The venue is set for Sunday’s highly-anticipated Manchester derby. United, fourth in the standings, will lock horns with City, who dropped to second thanks to Arsenal’s win on Saturday.
The Old Trafford clash this weekend between Louis Van Gaal’s and Manuel Pellegrini’s side will be the 170th. History is on the Red Devils’ side, with the 20-time English Premier League champions winning 70 to the Citizens’ 49 wins.
The two sides’ head-to-head form in recent history is split even, though, with both United and City winning three of the last six Theatre of Dreams encounters in all competitions each, producing a staggering 26 goals.
Their last 8 meetings at United’s home ground has produced an even more impressive 38 goals.
The Manchester derby has always been a goalscoring fest. More United vs City facts ==> https://t.co/YZxxcJ9BNL pic.twitter.com/1il6F9cbOu
— LiveSoccerTV.com (@LiveSoccerTV) October 25, 2015
The Manchester derby has always been a goalscoring fest, and nothing less is expected from the latest edition. City, however, boast the better goalscoring odds heading into the game.
The Citizens boast the most lethal front three in the league, with 24 goals scored in 9 games, compared to the Red Devils’ 15. Furthermore, Pellegrini’s men boast a better shot per game ratio.
Man United average 11 shots per game, whilst City average just above 20
Unfortunately for Man City, they will be without their leading goalscorer, Sergio Aguero, and influential playmaker David Silva, whose 6 assists is only second to Ozil’s 7, having made three less appearances.
Most goals in 2015: Messi 45 - Ronaldo 43 - Lewandowski 40 - Neymar 37 - Aubameyang 36 - Ibrahimovic 32 - Aguero 31 [via @barcastat]
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) October 23, 2015
Nonetheless, Man United captain Wayne Rooney, who turned 30 on Saturday’s, remains wary of the threat City pose, especially with summer signings Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne at their exposal.
The Englishman, the leading scorer in the Manchester derby with 11 strikes, insists that his team will do their very best to stop the duo hot on their heels.
“Nowadays the top teams have such good squads that they can cope with injuries,” said the Three Lions international.
De Bruyne for Man City since signing for the Citizens
Kevin De Bruyne for Manchester City this term (all comps): 9 games 5 goals 4 assists pic.twitter.com/2gztOROTkJ
— EPL News ID (@EPL_NewsID) October 22, 2015
“The players they brought in cost over £100million in De Bruyne and Sterling, so they are two fantastic young players and we have to nullify their threats and take advantage of their flaws.
“Raheem is a fantastic player and a great lad as well, but he is still a young lad and still has a lot to learn. The good thing about Raheem is that he wants to learn. He has started his career at City really well, but hopefully we can slow him down a bit on Sunday and come out on top.”
Manchester Derby team sheets
Man United's First XI: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Rojo; Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Herrera; Mata, Rooney, Martial.
Man City's First XI: Hart, Sagna, Kompany (C), Otamendi, Kolarov, Fernando, Fernandinho, Toure, Sterling, De Bruyne, Bony
Man United's bench: Romero, Blind, Darmian, Carrick, Lingard, Memphis, Fellaini.
Man City's bench: Caballero, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Roberts, Navas, Iheanacho
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