Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
Kick-Off: 4.30 pm
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Man United (8): LLWWW
Man City (2): LWLWW
Match Preview
Matchday 10 in the Premier League brings forth one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures as Manchester United and Manchester City clash at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils, who recently faced a potential crisis, have somewhat steadied their ship with three consecutive, though somewhat unconvincing, victories. As it stands, they trail City by a mere six points in the league.
Manchester United’s recent triumphs include hard-fought 2-1 wins against Brentford and Sheffield United in the Premier League, along with a dramatic 1-0 victory in the UEFA Champions League against Copenhagen. Notably, Old Trafford has been the stage for some thrilling late-game heroics, particularly from Scott McTominay, who has emerged as a key player, scoring more goals in his last two Premier League appearances than in his previous 70.
Manchester City, on the other hand, seeks to regain their stride following a couple of Premier League defeats. They got back on track with victories against Brighton and Young Boys. Pep Guardiola, City’s manager, boasts an impressive record against United, having secured seven wins in 14 Premier League encounters.
The stage is set for another exhilarating Manchester Derby, with both teams preparing for a fiercely competitive battle. Guardiola’s track record adds to the anticipation, promising a thrilling chapter in this historic football rivalry.
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Head-to-Head
The last meeting between these teams took place in the FA Cup final in June, with Ä°lkay GündoÄŸan scoring twice as City moved a step closer to the treble with a 2-1 victory. GündoÄŸan’s opener, a stunning volley that beat David de Gea after 12 seconds, became the fastest goal in FA Cup final history.
In their previous Premier League encounter, Jack Grealish put City ahead at Old Trafford in January, but United staged a comeback to secure a 2-1 win, aided by Fernandes’ controversial equalizer.
United could now achieve back-to-back home league victories against their neighbors for the first time in the post-Alex Ferguson era, having last done so between 2008-09 and 2010-11.
However, City boasts a strong record at Old Trafford, with eight Premier League victories there, more than any other visiting side. Seven of these wins have come in their last 12 visits. In fact, City has evolved from being the “noisy neighbors” to the dominant force in this rivalry, securing 13 of their 24 Premier League victories against United since the 2011-12 season (with three draws and eight defeats). Their previous 13 league wins against the Red Devils came over the course of 62 meetings spanning from 1970 to 2011.
Recent Form
While their performances have faced criticism, United has seen a resurgence in recent weeks, winning their last two Premier League games after losing four of their previous six matches (with two wins). Each of their five league victories in the 2023-24 season, against Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Burnley, Brentford, and Sheffield United, has been by a one-goal margin, with four of these wins coming from goals scored in the final 15 minutes.
The champions, on the other hand, have suffered two consecutive away defeats in the Premier League, losing to Wolves and Arsenal before the most recent international break. As a result, they’ve fallen behind Tottenham in the league standings. Their last instance of three consecutive away league defeats occurred in 2020, flanking the COVID-19-enforced shutdown. The sequence included a 2-0 loss at Old Trafford, followed by defeats to Chelsea and Southampton.
Prediction
Despite City’s recent struggles on the road, the Opta supercomputer predicts a victory for the champions in Sunday’s headline fixture. In 10,000 match simulations, City emerged victorious in 50.8% of scenarios. United is assigned a 22.5% chance of winning, with a draw rated at 26.7%.
In the supercomputer’s season predictions, City remains the overwhelming favorite to secure a record-breaking fourth successive top-flight title. They topped the pile in 75.4% of simulations, with Liverpool (11.7%) and Arsenal (10%) identified as the most likely contenders to challenge City’s dominance. In contrast, United is considered an outsider for Champions League qualification, securing a top-four finish in only 4.2% of simulations.