On Saturday, from 17:30, Manchester United and Manchester City will play the 183rd derby of the city, on Old Trafford. United leads the “live” statistics, with 76 victories and only 54 failures. It’s a festive atmosphere at this match, in which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes to impose his style of play against Pep Guardiola’s “citizens”.
Pep Guardiola has no team problems before the match with the great rival, while Manchester United cannot bet on Cavani, Jones and Martial (injured). The lack of the Uruguayan and the Frenchman could be important for the hosts’ offensive, given that Rashford and Bruno Fernandes remain Solskjaer’s most dangerous men. In the ranking, the two rivals are neighbors of the hierarchy, separated by a single point.
Manchester United is on the 6th place (goal average 19-17), with 19 points, over Manchester City – the 7th place (goal average 17-11), with 18 points. The two rivals have played 10 stages so far in the Premier League. Both teams come after two consecutive victories in the championship, but the “devils” suffered a big disappointment in the middle of the week, in the Champions League! United lost to RB Leipzig (2-3), so they missed the qualification in the eliminatory phase of UCL, although they had started the course fantastically, with a victory on the field of PSG. Finally, the failures with Istanbul BB and Leipzig decided the fate of the white-reds, who will play in the Europa League in 2021.
Instead, Manchester City qualified without emotions in the spring of the Champions League, achieving a victory in the last stage of the groups, 3-0 with Marseille. The winning goals were scored after the break, by Torres (’48), Aguero (’77) and Alvaro (’90 – own goal). Aguero’s return was the great moment of a match dominated without the right to appeal by the hosts.
The “citizens” seem to be back in shape, with five consecutive games without a goal conceded (4 wins and a white draw). In fact, City has lost only one match in the last 16, so it is normal to see the favorite share of the guests. We must not forget, however, that United has won 3 of the last 4 direct duels with City: 2-0, 1-0 and 2-1. City won 3-1 in a trip in January 2020, in the English League Cup, but lost the last trip in the championship, with rivals (0-2).
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Patricio; Semedo, Boly, Coady, Marcal; Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho; Traore, Podence, Neto
Coach: Nuno Espirito Santo
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Luiz, Hourihane; Trezeguet, Watkins, Grealish
Coach: Dean Smith
In 9 of Man’s last 10 matches. City scored at most one of the teams;
Manchester City has 4 victories in the last 5 matches played in all competitions;
In 6 of the last 7 matches of Manchester United both teams have scored;
At least four goals have been scored in 5 of Manchester United’s last 6 matches;
Man’s top scorer. United is Fernandes (7 hits), and City’s is Mahrez (4);
PREDICTION: Manchester City to win @ 1,75
