Old Trafford, the Premier League’s largest stadium, will host the opening match of the Premier League season for the first time in six years tonight as Manchester United take on Fulham.
The Red Devils were part of the inaugural Friday Night Premier League fixture in August 2016, hosting Southampton at Old Trafford.
Their most recent opening-day match was also on a Friday, where they secured a 2-1 victory over Leicester City in August 2018.
Following their defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield last weekend, Manchester United will be eager to bounce back against Fulham, who claimed a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford last season with a late goal from Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi.
The match will be broadcast live on DStv Channel 203 and GOtv Channel 66 at 8pm.
Premier League’s biggest fixture of the opening week will be at Stamford Bridge, where new Chelsea coach, Enzo Maresca, will take charge of his first Premier League game against his former team, Manchester City. The match will also be live on DStv ch 203 and GOtv ch 66, at 4:30 pm on Sunday. Maresca was Pep Guardiola’s assistant when City won the UCL, Premier League, and FA Cup treble in 2023, before leaving for Leicester City that summer.
The corresponding fixture last season was an eight-goal thriller which ended in a draw. Chelsea have managed just two points from their last ten matches against City in all competitions.
In the other Premier League fixtures, Liverpool will kick off their season at newly promoted Ipswich Town at 12:30 pm on Saturday, while Arsenal will host Wolverhampton Wanderers in one of the 3 pm fixtures. All Premier League matches will be available on SuperSport Channels.
Elsewhere, Super Eagles striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, will make his Laliga debut today, when his new side, Sevilla, travels to Las Palmas for their opening match of the season.
Sevilla endured a terrible 2023/24 season which saw them finish 14th in the table.
The former Manchester City and Leicester City striker is expected to lead the line with his wealth of experience, as Sevilla tries to extend their winning streak against their host. The match will broadcast live on DStv ch 204 and GOtv ch 62 at 8:30 pm.
Spanish giants, Barcelona, will travel to Valencia for their first match of the season on Saturday at 8:30pm, while champions, Real Madrid, will begin the defense of their Laliga title away at Mallorca, on Sunday, live on DStv ch 204 and GOtv ch 62 at 8:30pm.