What: English Premier League
Who: Manchester City vs Manchester United
When: Sunday 9th December, 2012, at 13:30 UK Time
Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
Roberto Mancini Looks for Domestic Lift
After their premature exit from Europe this week, Manchester City’s focus will now be almost exclusively on the Premier League and the battle to retain their title. First up are the team most likely to take it from them, league leaders Manchester United.
Manchester City come into this game three points adrift of their local rivals and also defending an unbeaten home record which dates back to December 2010. It was exactly the same position they were in last April, when needing to win to overtake the Red Devils and put them back into pole position for the title with just two games remaining.
However, Manchester City look far less convincing now than they did just over six months ago. Everton gave them a severe test last weekend in a 1-1 draw, while Arsenal and Swansea have pushed the Citizens close on this ground too. And so the visit of Manchester United will be a major test, as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are likely to be the strongest domestic opponents to visit the Etihad this season.
Roberto Mancini has acknowledged that Manchester United are better than his Manchester City team at present, yet the visit of their local rivals is likely to bring out the best in the champions.
Plain Sailing for Leaky Manchester United
It is clear things are going well when a run of unconvincing form leaves a side three points clear at the top of the table. Ferguson has been complaining about Manchester United’s defensive fragility in recent weeks, yet his problems pale in comparison to those of Mancini, Rafael Benitez and Arsene Wenger. At times, Ferguson’s complaints about his team’s performances almost sound like a subtle dig at his opponents, a sly way of saying ‘look how bad we’re playing, and we’re still top!.’
Yet those defensive frailties may eventually come back to haunt Manchester United if they are not careful. Goalkeepers David de Gea and Anders Lindegaard have both given Ferguson plenty of reasons to pick the other recently, while Jonny Evans’ loss of form has been alarming in recent weeks. Patrice Evra remains unconvincing at left-back, Rafael error prone on the right and Rio Ferdinand is not the defender he used to be in the centre. The return of Nemanja Vidic cannot come soon enough for a defence that has conceded almost twice as many as Manchester City, although they have such resilience and firepower that it has not cost them too much just yet.
Up front, Robin van Persie has picked up exactly where he left off with Arsenal last year and Wayne Rooney has quietly but extremely effectively gone about his business behind the Dutchman. Ferguson’s masterly handling of rotation means that whomever he brings in usually picks up at the level of the player they replace, and the depth in his squad as well as the goals within it make the Red Devils firm favourites for the Premier League title at present.
Recent form
Manchester City:
Wigan 0-2 Manchester City (28/11; Premier League)
Manchester City 1-1 Everton (01/12; Premier League)
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Manchester City (04/12; Premier League)
Manchester United:
Manchester United 1-0 West Ham (28/11; Premier League)
Reading 3-4 Manchester United (01/12; Premier League)
Manchester United 0-1 Cluj (05/12; Champions League)
Key absences
Manchester City: David Silva (doubt); Aleksandar Kolarov (doubt); Gael Clichy (doubt); Micah Richards; Jack Rodwell; James Milner (doubt)
Manchester United: Shinji Kagawa (doubt); Anderson (doubt); Antonio Valencia; Nani; Nemanja Vidic, Tom Cleverley (doubt)
Players to watch
Manchester City – Yaya Toure: Toure has not hit the heights of last season but if Manchester City are to win this game, he needs to play well. With Silva struggling for fitness and Manchester City’s midfield looking lightweight at times, Toure has plenty to do both in attack and defence. Midfield was vital to deciding the outcome of both Manchester derbies in the Premier League last season; Toure’s presence will be key.
Manchester United – Wayne Rooney: Rooney has been magnificent this season, dictating play for Manchester United and playing a vital role in their surge to the top of the table. He has set up more goals than any other player in the Premier League and his energy tracking back has also been of critical importance. That will be essential in this match, when Manchester United will be put under severe pressure. On the counter attack there are few players more dangerous in possession than Rooney, and Manchester City’s weakness in defensive midfield could be exploited by the England star.
Match Prediction
The battle for midfield decided this game last season both at Old Trafford and the Etihad. Manchester City overran Manchester United on both occasions with their superior numbers and physical strength in the centre. However, the Red Devils come into the game with a mini crisis in that part of the pitch. Anderson has been impressive of late but is injured, as is Tom Cleverley and out wide Antonio Valencia and Nani are both missing. That means one of Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs is likely to start alongside Michael Carrick or Darren Fletcher and Manchester United might not be as quick as they usually are on the break.
For Manchester City, Silva is struggling, although the latest news gives Mancini reason to be optimistic about his availability. Gareth Barry and Toure will likely start as the deeper two in midfield, but Mancini’s need to use the Ivorian further back this season to shield his defence has taken away an important dimension from his attack. The Citizens simply are not the same team without Silva on form and Toure rampaging forward.
As a result this should be a more even battle than it was in the Premier League last year and there is the suspicion neither side would risk all for victory with just three points separating them with over half the season remaining. Therefore, expect a cagey, cautious encounter, although both teams’ default mentality is set to attack. Manchester City’s possession game could put significant pressure on a Manchester United defence which has looked so shaky this season, but Ferguson’s team can improve when the pressure is on defensively, as they showed at Newcastle. There have been five goals in the last six meetings between these sides at Eastlands, so expect a one goal game, and it is Manchester United whose attackers look more likely to take a half chance. Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United.
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