Manchester City welcome Premier League title rivals, Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium in a blockbuster Manchester derby on Super Sunday.
Victory would see City open up a 17 point lead over Utd with 33 points left on offer for both teams across the rest of this season after this match.
Utd meanwhile can reduce their deficit to 14 points with a win.
Team News
Nathan Ake is set to return from a muscle injury as Man City look set to have an entire squad available for selection.
Man Utd could welcome Anthony Martial back into the starting eleven after the Frenchman sat out their goalless midweek draw at Crystal Palace with a knock to his knee.
Donny van de Beek (muscle) and Victor Lindelof (back) are also doubts but David De Gea (personal), Juan Mata (unspecified), Paul Pogba (muscle) and Phil Jones (knee) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Man City are unbeaten in three of their last five Manchester derbies in the Premier League (W2, D1, L2).
- United are unbeaten in four of their last five league trips to the Etihad Stadium (W3, D1, L1).
- Manchester derby hasn’t seen two goalless league draws in the same season since 1948-49 season, with Man Utd finishing second that campaign just like they are set to do this season.
- Man City have lost their only previous home clash against a current top-five team this season, losing 5-2 to Leicester in September.
- Utd haven’t drawn three straight league matches since November-December 2018.
Prediction
This is a proper title six-pointer on top of a local derby but for Man City, they need to be more clinical than they were on Tuesday against Wolves because they dominated but often lacked the end product to opportunities despite eventually prevailing 4-1.
Man Utd meanwhile were held to a third consecutive goalless draw in competitions at Crystal Palace in foggy conditions on Wednesday, despite often having the better chances minus clinical finishing which will be crucial here if are to end City’s unbeaten run.
This match therefore feels like it could well be a difficult contest but the longer it stays goalless, the more I fancy City to get a win yet these blockbuster Super Sunday clashes this season have often fallen short although I don’t see that happening here given City’s form.
Prediction: Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United
Result: Manchester City 0-2 Manchester United
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