The 196th Manchester derby is a key match in Premier League gameweek 31, as both Manchester United and Manchester City, struggling to meet expectations this season, aim to regain form. For Manchester United, pride is the main motivator, and they may also be prioritizing their Europa League quarterfinal in Lyon on Thursday, seeing it as their best route to European competition after a disappointing league campaign.
Manchester City faces significant pressure in their remaining games. Playing without their key striker, Erling Haaland, for the foreseeable future, the reigning champions are focused on maintaining a top-five position to secure Champions League qualification for next season. They started well without Haaland, winning 2-0 against Leicester City in their previous match, but this derby presents a tougher challenge for Pep Guardiola. Guardiola has a strong record at Old Trafford in the league, winning five out of nine visits. A sixth victory would give City valuable momentum as they approach the final stretch of the season.
Viewing information
- Date: Sunday, April 6
- Location: Old Trafford — Manchester, United Kingdom
- Odds: Manchester United +230; Draw +260; Manchester City +110
Last meeting
Their previous encounter at the Etihad Stadium was not a classic in terms of overall team performance, but one player stood out. After falling behind to Josko Gvardiol`s first goal, manager Ruben Amorim introduced Amad Diallo, who dramatically changed the game. Diallo first earned a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes converted to equalize, and then scored himself with a powerful shot from a difficult angle after a through ball, stunning the home crowd.
What the managers are saying
Manchester United: Despite Manchester United`s recent defeat to Nottingham Forest, their manager, Amorim, believes the team is showing signs of improvement. He stated, “It`s been a consistent pattern this season. We are developing our style of play, generating more scoring opportunities, and controlling games more effectively.”
He added, “However, the lack of wins is felt, which is understandable. We recognize the season`s unpredictable nature and are focused on progressing to the next match.”
Manchester City: Pep Guardiola emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum after securing consecutive wins against Premier League teams for the first time since early January. He acknowledged the competitiveness of other teams vying for top positions, including Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest, as well as the potential for teams like Brighton and Bournemouth to close the gap.
Guardiola commented, “With eight games remaining, every match is crucial.”
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
Storylines to watch
Alejandro Garnacho, taking his chances — Since Amorim took charge, Garnacho has been among the league`s most frequent shooters, averaging 3.28 shots per 90 minutes. Interestingly, despite this high shot volume, his expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes is relatively low at 0.22.
This is because Garnacho tends to shoot whenever he sees an opportunity, regardless of the situation. While his eagerness to shoot is understandable for a young player, his shot selection may need refinement, as evidenced by his six shots against Forest yielding less than half the xG of Harry Maguire in the same game.
Player to watch
Jack Grealish — Grealish recently returned to Manchester City`s starting lineup and scored his first Premier League goal in over a year. He was deployed in a central attacking midfield role, similar to his position before joining City, where he could influence play, drive forward, and shoot. His performance, although only including two shots, was impressive. The question is whether he will retain his place, with Phil Foden also competing for a starting role.
Prediction
Matches between United and City at Old Trafford are often closely contested, even when City wins. Expect City`s quality to be decisive in the end. PICK: Manchester United 0, Manchester City 1
