Manchester City vs Manchester United: 07/03/2021 – match preview and predicted starting XIs

Manchester City vs Manchester United

Date: 07/03/2021

K/O: 16:30

Venue: Etihad Stadium

Referee: Anthony Taylor

TV: Sky Sports

The third Manchester Derby of the season takes place on Sunday afternoon, with champions-elect City hosting an out of sorts United at Etihad Stadium.

The Citizens will be aiming for a record-extending 21st consecutive victory in all competitions and will go 17 points clear of the Red Devils with victory, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side having drifted out of the title race following a run of two wins in eight.

Pep Guardiola is likely to continue to rotate his squad despite having no fresh injury concerns, while United could welcome back a number of key men.

Team News

Manchester City

Nathan Ake is back in training after missing City’s last 17 matches, but the Dutchman is not expected to return to the starting lineup immediately.

Ederson will continue in goal, though several players are pushing for a recall in defence. John Stones was rested for the win against Wolves on Tuesday and could return in place of Aymeric Laporte or Ruben Dias, though the Portuguese appears less susceptible to rotation than his counterparts. Oleksandr Zinchenko could return at left-back, with Kyle Walker or Joao Cancelo likely to make way. Benjamin Mendy and Eric Garcia have barely featured in recent weeks but remain fit and available if called upon.

Kevin De Bruyne has flattered to deceive since his return from injury and could be given a rest on Sunday, with Ilkay Gundogan among those pressing for a recall. Fernandinho is likely to remain a substitute behind Rodri in the pivot role, while Bernardo Silva is another who could be rested.

City are once again spoilt for choice in attack, with the likes of Phil Foden, Ferran Torres and Sergio Aguero all not involved in Tuesday’s win. The form of Riyad Mahrez has given the Algerian an extended run in the side, though Foden or Bernardo Silva could start on the right-wing if Guardiola opts to give him a rest. Sergio Aguero enjoyed a quiet return from injury against West Ham last weekend but could deployed from the start against the Red Devils.

Manchester United

United will be without Juan Mata, Phil Jones and Paul Pogba for the short trip to the Etihad, but could welcome back David De Gea, Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek. De Gea missed the draw at Palace due to personal reasons, while Martial was unavailable following a knock suffered on Monday. Van de Beek has missed a series of games through injury and could feature if deemed match fit.

The Red Devils’ back four looks largely settled, with only Victor Lindelof likely to displace any of the four who started against Palace. Scott McTominay is set to return to add steel in midfield, with Solskjaer now having the option to add an extra defensive-minded body in the middle if he opts to set up to contain City.

Bruno Fernandes has faced criticism after two blunt displays against Chelsea and Palace but will surely start against City, while Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Mason Greenwood and Dan James are all in contention to start in attack in addition to Martial.

Head to Head Record and Stats

• All-time H2H record: Manchester City 55-76 Manchester United (53 draws)
• Last 10 H2H record: Manchester City 5-4 Manchester United (1 draw)
• Manchester United have played out six goalless draws so far in the Premier League 2020/21 season, never have they played more (six also in 2004/05 and 2016/17)
• Only Leicester City, Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion have avoided defeat against Manchester City at the Etihad this season.
• Sergio Aguero has scored nine goals in the Manchester Derby. Only Wayne Rooney (11), Joe Hayes and Francis Lee (both 10) have scored more.

Predicted Starting XIs

Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Foden, Aguero, Sterling

Manchester United (4-3-1-2): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Matic, Fred, McTominay; Fernandes; Rashford, Martial

Score Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Manchester United

United were able to take a point off City when they met back in December, but on current form, there appears to be only one result possible on Sunday. City showed on Tuesday that they have the grit required to break teams down, while United showed a distinct lack of bite against Palace.

Stranger things have happened however, remember April 2018?