Manchester City take on Chelsea in Sunday’s Community Shield — the traditional curtainraiser to the English season — but the Wembley showpiece will offer few clues as to the destination of the Premier League title.
The glorified friendly between the league champions and the FA Cup winners has been a notoriously poor predictor of success in recent years — no winner has gone on to be crowned champions in the same season since Manchester United in 2010-11.
The game, likely to be played in sizzling summer temperatures in London, is set to feature various youngsters and fringe players as World Cup stars ease their way back into club action.
But whatever the line-ups, there are plenty of talking points and the game will be closely watched for clues as domestic football reclaims centre stage just three weeks after the World Cup final in Russia.
Can Manchester City pick up where they left off last season or will they have a serious challenger?
Will new manager Maurizio Sarri be able to revive FA Cup winners Chelsea, who finished fifth last season after winning the title the previous year under Antonio Conte?
One question for City fans is how manager Pep Guardiola will deploy Riyad Mahrez — the only significant addition to their already-impressive list of forward options during the summer transfer window.
The manager has confirmed his record £60 million ($78 million) signing is in contention to start the match after he was forced off during last weekend’s final match of the US pre-season tour against Bayern Munich.
“Mahrez is good. He had a little bit of pain but he trained day before yesterday — I think so (he can play on Sunday),” said Guardiola, who twice outwitted Sarri in the Champions League last season when the Italian was managing Napoli.
Most of the players who were on duty at the World Cup have now returned to training but Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne are still on their post-Russia breaks.
The City manager also revealed how much he was looking forward to locking horns with Sarri, who replaced Conte last month.
“I am happy that he is here in the Premier League,” Guardiola said. “I will learn a lot to see his team every weekend. I saw three games — he gets it, the team in a short time plays like he wants.
“I think it will be a good game, always Chelsea is a big rival. Antonio was, Maurizio will be too. The style of play will be perfect for English football.”
The arrival of Jorginho from Napoli has equipped Chelsea with one of the best midfields around, according to Alvaro Morata.
The Brazilian-born Italy international moved to Stamford Bridge last month, having been heavily linked with Premier League champions Manchester City.
He has been joined in west London by his former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri, who replaced Antonio Conte.
And former Real Madrid and Juventus striker Morata feels Jorginho will prove to be a key acquisition as the Blues, champions in 2016-17, seek to improve on a disappointing fifth-place finish in the league last season.
“We are lucky,” he said.
“We’ve made a very good signing, because he’s a fantastic player, a fantastic guy and because Manchester City wanted him! It would have been very bad for us if City has taken him.
“He was one of the best signings of the last year for Chelsea because now, when we have the ball, he is the key.
“Jorginho and Cesc Fabregas with the ball are two of the best midfielders around.
“There are not too many midfields with this level with the ball – for the strikers it is fantastic.”