The 196th Manchester derby is the main event of Premier League gameweek 31. Both Manchester United and Manchester City, prominent but currently underperforming teams in English football, are aiming to improve their form as disappointing seasons draw to a close. Manchester United, playing at home, are essentially playing for pride and may be somewhat focused on their upcoming Europa League quarterfinal match in Lyon on Thursday. This Europa League run represents their best opportunity to qualify for European competition next season, as they are currently in the lower half of the Premier League table.
Manchester City faces significant pressure in their remaining games. The reigning champions are without their key striker, Erling Haaland, for a considerable part, if not all, of the rest of the league season. They are currently holding onto a top-five spot, which is crucial for Champions League qualification next season. They began their period without Haaland positively with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City in their midweek game. However, this derby match presents a tougher challenge for manager Pep Guardiola. Guardiola has a strong record at Old Trafford in league games, winning five out of nine visits, a league record. Securing a sixth win would provide City with valuable momentum as they approach the final stretch of the season.
Match Details
- Date: Sunday, April 6
- Location: Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom
Starting Lineups
Manchester United: Andre Onana; Noussair Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro; Diogo Dalot, Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Patrick Dorgu; Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund
Manchester City: Ederson; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O`Reilly; Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic, Kevin de Bruyne; Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Omar Marmoush
Previous Encounter
Their last match at the Etihad Stadium was not a high-quality game overall, but one player stood out. Despite trailing 1-0 to a goal from Josko Gvardiol in the first half, Ruben Amorim made a substitution, bringing on Amad Diallo, who dramatically changed the game. Diallo won a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes converted to equalize, and then scored himself with a powerful shot from a difficult angle after running onto a through ball, stunning the home crowd.
Manager Comments
Manchester United Manager (Amorim): Despite losing to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, which meant United have lost nine out of 19 league games under him, Amorim believes his team is showing improvement. He stated, “It`s been similar since the season started. I think if you watch our games, we are improving in our playing style. We are creating more opportunities, and controlling games more.”
He added, “But ultimately, when you don`t win, you feel it, and that`s positive. We understand this season will have ups and downs. We need to move on to the next game.”
Manchester City Manager (Guardiola): After securing back-to-back wins against Premier League teams for the first time since early January – defeating Bournemouth in the FA Cup and Leicester in the league – Pep Guardiola emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum. He noted that Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also in good form, and Nottingham Forest are competitive in the top-five race, while teams like Brighton and Bournemouth are also looking to close the gap by Sunday.
Guardiola said, “Eight games remaining. Every match is crucial.”
Key Storyline
Alejandro Garnacho`s Shooting Mentality
Since Amorim became Manchester United`s manager, Alejandro Garnacho is among the league`s most frequent shooters, averaging 3.28 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League. Interestingly, his expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes is relatively low at 0.22, only slightly higher than defender Gvardiol`s for City.
This is because Garnacho tends to shoot whenever he sees an opportunity, regardless of his position, balance, or defenders nearby. Out of 155 players who have taken at least 10 shots since Amorim`s arrival, Garnacho ranks 128th in shot quality. While his willingness to shoot at a young age (20) is not necessarily negative, his six shots against Forest on Tuesday produced less than half the expected goal value of Harry Maguire`s shots as a makeshift forward, suggesting room for improvement in shot selection.
Player Spotlight
Jack Grealish
Jack Grealish made a significant return to the Premier League starting lineup, scoring his first league goal in over a year. He was deployed in a more central number 10 role, reminiscent of his pre-City days, where he could drive forward with the ball and take shots. Although he only took two shots in the game, his overall performance was impressive for the 29-year-old. The question is whether he will have the opportunity to build on this form, especially with Phil Foden also vying for a starting position.
Match Prediction
Manchester United, especially at home, are typically tough opponents for Manchester City, even in defeat. However, expect Manchester City`s overall quality to ultimately prevail. Prediction: Manchester United 0, Manchester City 1
Dominic Ashworth