Manchester United needed some vintage last-minute heroics in order to become just the second team to take points from Chelsea this season with a hard-fought draw. The first team to achieve that feat? Manchester City, who host United in the first installment of the always-fiery Manchester derby on Sunday.
United have not fared at all well in recent derbies, but they will look to take advantage of a City side that haven’t been particularly impressive early on in their title defense.
Manchester City vs. Manchester United Betting Preview
Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
When: Sunday, November 2, 9:30 AM ET
Line: Manchester United +320 at Manchester City -152. tie +270; total 3.0 – view all EPL lines
What’s at Stake
[sc:Soccer240banner ]As always, local derbies have a lot of pride and bragging rights at stake, but the Manchester derby has more far-reaching consequences at the top of the table.
City, who are coming off a shock loss to West Ham, need a win in order to keep in touch with Chelsea at the top of the table. Meanwhile, United will hope to get back to winning ways – not to mention the top four – after back-to-back draws.
Betting on Manchester City
Manchester City have yet to find their championship form this season after a shock 2-1 defeat away to West Ham dropped them six points off the pace from leaders Chelsea. If it’s any consolation, three of the four teams City have dropped points to this year are currently in the top five, so it’s not as if they’ve been throwing points away to nobodies.
Nevertheless, those results are indicative that they haven’t been playing quite at their best early in the season. Their defense, in particular, has looked shaky both domestically and in Europe. They’ve kept just two clean sheets so far in the league and couldn’t hold on to 1-0 and 2-0 leads in the Champions League to Roma and CSKA Moscow.
Big-money signing Eliaquim Mangala was supposed to form a rock-solid partnership with captain Vincent Kompany at the heart of that defense, but he’s been a visible weak link so far as he continues to settle into a new team and a new league. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce admitted to targeting Mangala as one of his team’s tactics against City, which proved successful.
United’s attackers are far more talented and clinical than West Ham’s, so any mistake Mangala makes against them could be very costly.
City have enough firepower up front to compensate, with star striker Sergio Aguero leading the league with nine goals. However, midfield dynamo Yaya Toure has looked a shadow of his old self. Toure’s drive from midfield has helped City flat out overpower United in the recent past, and has scored in three of his last four games against them.
Toure playing at less than his best would be a blow, but David Silva has been a solid contributor with two goals and two assists so far this season, and has the trickery to confound United’s own shaky defense.
City have won four of the last five Manchester derbies, including the last three in a row.
Betting on Manchester United
Manchester United looked to be on the upswing with back-to-back wins prior to the international break, but back-to-back draws in their last two games – both of which resulting from very late equalizers from United – have sent them back down to eighth in the table. But their latest draw, a 1-1 at home to leaders Chelsea, was more than respectable and a sign of some much-needed improvement.
That improvement was no more evident than in midfield, where former record signing Marouane Fellaini played perhaps his best game as a United player. The big Belgian did a fine defensive job to limit the influence of Cesc Fabregas, while his header resulted in the last-gasp equalizer from Robin van Persie. After also scoring in their previous game against West Brom, his recent form should be enough to earn him a spot in the starting lineup against City.
At his best, Fellaini gives United the midfield steel they’ve been missing for the longest time, especially against City. He and Daley Blind provide their still-questionable backline ample protection, which they’ll surely need with Toure and Silva lurking. Fellaini’s prodigious heading ability will be also be a useful weapon on set pieces.
United have more than enough attacking talent between Angel di Maria, Juan Mata and possibly even Adnan Januzaj to create chances against City’s unconvincing defense. They should also get Falcao back after the lethal striker missed the Chelsea match with a minor injury. However, Wayne Rooney, who is once again eligible to play after serving out a three-game ban, is suffering from a foot injury and his status remains questionable.
United are still winless away from home under manager Louis van Gaal in the league. They’ve drawn three and lost one.
Writer’s Prediction
With both sides sporting very dangerous attacks and error-prone defenses, this has the makings of a high-scoring affair. The two teams cancel each other out as the derby finishes 2-2. Create a betting account today and be part of one of the most high-profile local derbies the Premier League has to offer.
