On Sunday evening, the headline game of Matchday 28 of the 2021/22 Premier League will come off at the Etihad Stadium, with defending champions Manchester City taking on neighbours Manchester United. It is an encounter that may have a massive impact on the title race as well as competition for top-four places and both clubs will be poised to secure a favorable result.
Liverpool kept the pressure on City by beating West Ham 1-0 on Saturday, closing the deficit to three points at the top of the table. As a result, City will be focused entirely on securing a win in the 187th Manchester derby as any other result could prove costly. They will approach Sunday's clash on the back of an important yet controversial 1-0 win over Everton in their last league outing and will look to build on the result for another big three points. In mid-week, Pep Guardiola's men booked a place in the quarterfinal of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win over Championship side Peteborough.
Their form in the premiership cannot be questioned as up until the extraordinary 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur they had not managed defeat since October last year. For another season running, the Etihad has proven to be a real fortress. The champions have scored a joint-high 36 goals in the Premier League at home this season, allowing only nine goals in the process, and have won seven consecutive games at the Etihad.
However, the last time they hosted the Red Devils, their attacking edge was nonexistent with the side managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the time picking up a 2-0 win to earn the bragging rights. It is on the back of that huge performance that interim boss Ralf Rangnick will seek inspiration to potentially carry the day at the expense of the men in blue.
United will go into Sunday's showdown looking to return to winning ways. While the reds are unbeaten in each of their last six matches across all competitions, they have recorded just two wins. A 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in last week's Champions League outing was followed by a disappointing 0-0 draw with Watford at Old Trafford. With West Ham, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Wolves all breathing down the neck of the Old Trafford outfit in the race for a top-four place, it is imperative that they succeed in getting as many wins as possible to safeguard their position.
Team news
Manchester City are without centre-back Ruben Dias, who suffered a hamstring injury against Peterborough on Tuesday and will be out for at least four weeks. City's only other absentees are Nathan Ake and Cole Palmer.
For Manchester United, Scott McTominay returned to training after missing two matches due to sickness. Edinson Cavani has also gained full fitness from a groin injury and was expected to be included in the matchday squad. However, the Uruguayan striker, Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane were not spotted at the Lowry Hotel as the team prepared on Saturday, putting their availability in doubt.
According to reports, Cristiano Ronaldo is also out of contention through injury. The Portuguese striker was also not spotted at the team's camping base on Saturday.
Match facts: Manchester City vs Manchester United
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The respective away team has won seven of the previous nine Manchester derbies in all competitions, with Manchester United's 2-0 triumph in March 2020 being the only home success in this period.
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This will be the 50th Premier League encounter between the tw clubs. There have been 21 away victories in the competition's history, more than any other match.
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Man City will aim to secure the league double over United for the second time under Pep Guardiola, having done so in the 2018-19 season.
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Manchester United has gone eight Premier League games without losing (W4, D4), the longest current unbeaten streak in the league.
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Pep Guardiola has lost four home games against Manchester United in his managerial tenure, more than any other opponent.
Predicted starting XI
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Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Foden, Sterling
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Manchester United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Varane, Telles; Pogba, McTominay; Elanga, Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford.
Broadcast information
Информация о матче, результат и информация о трансляции
Матч завершён. Ниже подробная информация об оригинальной прямой трансляции этой игры.
Прямые теле- и онлайн-трансляции (United States)
Прямые теле- и онлайн-трансляции (United States)
