Manchester City will welcome Manchester United to the 187th edition of this famous derby in Premier League on Sunday.
Venue: Etihad Stadium (Manchester)
Key Statistics
Manchester City have kept five clean sheets in six competitive fixtures.
The hosts have won just one of the last seven H2Hs they’ve hosted (D1, L5).
They have won eight of their last ten games in all competitions.
Pep Guardiola‘s side are yet to concede a PL home goal between the 16th minute and half-time this season.
Manchester United have not lost away from home in the league since November 2021 (W3, D4).
The visitors are unbeaten in six games (W2, D4).
They have won on their last three visits to the Etihad Stadium – their longest sequence of competitive away head-to-head wins since a four-match run between November 1993 and November 2000.
Head to head
In the Premier League era, both sides have met 49 times. Of those 49 meetings, Manchester United have the upper hand, as they have won 24 times while City have 16 wins.
Latest performances in all competitions
Man City: W-W-L-WW-W
Man United: D-D-W-W-D
Manchester City
Manchester will look to take all three points when they welcome Champions League-chasing Manchester United to the Etihad on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s side play their fierce rivals on the back of a 2-0 win over Peterborough in the FA Cup thanks to second-half goals from Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish.
The win secured their passage into the sixth round of the FA Cup, where they are billed to face Southampton.
They are still on top of the table in the Premier League, six points ahead of the chasing pack. Although they remain top of the pile, their lead has shrunk late after dropping points against Tottenham (3-2 loss) and Southampton (1-1). They can have that lead thoroughly whipped out if they lose this game, given that Liverpool have a game in hand over them.
This means that getting a result in this derby is a must.
Pep Guardiola’s side will fancy their chances of getting maximum points in this game, given that they have kept five clean sheets in their last six competitive fixtures.
Their defence will have to be on top form to get a win here, as they have won just one of the last seven head-to-head meetings they have hosted (D1, L5).
Meanwhile, Guardiola could be without the services of Ruben Dias for this tie with the defender nursing a foot injury.
Possible Man City starting line-up
Ederson Moraes, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling.
Injured: Cole Palmer
Doubtful: Ruben Dias, Zack Steffen
Suspended: Benjamin Mendy
Manchester United
Manchester United will look to get back to winning ways when they travel to the Etihad this Sunday.
The Red Devils were not in FA Cup action during the week, having crashed out in the earlier rounds.
Their last game in the Premier League was a disappointing nil-nil draw with Watford in the Premier League. Although the result was disappointing for Ralf Rangnick’s side, it extended the Old Trafford side’s unbeaten run to six games in all competitions (W2, D4).
Their aim for this season is to finish inside the top four. However, their lack of cutting edge in attack is threatening to derail that aim.
However, the visitors will enter this game confident of getting a result given that they have not lost a PL away game since November (W3, D4). Also, they have won their last three visits to the Etihad Stadium.
Meanwhile, Ralf Rangnick will be without Edinson Cavani for this tie due to a groin injury. Mason Greenwood remains out of contention.
Possible Manchester United starting line-up
David de Gea; Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Rafael Varane, Luke Shaw; Fred, Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Elanga, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Injured: Edinson Cavani
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Mason Greenwood
Prediction
Man City 1-2 Man United
