This Sunday’s Premier League encounter between Manchester United and Manchester City, on Sunday the 29th, looks set to be one of the games of the season so far. Anything can happen in a big local derby, and the head-to-head statistics from the last 10 meetings point towards a close game.
Manchester United have 4 wins from those game, Manchester City have 5, with one game ending in a draw. Their last meeting was the 2023 FA Cup, a game that ended 2-1 in favour of Manchester City, thanks to goals from Ilkay Gundogan.
Recent form
Both teams have had a mixed bag of results in their last five fixtures. Manchester United, coming off a 1-0 victory against FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League, have won three out of their last five matches, a run of games that includes a notable loss at home to Crystal Palace.
Last five games Manchester United
- Manchester United 1-0 FC Copenhagen (2023-10-24) UEFA Champions League
- Sheffield Utd 1-2 Manchester United (2023-10-21)
- Manchester United 2-1 Brentford (2023-10-07)
- Manchester United 2-3 Galatasaray (2023-10-03) UEFA Champions League
- Manchester United 0-1 Crystal Palace (2023-09-30)
Manchester City have also won three of their last five outings, with their most recent game being a hard fought 3-1 victory over BSC Young Boys in the UEFA Champions League.
Last five games Manchester City
- BSC Young Boys 1-3 Manchester City (2023-10-25) UEFA Champions League
- Manchester City 2-1 Brighton (2023-10-21)
- Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City (2023-10-08)
- RB Leipzig 1-3 Manchester City (2023-10-04) UEFA Champions League
- Wolves 2-1 Manchester City (2023-09-30)
Key players and predictions
United will be looking to Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford to provide their main attacking threat, with the rejuvenated Scott McTominay expected to start in midfield. The in-form Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelöf will be crucial in defence against a vastly talated City forward line.
As usual, Manchester City will look to the prolific Erling Haaland and Julian Álvarez to provide the goals, with Nathan Ake, John Stones and Rúben Dias all expected to feature in their defence.
The game is predicted to be a close one, but Manchester City holds the edge in terms of quality. A double chance bet on a draw or Manchester City win looks to be the best sensible option for betting fans.
League standings and implications
The league standings add an extra layer of intrigue to the fixture. Manchester City sits comfortably in second place, but a win could potentially take them to the top, depending on Tottenham’s result.
Manchester United, although currently down in eighth place, are only six points off the top four, and a win could propel them up the league standings, making this a critical match in their season.
The stage is set for a mouthwatering contest, with fans around the world eagerly anticipating the kickoff. This Manchester derby looks set to be another memorable chapter in the rich history of this fierce rivalry.
