Manchester United will face arch-rival Manchester City in a crucial Premier League encounter on Saturday (November 6) at 6.30 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). This derby match is generating a lot of excitement, as both teams are determined to prove who the best in Manchester is.
United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær is under pressure to deliver well in big matches, while Pep Guardiola's side will be looking to close the gap on league leader Chelsea. Let's take a look at the match preview of Man Utd vs. Man City.
Probable Team Lineups: Man Utd vs. Man City
Manchester United have a number of injury concerns, notably on the backline that must be addressed. Otherwise, City's superb offensive line will frighten their defense.
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Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane will miss the match due to injuries, while Paul Pogba is suspended. Aside from that, all Man United players are available for selection.
Probable Starting XI (Manchester United):
David de Gea (GK); Eric Bailly, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw; Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek, Bruno Fernandes; Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Cristiano Ronaldo
Like the other side of Manchester, Pep Guardiola's team has a problem in defense. The team's first-choice right-back Kyle Walker is doubtful due to injury. Therefore, they must rearrange their ideal formation.
On the other hand, Manchester City have enough talent in the team to replace him. The central defender Aymeric Laporte is suspended and will miss this match, while Ferran Torres is still recovering from an injury.
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Probable Starting XI (Manchester City):
Ederson Moraes (GK); Rúben Dias, John Stones, João Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, İlkay Gündoğan; Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Gabriel Jesus
Head-to-Head: Manchester United vs. Manchester City
Both teams have faced each other 48 times in the Premier League, with Manchester United dominating the rivalry 24 to 15. United have scored 70 goals against the Citizens in the Premier League, while City have scored 61 goals against them. Man United have 18 clean sheets compared to Man City's ten clean sheets. Manchester City have won seven away (at Old Trafford) league matches (joint-most with Liverpool) against Manchester United.
Both clubs have played each other in a total of 185 matches across all competitions. Manchester United have the most victories with 77. Manchester City have won 55 games, with the remaining 53 games ending in a draw. Wayne Rooney (11 goals), Jose Hayes (10 goals), Francis Lee (10 goals), Sergio Aguero (9), and Bobby Charlton (9) are the top five goal scorers in Manchester derby.
Match Prediction: Man Utd vs. Man City
Manchester City will be favorites in this fixture despite not having won a Premier League match against Manchester United since April 2019. The Red Devils have a chance in this match if they play to their full potential.
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Pep Guardiola has plenty of offensive options at his disposal. He can choose to go all-in against the home team. The best formation for Man City would be a 4-3-3 with Gabriel Jesus as the lone striker.
On the other hand, Manchester United will be satisfied with a draw. An open play could be expected if Man City scored early in the game. They can use a 4-4-2 system or adapt to a 3-4-1-2 formation to strengthen the defense and midfield. United's key objective would be to contain the City's attacks and fight for at least a single point until the final whistle.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Manchester United
Verdict
Based on the recent form and squad strength, Manchester City are the favourites in the Man Utd vs. Man City fixture. Manchester United haven't been consistent this season albeit winning some close moments thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's individual brilliance. Particularly, they have struggled against tougher opponents, indicating that this squad isn't strong enough to defeat big teams.
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On the other side, the reigning Premier League champion Manchester City are one of the favourites in this season. The Citizens will surely put up a good fight against the Red Devils. Overall, this Manchester derby promises to be a thrilling match.