The 196th Manchester derby is a key fixture in gameweek 31 of the Premier League season. Both Manchester United and Manchester City, considered giants of English football, are aiming to recover from underwhelming seasons.
Manchester United, playing at home, are primarily playing for pride. With their Premier League position in the bottom half of the table, their main focus might be on the upcoming Europa League quarterfinal in Lyon on Thursday, which represents their best opportunity to qualify for European football next season.
Manchester City faces significant pressure in their remaining games. The reigning champions are currently holding onto a top-five spot, crucial for Champions League qualification next season, and are doing so without their key striker, Erling Haaland, for most, if not all, of the remaining league fixtures. They began their series of games without Haaland positively with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City in midweek. However, this Manchester derby presents a tougher challenge for Pep Guardiola. Guardiola has an impressive record of five wins in nine league visits to Old Trafford, a league record already. Securing a sixth win would provide City with strong momentum for the final stretch of the season.
Match Information
- Date: Sunday, April 6
- Location: Old Trafford — Manchester, United Kingdom
Last Encounter
Their previous match at the Etihad Stadium was not a high-quality game overall, but one player delivered a moment of brilliance. Despite trailing to Josko Gvardiol`s first goal, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim introduced Amad Diallo, who dramatically changed the game. Diallo won a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes converted for the equalizer, and then scored himself with a powerful shot from a difficult angle, stunning the home crowd at the Etihad Stadium.
Manager`s Comments
Manchester United Manager Amorim: Despite a recent defeat to Nottingham Forest, which marked United`s ninth loss in 19 Premier League games under his management, Amorim believes his team is showing improvement. He stated, “It’s more of the same since this season began. So I think if you look at the game, we are improving the way we play football. We are creating more chances, we are dominating more games.”
He added, “But in the end, when you don’t win, you feel that and that is a good thing. So we know that this season is going to be like that, the momentum. So we continue to go to the next game.”
Manchester City Manager Guardiola: Following consecutive wins against Premier League teams for the first time since early January, Guardiola is aware of the importance of maintaining momentum. He highlighted the competitiveness of other teams vying for top positions, such as Newcastle United and Aston Villa, and noted that every remaining game is crucial.
Guardiola emphasized, “Eight games left. Every game is vital.”
Predicted Lineups
Manchester United: Andre Onana; Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs De Ligt, Leny Yoro; Diogo Dalot, Manuel Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes, Patrick Dorgu; Alejandro Garnacho, Joshua Zirkzee; Rasmus Hojlund
Manchester City: Ederson; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Abdukodir Khusanov, Josko Gvardiol; Nico Gonzalez, Ilkay Gundogan; Savinho, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku; Omar Marmoush
Key Storyline
Alejandro Garnacho`s Shooting Frequency: Since Amorim took charge, Alejandro Garnacho is among the league`s most frequent shooters, averaging 3.28 shots per 90 minutes. However, despite this high shot volume, his expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes is relatively low, suggesting that many of his shots are taken from less favorable positions. While his willingness to shoot is a positive trait for a young player, the quality of his shooting opportunities might need improvement.
Player to Watch
Jack Grealish: Returning to Manchester City`s starting lineup and scoring his first Premier League goal in over a year, Jack Grealish has an opportunity to build on this performance. He was notably deployed in a central attacking midfield role, reminiscent of his position before joining City, where he could drive forward and shoot. His performance in this role raises questions about whether he will continue to get opportunities, especially with players like Phil Foden also competing for playing time.
Match Prediction
Manchester United tends to be competitive against Manchester City at Old Trafford, even in defeats. However, expect Manchester City`s overall quality to ultimately prevail.
Prediction: Manchester United 0, Manchester City 1
Dominic Ashworth