Sun | May 19, 2024

Man United host Wolves in EPL

Published:Monday | August 14, 2023 | 12:08 AM
Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho (left) and RC Lens’ Jonathan Gradit battle for the ball during a pre-season friendly match at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, on Saturday August 5, 2023.
AP
Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho (left) and RC Lens’ Jonathan Gradit battle for the ball during a pre-season friendly match at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, on Saturday August 5, 2023.

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

The first round of games in the English Premier League concludes with Manchester United hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers.

United are set to give competitive debuts to two of their offseason signings — midfielder Mason Mount and goalkeeper Andre Onana — as the team looks to make a strong start to Erik ten Hag’s second year in charge. Mount was signed from Chelsea while Cameroon’s Onana, 27, moved to Manchester United from Inter Milan.

Wolves will be under a new manager in Gary O’Neil, who has only been in charge a few weeks.

In their final preseason matches, Manchester United drew 1-1 with Spain’s Athletic Bilbao while Wolverhampton whipped French club Rennes 3-1.

In Spain, Athletic Madrid, after a strong finish last season, begins their Spanish league campaign by hosting promoted Granada. Diego Simeone’s Athletic kept the core of their squad in attack and midfield and boosted their defence with Cesar Azpilicueta and Caglar Soyuncu.

The attack will again be led by Antoine Griezmann as doubts still surround the permanence of João Félix. Granada are back in the first division after a single season in the second tier. Alaves, also back to the top flight in their first attempt following relegation, visit Cadiz, who struggled to avoid demotion in 2022-23.

In Germany, Cologne take on second-division Osnabrueck in the pick of four games in the first round of the German Cup. The other Bundesliga teams in action are Hoffenheim at Luebeck and newly promoted Darmstadt against fourth-tier Homburg.