Manchester United vs Manchester City Prediction and Match Preview
Premier League | Gameweek 10
Oct 29, 2023 at 3.30pm UK
Old Trafford
Expect a dazzling showdown as Manchester United and Manchester City clash at Old Trafford in the much-anticipated Manchester derby.
The Red Devils are riding high on confidence after securing consecutive victories against Brentford and Sheffield United.
However, they will have to navigate this pivotal match without the services of Jadon Sancho, while Lisandro Martinez, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Luke Shaw remain sidelined in the recovery room. There is hope that former Real Madrid player, Casemiro, will recover in time to take on Pep Guardiola’s squad.
In contrast, the reigning champions swiftly bounced back from a 1-0 loss to Arsenal, defeating Brighton 2-1 upon Rodri’s return from suspension. The inclusion of the Spanish midfielder in Man City’s starting lineup has injected creativity into their gameplay, making them formidable opponents.
This is the primary reason we’re favoring the titleholders. However, the towering defender Manuel Akanji is unavailable for this match due to a ban.
Team News:
The Manchester United injury list is gradually getting shorter, although Ten Hag still has several long-term absentees on the sidelines. This includes Lisandro Martinez (foot), Luke Shaw (muscle), Amad Diallo (knee), and Tyrell Malacia (knee). Unfortunately, there’s no end in sight for Jadon Sancho’s absence.
Nevertheless, there’s a sense of cautious optimism that Casemiro will soon rejoin the team in the midfield after recovering from the injury he sustained while on duty with the Brazilian national team. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is also on the cusp of making his return from a thigh issue, although he is likely to feature on the bench, at best.
While most of the players who started the match on Tuesday are expected to be in the lineup here, Sofyan Amrabat was substituted after just 45 minutes, making way for Christian Eriksen, who is making a strong case to partner with Casemiro or Scott McTominay from the first whistle in the derby.
After returning to Swiss soil with a goal, Man City defender Akanji will face a suspension, having been sent off for two bookable offenses against Brighton. This means he will miss the derby. However, John Stones is set to return, which should cover Akanji’s absence.
Apart from the banned center-back, the only other notable absence from the champions’ roster is Kevin De Bruyne, who continues to recover from a hamstring injury while watching from the sidelines.
In addition to Stones’s anticipated return, the likes of Josko Gvardiol, Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva, and Phil Foden are also in line to return to the Citizens’ starting eleven. Argentinian sensation Alvarez, who had his eighth goal of the season disallowed at Stadion Wankdorf, is poised for a return as well.
