The Manchester Derby always brings excitement, despite the differences in performances. Manchester City have been cruising past the Premier League in the past years, but Manchester United did win the derby on January 13 (2-1). Small mistakes always cost Manchester City points, and Manchester United often has found ways to exploit one of the rare weaknesses City has.
However, the last 365 days have brought significant changes to Manchester City, marked by Erling Haaland’s impactful arrival and the notable departures of players like Riyad Mahrez and Joao Cancelo. Traditionally consistent in the Premier League, Pep’s team has already run into a few defeats early in the season (Newcastle, Wolves, Arsenal), indicating that many of the changes might have been a little too sudden.
One can expect a thrilling encounter despite United’s struggles with Erik ten Hag on and off the pitch (the defeats against Galatasaray and Crystal Palace), as well as off-the-pitch issues (Jadon Sancho). A manager that is increasingly criticized, and a victory could not be better timed for the Dutchman who is slowly seeing his time tick away should performances and results not improve in the following weeks.
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Manchester United vs Manchester City Match Info
- Date: Sunday, October 29, 2023
- Kick-off time: 3:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. ET / 6:30 a.m. PT)
- Location: Old Trafford (Manchester, England)
- Official: Paul Tierney
Manchester United vs Manchester City Prediction and Odds
- Pick: Draw
- Odds: +313 (Tonybet)
Manchester City might have just won against Young Boys in the Champions League (3-1), with a performance that was convincing, but a derby against Manchester United never respects the current trends. With Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Højlund, and Kobbie Mainoo, there will be enough to deal with for Manchester City’s back-line. There are a lot of reasons to believe this could be Manchester City’s typical game of dominance, where however one error will be directly punished, especially given Manchester United’s counter-attacking culture.
Erik ten Hag’s mission is loud and clear: steal points. Given the current trends, even a draw could be perceived positively, providing fans with a reason to place their trust in Erik ten Hag, much like the board has.United knows it cannot afford possession play, and it’s perhaps time to show how they can steal the show despite not running it.
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Manchester United vs Manchester City Betting Tips
- Pick: Manchester City to score first
- Odds: -200
Manchester City will run the show, and Erling Haaland likes to score against Manchester United. But on the other side, there is another hungry Nordic striker in Rasmus Hojlund who most likely also wants his part of the cake. But in light of the current form, it is likely to see Manchester United crack first.
