Manchester United vs Manchester City Prediction: Derby day awaits…

A Manchester Derby is always something to behold and we’ve got one coming our way on Sunday as United welcome City to Old Trafford (Sky Sports Main Event, 16:30). The Red Devils fell to a midweek defeat to Nottingham Forest, while City beat Championship-bound Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium.

United beat City in dramatic fashion in the reverse fixture as Amad Diallo stole the points late on, and the home side will hope to complete the double over Pep Guardiola’s men for the first time in five years. Below you can find my Manchester United vs Manchester City predictions featuring team news and betting selections. 

Manchester United's injury situation has improved slightly, with Harry Maguire, Mason Mount, and Leny Yoro all returning to action at the City Ground, while Altay Bayindir also made the bench for Tuesday’s defeat.

Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw are on the road to recovery and could return soon, but Amad, Jonny Evans and Ayden Heaven are still absent, with the trio hoping to get some minutes before the season ends. 

The major absentee for City is top scorer Erling Haaland, and he will miss Sunday’s game due to an ankle problem sustained in the Emirates FA Cup quarter-final win at Bournemouth on Sunday. 

Football Odds

Six weeks on the sidelines appears to be his initial diagnosis, so we may not see him before the season ends either. Omar Marmoush will deputise for him having scored the winner on the South Coast to send City through to the semis, and will hope to strike again in this one. 

“We don’t have another player with his skills or specific qualities, we know that, but we have to adapt,” Guardiola said about Haaland in his press conference. 

“For many years, we play with different ways up front and it depends on the qualities of the players we’re going to find another solution.

“We will find a solution for the players that we have with different skills and qualities. We will find that.”

Defensively the Citizens have a few issues as Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, and John Stones are still a number of weeks away from fitness, and Rodri is still sidelined after his ACL injury in September. Kevin De Bruyne has announced he will leave City this summer, and will want to make an impact in his final derby. 

Manchester United vs Manchester City Odds

United are priced up at 12/5 to win this game, while City are 11/10, giving the away side an implied win probability of 48% heading into derby day. Given United have won six from 15 at home this term, while City have that exact same record on the road, those odds may seem slightly weighted in favour of the Citizens, while a draw can be backed at 11/5. 

Both teams scored in the reverse fixture, and in the FA Cup final last year and that can be backed at 4/7 while over 2.5 goals is 4/6. Marmoush is the favourite to score first at 9/2, in the absence of Haaland. 

Manchester United to win @ 12/5 

I know United have been rubbish this season, but they have seemed to get the better of City when it really matters. Last time out they stunned them at the Etihad as a Bruno Fernandes penalty looked to have rescued a point, before Amad struck in injury time to steal all three. 

Even at their worst they can get the better of City, and that is before you take into account the Citizens’ own underperformance this term. Haaland is going to be a massive miss and although I rate Marmoush, I think Ruben Amorim’s side can keep him quiet. 

This just feels like a big price for a side who have won the last two meetings, and performed on the big stage in the FA Cup final. Long gone are the days of City dominating this fixture, they just aren’t the team they once were - and I’m backing United to get the job done on home soil. 

Bruno Fernandes to score anytime @ 11/5 

“Bruno, Bruno, Bruno, He's from Sporting like Cristiano...” The Manchester United captain is one of only a few players in red that can come out of this season with any credit. He remains their best player, their penalty-taker and their talisman, so let’s back him to find the net in another derby.

He stepped up to convert a penalty in the last game between these two, and now has eight goals for the season. I don’t want to hang my hat on either Joshua Zirkzee or Rasmus Hojlund to score, so let’s back Bruno to bag once again. 

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