Man United v Man City: Manchester derby odds, form stats & prediction

Premier League: Manchester United v Manchester City

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 4.30pm Sunday

Match odds

9-2 Manchester United
8-13 Manchester City
7-2 Draw

Form

The Premier League title looks long gone, but Manchester City have perked up in the other three competitions in recent weeks as they go in search of a sixth straight success.

City have lifted the EFL Cup, qualified for the FA Cup quarter-finals and beaten West Ham and Leicester in the Premier League.

Sergio Aguero's goal was enough to see off Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday, three days after the Argentinian ace broke the deadlock against Aston Villa in the EFL Cup final at Wembley.

Manchester United were eight games unbeaten going into Thursday's FA Cup trip to Derby and the form of Bruno Fernandes gives underdogs United a puncher's chance of an upset. The January arrival from Portugal has scored against Watford, Club Brugge and Everton.

Team news

Kevin De Bruyne needs to be assessed for City, who are without Aymeric Laporte. Leroy Sane lacks match fitness.

Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba remain sidelined, while Daniel James was doubtful before Thursday's trip to Derby.

The tactical battle

City bamboozled United in the last Manchester derby at Old Trafford when Pep Guardiola selected a team without a striker as Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva played as false forwards.

It was 3-0 at half-time and Guardiola adopted similar tactics at the Bernabeu last week as City beat Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Guardiola sees it as a system which works well in two ways, dragging centre-backs out of position and allowing his wingers to make runs from deep, and also helping to control United's counter-attacks, so don't be overly surprised if he uses this formation again.

Verdict

This looks set to be a close Manchester derby with City, who have quietened down in the goals-for column, travelling to a United side who are capable of keeping it tight defensively. City should find a way through and they could sneak it by one goal.
Prediction: Man City to win 1-0.

Key stats

• United have kept five clean sheets in their last six home matches
• The away team have won six of the last seven Manchester derbies
• City's last seven matches have produced just 13 goals
• Three of City's last four away domestic fixtures have resulted in 1-0 victories

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