The season’s first Manchester derby is ready to happen on the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Who: Manchester Metropolis vs Manchester United
The place: Etihad Stadium
When: 2pm (13:00 GMT)
The season’s first Manchester derby is ready to happen on the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Nevertheless, in recent times, the Manchester derby has misplaced a few of its sheen.
Within the years following Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, Manchester United have floundered within the wilderness.
Manchester Metropolis, in that very same interval, has taken speedy strides in the direction of establishing itself as the highest workforce within the land – and maybe the world.
Sunday’s recreation comes at an attention-grabbing level within the two groups’ evolution.
Erling Haaland’s arrival has reworked the Metropolis entrance line right into a rampaging power of nature that has blown aside anybody who has dared to face in its approach.
Erik Ten Hag, in the meantime, has stoically begun course correction at United in a way that hasn’t been spectacular as a lot because it has been stable.
Going into Sunday’s recreation, the Blue vs Crimson battle is colored by intrigue greater than anything.
What does historical past inform us?
Whereas the gulf at school between the 2 groups has been important previously few years, the head-to-head document tells a unique story.
Within the final 10 league conferences, Metropolis narrowly held the sting with 5 wins in contrast with United’s 4. The final time these two sides met was in March on the Etihad the place Metropolis eased to a 4-1 victory. Curiously, it was their first win over the Reds on the Etihad since 2018.
United have received three of their final 5 video games hosted by Metropolis.
The stakes are increased for Guardiola
A United supervisor will seldom enter a Manchester derby with as little strain as he does at present.
His undertaking continues to be in its teething section however a win on the Etihad shall be a robust assertion of intent.
The strain, nevertheless, is on Pep Guardiola. With gamers anticipated to be tormented by accidents and fatigue on the opposite facet of the World Cup that takes place in November and December, he’ll know that the possibilities of his workforce retaining the title hinge closely on the interval from now till then.
A loss at present might open up a four-point hole between Metropolis and pacesetters Arsenal.
Some extent to show for the Englishmen
With the World Cup simply over six weeks away, each recreation main as much as the match is an audition for gamers to ebook their spot on the airplane to Qatar.
Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have had spectacular begins to the season to this point for United, with Rashford even profitable the Participant of the Month Award for September.
However the two discover themselves on the fringes of the England setup and didn’t make it into Gareth Southgate’s most up-to-date squad for the Nations League.
On the opposite facet, Jack Grealish has slipped down the pecking order for the nation too. He has but to seek out his ft at Metropolis following his transfer from Aston Villa and his spot within the England workforce is beneath menace.
All eyes on the United defence
The wholesale adjustments Ten Hag has made to the Manchester United backline are evidenced by the truth that not one of the 4 who began of their final go to to the Etihad are anticipated to make it to the playing-XI this time.
Within the 5 video games following their 4-0 defeat to Brentford, United have conceded simply two objectives in all competitions.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have struck up a superb partnership on the again and Tyrell Malacia has settled in swiftly following his summer time transfer from Feyenoord.
Whereas the defence did nicely to stymie Arsenal, Haaland and firm provide a sterner check.
In his first seven video games, Haaland has scored 11 objectives and registered an help.
In Kevin de Bruyne, Haaland has discovered a gradual provide of service; the Belgian sits atop the assists leaderboard having registered six to this point.