Manchester Derby Showdown: United and City Set to Face-Off on the Pitch in Epic Clash of Rivals!
Ore Kola-Iluyomade
Oct 27, 2023 2:01 PM ET
Derbies are always interesting. Especially the Manchester Derby. The trajectories of the two
teams over the last ten years could hardly be more different. With City’s dominance over the
league over the last decade and their newfound status as Kings of Europe compared to United’s
seemingly perpetual state of inconsistency – starting poorly, finding great form and then
rounding the season up at average pace has been the extensive story of their seasons for the
last while. And the last 5 meetings between the two teams would reflect that; United only
having won one game to City’s four, the most recent win coming at the FA Cup final on City’s
way to last season’s treble win. But the last ten games tell a much more level story, City
winning five, United four, leaving one draw. Yes, the more recent games may give us a better
idea about how this one will go, but the overall culture at the clubs was the same two years ago
as it is now. This fixture is unpredictable; volatile, some would call it. And again, it may be easy
to just take a glance at the current league table and make a prediction, but there’s a popular
saying amongst fans in English football: ‘form means nothing in a derby’, and that’s epitomized
in the Manchester Derby.
Manchester United are an enigma of sorts. After starting the season poorly with two wins and
four losses in the opening six games, they’ve since seemed to have found their footing with the
past seven games, gathering 5 wins and 2 losses. Albeit the recent wins have come across sides
which one would consider United should be beating – the likes of Crystal Palace, Burnley,
Brentford, Sheffield United and Copenhagen – and the wins have all come by the narrow margin
of just one goal (aside from the 3-0 win against Palace in the league cup). Throughout these
games United have been somewhat monotonous to watch, with the midfield struggling control
the game and create, while majority of the chances are generated from areas out wide or via
long balls from the defence and when the chances do come, there’s a lack in decisiveness and
ruthlessness at the front leading too many spurned chances. The results have been positive, and
a win is a win, but if United turn up and play the way they have been against their crosstown
rivals on Sunday, all roads point to 3 points for City.
From a Manchester City point of view, the plan will probably be to go on as they have been. So
far, the season has started and gone to script for the most part. There was a stumble across two
games with losses at the hands of Wolves and Arsenal – the absence of Rodri due to suspension
is noted to be a grand factor in those two games – his place in the team was proven key in
those games with far less chances created through the middle, his passing range and dribbling
to break through midfield and defensive lines are invaluable qualities that City didn’t seem to
have the personnel to replace him with. But he’s back now and since then they’ve picked up
routine wins against Brighton in the league and Young Boys in the Champions League. Haaland
picked up three goals across those two games which will be big for him as he went three games
without a goal before last weekend; goal droughts are not a familiarity for him.
City are clear favourites for this Sunday, with the full squad being back and their recent
dominance over this fixture. But again, United aren’t to be written off, they’re playing at Old
Trafford and they’re always up for this game, especially academy graduates like Rashford and
McTominay.
All said, I favour City for this one;
Final Score prediction: 2-1
