Manchester City-Manchester United is a match of the 27th day of the Premier League and is played on Sunday at 4:30pm: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
By now, when there is a Manchester derby, not only England but the world stops. City vs. United over the past few years has become a “global” challenge, despite the fact that the decline of United, once the absolute ruler of the extracittadina, is irreversible. The hierarchies, in fact, have completely reversed, and it is hardly surprising that it has been City that has won five of the last six previous matches, including the first leg at Old Trafford, which ended in a clear 3-0 victory for Pep Guardiola’s team.
The two clubs are obviously fighting for different goals. The Cityzens, after achieving the mythological Treble last season, would like to replicate themselves but in the league they have to deal with Liverpool and Arsenal. The Reds – at the time of writing – lead the standings with a one-point advantage over City and two over the Gunners, but this weekend they will take the field twenty-four hours before the defending champions (they will face Nottingham Forest). They cannot relax, then, De Bruyne and co. who have been unbeaten since mid-December. Since the Club World Cup, City has won almost all of them and in the week buried the hapless Luton Town in the FA Cup with goals (2-6): as many as five were scored by the insatiable Haaland.
In the most important domestic cup, United also passed the round, which at home to Nottingham Forest came out on top 1-0 thanks to a goal by Brazilian center midfielder Casemiro at the expiration of the game.
The Red Devils, out of the European cups after the bitter disappointment in the Champions League — home already after the group stage — needed to turn the page after last Saturday’s defeat to Fulham, who surprisingly won 2-1 at Old Trafford, slowing Erik ten Hag’s men’s chase for fifth place, currently 3 points away. United, prior to the knockout with the Cottagers, had scored five wins in a row. In any case, avoiding defeat in the derby will require a feat: the Danish coach has to cope with so many absences, including that of striker Hojlund. His colleague Guardiola, on the other hand, has to do without only Grealish: the former Aston Villa man will not be there, while Gvardiol is in strong doubt.
The prediction
The gap is very wide between the two teams, there is little to discuss. And for Manchester United, with a depleted squad, it will be almost impossible to avoid defeat against their cousins at Etihad Stadium, where the Red Devils have not won since March 2021. Mancheter City favored in a match of at least three goals overall.
The likely Manchester City-Manchester United
lineups.
MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Ruben Dias, Stones, Aké; Bernardo Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Doku, Haaland, Foden.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Amrabat; Casemiro, Mainoo; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
