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The stage is set for one of football’s biggest rivalries as Manchester United takes on Manchester City in the highly anticipated Manchester Derby. This historic clash at Etihad brings together two of England’s footballing powerhouses, each with a point to prove. Who will claim bragging rights in Manchester?
Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim is set for his first Manchester Derby at the helm of the 20-time English champions, but he’s no stranger to toppling Pep Guardiola’s side this season. The Portuguese tactician has already orchestrated a dominant victory over City earlier in the 2024-25 Champions League campaign while in charge of Sporting.
Meanwhile, questions loom over the Premier League champions after another bruising European outing, where Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie fired Juventus to a 2-0 victory, leaving City to reflect on another disappointing night in Turin.
Match Details
Date: December 15, 2024
Time: 10:00 pm (IST)
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
Streaming Details
The Manchester City vs Manchester United match in India will be available for streaming on the Sony Liv app and website, and Star Sports.
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Match Preview
Currently grappling with their seventh loss in 10 matches across all competitions—a run of form that would put most managers under serious threat, were it not for Guardiola—Man City find themselves barely holding onto a top-four spot in the Premier League. At the time of writing, they trail league leaders Liverpool by nine points.
The Red Devils’ struggles on the road continue, with no wins in their last five Premier League away games. This season, their sole away victory in the league came against Southampton, and they have managed just two wins in their last 13 top-flight outings on rival turf.
Meanwhile, Man City have dominated recent derbies at the Etihad, claiming victory in their last three home encounters against their cross-town rivals. A derby triumph on Sunday would not only boost Guardiola’s side but also mark a tough milestone for Amorim, who would endure three consecutive league defeats for the first time in his managerial career.
Tactically, City holds the upper hand, thanks to their players' versatility and the game-changing abilities of stars like De Bruyne and Haaland, who can turn the tide at any moment. On the other hand, the visitors are expected to adopt a compact defensive approach, aiming to deny Guardiola’s men the space they thrive on to create chances.
Head- to- Head Stats
The sides have faced each other 62 times in the English Premier League with Manchester United winning 28 times and City claiming 25 wins while 9 of the remaining matches ended in a draw today is another chance for City to close that gap or for United to extend theirs.
Matches Played- 62
Manchester City wins- 28
Manchester United wins- 25
Draws- 9
Team News
Manchester City
City defender Rico Lewis, who celebrated his equalizer against Crystal Palace before being sent off, will miss the Manchester derby through suspension. He joins a growing absentee list of six City players, including Rodri (ACL), Oscar Bobb (leg), and Nathan Ake (thigh), all sidelined until 2025. Manuel Akanji (unspecified) and John Stones (foot) are also unavailable, leaving Guardiola potentially reliant on an inexperienced academy player in defence.
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey may slot in at centre-back. Alternatively, Guardiola has hinted at tactical experimentation, such as deploying players out of position or shifting to a three-man backline with wing-backs. A rare positive for City comes in the return of Mateo Kovacic, who was fit enough for the bench midweek and could feature in midfield.
Manchester United
ℹ️ Ruben shares a team news update ahead of the Manchester derby 👇#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 13, 2024
For Manchester United, injuries are less of a concern, with only Luke Shaw—suffering a setback in his recovery from a calf injury—set to miss out. Jonny Evans has returned to training and is in contention for Sunday’s squad.
Manager Ruben Amorim’s bold changes have become a talking point in his early tenure, and more tweaks are expected for the derby. This could spell trouble for Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford, whose midweek performances were underwhelming.
In attack, Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, and Alejandro Garnacho are strong candidates for a starting role, with Garnacho particularly well-placed to trouble Kyle Walker, who has struggled for form.
Possible Starting XI
Manchester City's possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Dias, Simpon- Pussey, Gvardiol; De Bruyne, Kovacic; Silva, Foden, Nunes; Haaland
Manchester United's possible starting lineup:
Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez; Diallo, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot; Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund