Manchester City vs Manchester United – Match preview and team news

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The Football Faithful

·15 Desember 2024

Manchester City vs Manchester United – Match preview and team news

The Etihad Stadium is the venue for the Manchester Derby this weekend as Manchester City host Manchester United.

Pep Guardiola’s side are in turmoil after another defeat in midweek left them with only one win in the last 10 games.

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Manchester City academy product Rico Lewis is suspended after he picked up two bookings in the game against Crystal Palace last weekend. Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Nathan Ake are still unavailable for selection.

Ruben Amorim enters his first derby off the back of a vital victory in the Europa League on Thursday night. A late effort from Rasmus Hojlund secured the three points for the Red Devils against Viktoria Plzen.

Amorim has no fresh injury concerns after United’s victory in Europe during the week. Jonny Evans is back in contention after missing the last few weeks with a knock.

Man United still have the upper hand in the Manchester derby head-to-head 👀🔴
– Sabtu, 14 Desember 2024

Manchester City vs Manchester United – Match preview and team news

Form

Manchester City: DLWDL

The Citizens are stuck in a rut that they can’t quite seem to hoist themselves out of at the moment.

A 2-0 loss to Italian heavyweights Juventus in the Champions League leaves them in danger of missing out on qualification to the knockout rounds. Only a point separates them from PSG, who sit outside of the Round of 16 playoff places.

CITY V UNITED 🔜
– Sabtu, 14 Desember 2024

Domestically, they haven’t fared much better. A 2-2 draw at a struggling Crystal Palace last weekend summed up their recent problems. However, three points this Sunday against their local rivals would see them go just six points off the top of the Premier League table.

Manchester United: WWLLW

Manchester United took a huge step in their bid to qualify for the Europa League knockout stages during the week.

Ruben Amorim’s side showed character to come from a goal behind to beat Czech outfit Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in Europe. Rasmus Hojlund made the impact off the bench as he recorded an efficient brace.

But their position in the Premier League is far from ideal. The Red Devils occupy 13th position and points-wise they are closer to the bottom three than the Champions League spots.

Last weekend, they capitulated at the hands of high-flying Nottingham Forest to make it consecutive league defeats.

Woeful decision-making and defensive errors led to them gifting the opposition three goals, which proved too steep of a mountain to climb as it ended 3-2 to Forest.

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Last Meeting: Manchester City 1-1 Manchester United, Community Shield, 10th August 2024

The last Manchester Derby was at Wembley Stadium as the local rivals met to decide the Community Shield.

It was the second derby at Wembley within a three-month period after United had prevailed over City in the FA Cup Final.

Pep Guardiola’s side went close to opening the scoring midway through the first half but the woodwork denied them. A misplaced pass from Lisandro Martinez allowed Oscar Bobb to tee up fellow academy graduate James McAtee, whose curling effort fell onto the post.

United responded well as they fashioned a couple of presentable opportunities that Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo spurned. Bruno Fernandes thought he had broken the deadlock in stunning fashion after the break as he found the top corner but it was disallowed for offside. Rashford then missed another golden chance as he clipped the same post that McAtee had hit from close range.

With roughly 10 minutes remaining, Erik ten Hag’s team got the goal they deserved as Alejandro Garnahco danced around the City defence before slotting past Ederson.

However, there would be a late sting in the tale as Bernardo Silva latched onto Bobb’s cross to equalise seven minutes later. The contest would be decided by a penalty shootout. United’s Jonny Evans failed to hold his nerve to hand City the trophy.

Predicted Lineups

Manchester City: Ortega; Walker, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan; Foden, De Bruyne, Silva, Nunes; Haaland.

Manchester United: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez; Dalot, Mainoo, Casemiro, Amad; Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund.

Who is the referee?

Anthony Taylor will be the match official. He will be assisted by Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn while Tim Robinson will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Stuart Attwell and he will be assisted by Simon Bennett.