing football, admitted he is unsure if his charges are completely prepared for the game.

"To create something you need time, to create ideas to attack, but for soul we don't need time," he said. "Tomorrow I don't know if we're going to play good, but I won't accept if we don't play with soul."

City's most recent £47.5m signing John Stones could make his debut as Vincent Kompany looks set to miss the match through a thigh strain, while Leroy Sane (hamstring) and Kevin De Bruyne, who lacks fitness after an extended Euro 2016 holiday-break, are also likely to miss out.

Under 24 hours to go…

Who will be here? pic.twitter.com/qIFaWOg67J

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 12, 2016
David Moyes is set for his first Premier League match since his somewhat disastrous coaching stint at Manchester United.

The fixture against City will likely be a baptism of fire for the former Real Sociedad mentor, who will look to drastically improve on Sunderland's 17th place last season.

He will have to do without the services of defender Lamine Kone, who revealed his intention to leave the club after their reported failure to offer him a better contract.

Billy Jones, Jan Kirchhoff and Sebastian Larsson are all doubtful for Moyes' side, who look for their first opening league fixture victory since beating Bolton Wanderers in 2009.