PreMatch United Vs City

PreMatch: 

 vs

Old traford,

Manchester.

Kick-off : Sunday, 5:55 ( IST)

Manchester City fans will travel 4 miles on Sunday afternoon to witness 161^st Manchester Derby at Old Trafford. The Reds will entertain new table toppers City after their draw at Anfield last week against Liverpool, followed by City’s thrashing of Aston Villa side at Eastlands. In the past 37 years, City has only one league game at Old Trafford. Never did they win but in ‘07-‘08 just four days after the 50^th anniversary of Munich disaster. The most thrilling derby was played in ‘09 season when Owen scored in 5^th minute of the injury time to win the tie 4-3. 

Form:

United endured a difficult night in the UEFA Champions League, needing two Wayne Rooney penalties to defeat unfancied Otelul Galati and playing the last 25 minutes with ten men after Nemanja Vidic's controversial red card.

City also laboured towards a victory over Valencia, after an injury time winner by Sergio Augero, which keeps their qualification hopes alive in the champions group of death.

In the Premier League, United are going through slump in form, drawing two of their last three matches but still boast of unbeaten record in the current campaign. They are still unbeaten at Old Trafford for more than 18 months.

Apart from conceding just 4 goals in their last six games, City has managed to score more goals this season and boast of superior goal difference compared to United. They are unbeaten in last 4 away games in the league.

Injury Update:

Tom Cleverly is back in training but still may-not be fit for the match. Vidic also looked rusty in the mid-week Champions League fixture.

Mancini has full squad available for selection in this fixture.

Formation:

Since the last game, it will be interesting to watch, whether Sir Alex neutralizes the threat or plays their traditional 4-4-2 with Rooney playing a deeper role and Welbeck alone up –top.  Evans should retain his place in the centre of defence partnering Ferdinand. Smalling who played brilliantly against Downing should also keep his place. Maybe Jones will sit this one out, having started every game.

City will welcome back both Nasri and Silva in their starting line up after resting them for weekend fixture against Aston Villa. Augero could replace Balotelli up front after being a super- sub in the champions league fixture.

Probable XI:

Manchester United (4-4-1-1): De Gea, Smalling, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Young, Fletcher, Anderson, Nani, Rooney, Welbeck.

Manchester City: (4-3-2-1): Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Barry, De jong, Toure, Nasri, Silva, Augero.

Key Battles:

Both teams have rested their important player either in the midweek or in during weekend league fixture. There will more than one key player and battles in this fixture; Evra vs Silva, Smalling Vs Nasri, Young vs Clichy, Nani vs Richards, to name a few. Wide players have been very influential for both the teams and have been at their peak form. 

  

Nasri, Silva and Augero are creating and scoring goals for fun while same can be said for Nani, Rooney and Young. Particularly Silva, in last year derby was able to carve open United’s defence more than once in half first half. To that, City has added an equally brilliant individual Nasri on the opposite flank. Expect a cagey first half with both teams neutralising each other with tight man- marking. Game could well be decided by set- piece or by individual error.

Talks from both the Camps:

Nigel De Jong: “Of course everyone believes we can go there and win. We're going there as No 1 and the aim is to stay No 1.We are on top of the league so going into that game we just have to be confident and play our game as well as we have been doing. The pressure is still the same as it was last year. But what has changed is that we are now No 1 going into this derby. We don't have any point to prove. We've shown our quality throughout the season. We don't need a game against United to show how good we are. But it's two of the best teams in England going up against each other and I expect it to be a great game. Everyone was talking about that FA Cup semi-final but we proved we can win. Now we have to go into this game believing we can get the three points”

Ferguson already had Sunday's match against league Leaders City in his sights, on champion league night post match night, concluded that it was biggest league derby during his time at Old Trafford. "The last couple of years it has become more intense and a lot more importance has been attached to the games. With them top and us second, it builds up to a fantastic prospect for everyone. I'm looking forward to it."

Referee:

Your man in the middle for this one is Mark Clattenburg. He hasn’t officiated any of the United’s fixture this season but was the referee in City’s only draw this season, against Fulham at craven cottage. He ditched out five yellow cards in his previous game -QPR vs Blackburn.