Manchester Derby

Manchester Derby between Manchester United & Manchester City

This Sunday, we get to see one of the biggest derbies in British football as Man United and City go head-to-head at Old Trafford, Manchester. 

The first derby took place back in 1881, and since then, these Manchester rivals have faced off 181 times in all competitions. These are two of the country’s top teams, and a long and well-documented history has made the Manchester derby one of these fiercest rivalries in the Premier League.

Sunday’s game will be the 46th time Manchester United and Manchester City face off in the Premier League. And so far, United is ahead as far as total wins are concerned. With only eight draws, United’s stacked up 22 wins against City’s 15.

That said, City’s won three out the last five Premier League bouts, and the team’s in excellent form. Furthermore, City’s had a great season and is currently ranked in second place in the Premier League standings. United, on the other hand, has had some inconsistent results this season and is currently ranked fifth.

Recent Premier League results  

A lot is speaking for Manchester City in this match.

City’s won four out of their last matches while United’s only managed come out victorious on two occasions. Considering these stats, it’s not surprising to see City as a clear-cut favourite at the world’s leading betting sites – despite the fact United’s actually got most wins out these teams’ previous Premier League clashes. 

However, things change, and there’s no denying things are going quite well for Manchester City. The team’s recent progress might partly be attributed to strong financial backing, and City overtook The Red Devils and became the Premier League’s most valuable club just last year. 

United’s had a very inconsistent season. The Red Devils defeats against struggling teams such as Watford, Bournemouth and West Ham have been quite a contrast against teams like Leicester, City, Spurs and Chelsea.

Team news ahead of Manchester Derby

Paul Pogba isn’t expected to return for Sunday’s match, and Marcus Rashford will remain on the sidelines. We might see Daniel James and Aaaron Wan-Bissaka in the game. 

As far as City is concerned, Guardiola has hinted that Phil Foden might play in this derby. It seems like the perfect time give this 19-year-old another game, considering his man of the match performance in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley just a few days ago. Kevin de Bruyne, however, won’t be able to play as he sustained a back injury in last weekend’s Carabao Cup final. The injury led to De Bruyne missing out on City’s FA Cup win last Wednesday, but the Belgian midfielder isn’t expected to be sidelined for very long.

Odds and match predictions

It’s quite hard to make a prediction considering previous results. That said, City is a clear favourite in this derby. Contrary to United, City has been consistent this season, and we can’t look away from City’s success in the last five derbies. Bookies are holding City as a strong favourite in this bout, and they have good reason to do so.

However, despite inconsistencies, United has pulled off some impressive wins this season. The Red Devils can never be counted out, and should United pull off a win against City his Sunday, they’ll give any daring bettors a handsome return. With odds set around 5.00 for United to win, there’s money to be made for those willing to challenge the bookies.

Regardless if you’re betting on the match or not, this promises to be an exciting Sunday as one of the most heated rivalries in British football continues.