This Sunday, Manchester City make the short trip to Old Trafford for a highly anticipated Manchester derby, their first since Kevin De Bruyne announced he will leave the club at the end of the season. Despite a season marked by inconsistency, Pep Guardiola’s side head into this match as the favourites, though their recent away form has been far from flawless. After a comfortable 2-0 victory over Leicester City in midweek, City will look to continue their push for a top-four finish, while Manchester United are reeling from a damaging 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest.
Form and Preview:
City’s recent form has shown a mixed bag of results. While they enjoyed a solid win against Leicester, their away form has been a concern, winning just three of their last 11 Premier League matches on the road. In fact, they have suffered six defeats in their last 11 away games, which is a far cry from their dominance in previous seasons. However, despite this, they remain firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification and are still alive in the FA Cup, with a semi-final clash against Nottingham Forest on the horizon.
Manchester United, on the other hand, have endured a disappointing season thus far, sitting outside the top half of the Premier League. Their loss to Forest ended a four-match unbeaten streak and left them struggling to find consistency. With their top-four aspirations all but dashed, their only remaining route to Europe’s elite competition may be through the Europa League, where they face Lyon in the quarter-finals next week. At home, United have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 12 matches, further compounding their woes.
United’s form in the derby has been relatively better than their overall performance, having avoided defeat in their last three meetings with City. This includes a notable 2-1 victory at the Etihad, a result that will give the Red Devils hope heading into this fixture.
Team News:
Manchester City have been hit with several key injuries. Erling Haaland, who has been in scintillating form this season, will miss this derby due to an ankle injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for the next five to seven weeks. Alongside him, City will be without the services of Rodri, who is recovering from an ACL injury, and Nathan Ake, John Stones, and Manuel Akanji, who are also out due to various injuries. Despite this, Guardiola will still have plenty of quality at his disposal, including the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, who will be playing his final Manchester derby before his departure this summer.
For Manchester United, they too have their share of injuries. Lisandro Martinez, Amad Diallo, Ayden Heaven, Luke Shaw, and Jonny Evans are all unavailable, leaving United thin at the back. Matthijs de Ligt is also a doubt after picking up an issue in the loss to Forest. This may see Harry Maguire return to the starting lineup alongside the likes of Raphael Varane and Pape Matar Sarr in defense. Midfield options are also limited, with Kobbie Mainoo returning from injury but expected to be on limited minutes. Mason Mount, who has struggled to make an impact since his move from Chelsea, is fit to start after making a cameo appearance against Forest.
Possible Lineups:
Manchester United (4-3-3): Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mount, Garnacho; Hojlund
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gundogan, Gonzalez; Savinho, Grealish, Doku; Marmoush
Prediction:
Given City’s struggles away from home and United’s recent ability to turn up in derby matches, this game could be closer than many anticipate. Manchester United will need to be more clinical in front of goal than they’ve been in recent weeks, while City will look to De Bruyne to provide the creativity and leadership they’ve often relied on. However, with the absence of Haaland, City may find it difficult to break down United’s defense. United, despite their injury woes, will be desperate for a result to salvage their season.
A draw seems the most likely outcome in this contest, though Manchester City could edge it if they capitalize on United’s defensive frailties. Manchester United 1-1 Manchester City.
