Manchester City vs Manchester United. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats, and more

Manchester City FC will host Manchester United FC in the English Premier League 27th round match at the Etihad Stadium. The fixture will take place on Sunday, March 3, beginning at 21:00 IST.

Parimatch News will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.

Manchester City News & Current Form: 

As we approach the final third of the English Premier League, the teams that will fight for victory are starting to be clearly defined. Last season everything was decided just in March, when the Citizens made a breakthrough and left everyone behind, winning another title.

But then they faced only the Gunners. Things seem a bit more complicated now, but the first month of spring should still be the deciding factor. The Blues have had fans worried lately because of their lackluster results.

They played several difficult matches in a row, first losing points at home against Chelsea FC (1:1), and then winning 1:0 each against rather modest Brentford FC and AFC Bournemouth. At the same time, it would seem that at least from the first of these two meetings could have been expected more productive football, because Brentford itself likes big scores (mostly not in their favor) and with pleasing scores to everyone, especially after the return of Ivan Toney – but it did not work out. 

The reason for the low performance hides in the poor realization of dangerous chances. According to xG Manchester City have scored 7.12 goals in the last three rounds. The last time City lost was in early December to Aston Villa FC away. Since then, Pep Guardiola’s team has not lost in any of the tournaments in which it takes part. With the arrival of Kevin De Bruyne on the pitch after injury, the Blues have started to play with even more confidence. 

He can create chances for himself, decide the outcome of the match with a long-range shot, but most importantly, he creates chances for his teammates, especially Erling Haaland. The Norwegian forward has also picked up his spirits lately, after returning to the squad there was a period when he was often let down by realization. 

Kevin de Bruyne – key player of Manchester City

The game against Luton Town FC in the 1/8 Emirates FA Cup turned out to be peculiar. Haaland made his second penta-trick of the season, with four of his goals scored with assists from de Bruyne. On the one hand, you can wave your hand and say, well, come on, it’s Luton. But, on the other hand, the same team recently tormented Manchester United in the championship. It seems that Guardiola’s team for the spring stretch comes to the projected capacity, and the intrigue is in one thing – whether they will be able to repeat last year’s success and make the second treble.

The FA Cup quarter finals are ahead, in the Premier League everything is still in the hands of the team. After 26 rounds, City are second in the English Premier League standings with 59 points. This is just one point less than the leading Liverpool FC and just one point more than Arsenal FC, which is in third position. The other opponents are quite an impressive distance behind, so it is this trio that will play for the title.

In addition, Manchester City is excelling in other tournaments. He won the FIFA Club World Cup, and also confidently defeated FC Copenhagen (3:1) in the first match of the 1/8 finals of the UEFA Champions League.

In that meeting, Josep Guardiola’s wards set an amazing achievement. They became the first team in history to score three or more goals in seven consecutive Champions League matches. In total, in 41 meetings in all official tournaments, the Citizens scored 101 goals and conceded only 39.

Are there any problems with the team? Yes, there are injuries. Admittedly, much less than their neighbors, but in the match against the same Luton Jack Grealish asked for a replacement after the break. The Englishman in general is very unlucky in the current season, but the bench of the team is such that you can relatively painlessly replace anyone, of course, except de Bruyne. Before the derby with MU, defender Josko Guardiol is also undergoing treatment.

Manchester United News & Current Form: 

If you compare Manchester United in the first half of the season and now, the difference is obvious not only in the team’s play, but also in the results. In the new year, the Mancunians have only one defeat, they managed to get out of the middle of the standings and even get closer to the Champions League zone.

As for the current campaign, the team performed extremely poorly. The Red Devils took the last place in the group stage standings, and also set an anti-record for English teams in the number of goals conceded – 15.

However, after the start of the year, the fans had hope, but everything was confused by the defeat on home field from Fulham FC. Erik ten Hag’s team lost from the middle of the second half, but managed to equalize a minute before the end of the main time. On the fervor players ran to score the winning goal, had chances, but missed a counterattack in the seventh minute.

However, one point did not help the team much. Now the gap from Aston Villa, going forth, is eight points. In the match 1/8 finals of the Carabao Cup the Red Devils were able to win away against Nottingham Forest FC and this is also an indicator that things are getting better, in the EPL at the end of December, Mancunians lost in Nottingham. 

The victory was not easy, Casemiro scored only a few minutes before the end of the match, but you can see that the team has character. At the press conference, the Dutch specialist said that the team has found stability. He emphasized that his wards lost only once in 2024.

In addition, the club was able to set a record for England, reaching the quarterfinals of the Cup for the 48th time. By the way, in the quarterfinals of the Cup they will meet Liverpool, while City will play at home with Newcastle United FC.

Success on the pitch has the fans happy, but equally good news comes in terms of what is happening in the club’s management. Hopes are now pinned on Jim Ratcliffe, who has promised that the team can reach the level of Manchester City and Liverpool in three years’ time. 

The Citizens have defeated the Devils in three of their last five head-to-head meetings. In January last year United managed to take revenge in the EPL, achieving a 2:1 win, and the FA Cup final at Wembley at the beginning of last June ended 2:1 in favor of Manchester City. 

