The Manchester rivalry has been at its fiercest in recent times with Manchester City turning into a force to reckon with and more often than not eclipsing United. Pep Guardiola’s side are running away with the league title and are just a win away from securing their second silverware this season. And they could not have asked for a better team to play against and win the title than their ‘noisy’ neighbours Manchester United, who travel to Etihad today for the second Manchester derby of this season.
The Red Devils, fresh from a 2-0 victory against Swansea City, will be determined to delay City’s eventual title celebrations and have a serious chance of doing so, thanks to Guardiola’s humiliation at Anfield in the UCL earlier this week.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool put three past City in the first leg of the QF of the Champions League this season and Guardiola will be tempted to rest some of his key players, to have a strong squad fighting for a comeback in the second leg, just days later after this crunch clash.
United have very little to play for in the league and will look to cement their place in the top-4 but this game will mean so much more to them as they will not only look to avenge the 2-1 loss at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture but will also want to prove a point and fight for the bragging rights in the city.
However, City will believe that they have enough depth to take all three points from this tie which can help them win the title in record time. They are 16 points clear at the moment and will love to beat United to get to the title. Both teams will settle for nothing less than three points and here is the team news, predicted lineups, prediction and odds for this tie:
Benjamin Mendy remains the only absentee ahead of this game for Manchester City. Sergio Aguero is still nursing his injury and though is back in training, might be rested to get fit for the second leg of the UCL tie against Liverpool.
Ederson; Danilo, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko; Delph, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Silva, Sterling, Jesus
Mourinho also has no real issues concerning injuries to worry about ahead of this game. Sergio Romero remains the only absentee while Daley Blind and Phil Jones are back in training and might make it to the bench.
De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Young; Matic, Pogba; Rashford, Lingard, Sanchez; Lukaku
Manchester City – 17/20
Draw – 29/10
Manchester United – 10/3
Manchester City 2-2 Manchester United
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