Rasmus Højlund, top summer acquisition of Manchester United FC, has finally started scoring goals

Manchester United, unlike their opponents, also have a good half of their main squad injured – defenders Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, midfielder Mason Mount and Tyrell Malacia. Especially the defensive line, where Sofyan Amrabat had to play at left back in the match against the Trees. These losses reduce the already small chances of winning the derby.

In the last stretch of the season, the Mancunians have really improved. They even produced a four-match winning streak in the EPL. However, the main person who made the result was Rasmus Højlund, who was in the infirmary, he scored in each of those four meetings.

If it wasn’t for Højlund, ten Hag wouldn’t be in contention for EPL Coach of the Month. If last season the Dutch coach’s ideas were well-received by the team and brought excellent results, then in the current season the whole game of the team is built on the individual skill and character of some players.

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Manchester City form guide: W-W-D-W-W-W

Manchester United form guide: W-W-W-W-L-W

Manchester City vs Manchester United Head-To-Head Record:

• January 14, 2023: Manchester United 2 – 1 Manchester City (Premier League);
• June 3, 2023: Manchester City 2 – 1 Manchester United (FA Cup);
• October 29, 2023: Manchester United 0 – 3 Manchester City (Premier League).

Manchester City vs Manchester United Predicted XI:

Manchester City’s possible starting lineup (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Doku, Haaland, Foden.

Manchester United’s possible starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Amrabat; Casemiro, Mainoo; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford.

Statistical preview of the match Manchester City vs Manchester United:

• Man City’s First XI average age is 27.9 years, United’s First XI average age is 26.5 years.
• The total value of City’s squad is 1.26 bln euros, while the total of MU comes up to 735 mln euros.
• Andy Madley has been appointed as the center referee. The referee has already served 20 games this season, showing an average of 4.2 Yellow Cards and also whistles 24 fouls per game. 
• Manchester City have not lost in their last 18 meetings in all competitions and scored at least two goals in 14 of their last 18 matches in all competitions.
• Manchester United have won 7 of their last 10 games in all competitions and scored at least one goal in their last 12 matches in all competitions.
• Including the FA Cup, Erik ten Hag’s side have won 6 consecutive away games with a 15-7 aggregate scoreline.
• In 13 home rounds of the current championship, the Citizens scored 31 goals.
• Manchester City have become champions of England 9 times, the team has won 7 titles in the last 11 years.
• The best scorer of the team and the whole championship is Erling Haaland, he has 17 goals on his account. Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden are the best assistants, they both have 7 assists each.
• Manchester United have been crowned champions of England 20 times, with 13 of those wins coming in the Premier League, with the most recent success coming in 2013. Rasmus Højlund and Scott McTominay are the leading scorers this season with 7 goals each.

What has been said before the match:

Pep Guardiola, gaffer of Man City, about the Manchester derby:

“It is so nice to have those fixtures. United then had the chance to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League and then Anfield, Newcastle who will be the fourth time we play them this season to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup. We work so far to arrive here and live these kinds of moments. We try to do our best. These are the best.”

Head coach of the Red Devils, Erik ten Hag, says his team is ready for the challenge in the upcoming fixture:

“We are also in a good run. This period is very good, we are united. We are together and we will make a good game plan. We have done it before against City and also, lately, against Liverpool, so we will prepare well.”

“The players are ready for it and looking forward to it. I can smell it. I am around here and speak with the players, so we are really enjoying it and looking forward and excited.”

“We did it in several ways, many ways, to be successful. So, from all the games, we look back. We had the opportunity to win one time and you need a great day. That is also what we know so the players have to give the best performances.”

Manchester City vs Manchester United Prediction:

Manchester City are in terrific form at the moment and haven’t lost since early December, with 16 wins in 18 meetings since then. But their arch-rivals have also finally found the kind of performance that has long been expected of the team – seven wins and just one defeat in nine EPL and FA Cup matches. Erik ten Hag’s side have been particularly successful away from home this year, with seven consecutive away wins in domestic tournaments. While their dominance is hardly in the cards, Manchester United still can surprise even such a superior opponent. Despite the different capacities and ambitions of the teams in recent years, the Red Devils generally play well on the field of their neighbours: the scoring streak of the Mancunians reaches seven matches. However, the win-loss stats are still on the side of the Sky Blues: Man Utd have won only two of their last six matches at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City have had a slightly busier schedule in recent weeks, but that is unlikely to have any impact on their performance, with the depth of the squad, Pep Guardiola’s rotational instrumentality, and the general fitness of the squad doing their bit. The visitors have more personnel problems: the derby with the Citizens has to miss a bunch of important players, including the main attacking force of the team – Rasmus Højlund, United’s attack will be weakened again in the absence of the Dane. 

We expect a definitive dominant performance from Man City from the start of the match, with a huge number of corners in the game. United are capable of scoring against their neighbours, but it will not be possible to take three points at their arena. The Citizens will justify their status as favourites in front of their home stands.

Parimatch News staff prediction:

We say: There will be more than 10.5 corner kicks in the game, both teams will score and Manchester City will not lose – Yes. 
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