Manchester City vs Manchester United: A Derby in Disarray?

The Manchester derby is upon us, and both teams arrive at the Etihad Stadium in a state of unexpected flux. Defending Premier League champions, Manchester City, are experiencing their lowest points tally at this stage of the season since 2010-11. Their seemingly unbelievable collapse in form continued with a 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Manchester United, under new manager Ruben Amorim, has its lowest ever points total after 15 matches in the Premier League era, despite a recent 2-1 victory over Viktoria Plzeň in the Europa League.

Team News and Injuries: A Defensive Crisis

Injuries have ravaged Pep Guardiola's squad. Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake's fitness issues, coupled with the suspension of Rico Lewis, and Stones not starting, leaves Guardiola desperately short of defensive options. The City boss might opt for a back-three, potentially using Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol. Jack Grealish drops to the bench while Rico Lewis misses out through suspension after his red card against Crystal Palace. However, Foden is back fit after missing recent games through illness and was on the bench for the Champions League clash with Juventus. Young striker Divin Mubama is also among the City substitutes for the first time along with John Stones. Meanwhile, United could welcome Jonny Evans back into the squad. The experienced centre-back has been out since the opening game of Ruben Amorim's tenure. However, he trained with the main group ahead of the Viktoria Plzen game and should be in contention to return. Luke Shaw is currently sidelined but, otherwise, United will hope to have a clean bill of health.

City's Starting XI:

Ederson
Walker (C)
Dias
Gvardiol
Gundogan
De Bruyne
Bernardo
Nunes
Foden
Doku
Haaland

United's Starting XI:

Onana
Mazraoui
De Ligt
Maguire
Martinez
Dalot
Ugarte
Mount
Fernandes (C)
Amad
Hojlund

Guardiola's Managerial Milestones

This match marks Guardiola's fifth encounter with a different Manchester United manager. His managerial journey began at Old Trafford against Jose Mourinho in 2016. Since then, he's faced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, and Erik ten Hag. New United boss Ruben Amorim previously faced City while managing Sporting CP, resulting in a goalless draw in a Champions League match in March 2022. City ultimately progressed to the quarter-finals after a 5-0 win in the first leg in Portugal.

Head-to-Head Statistics: A City Dominance?

City have won five of their last six Premier League games against United. United's last three Premier League away games against City have resulted in defeats, with a combined 13 goals conceded. United's record against City in the Premier League isn't good: they have lost 20 matches against them, only losing more against Arsenal (21). Their recent form is troubling: United have lost their last two Premier League games, last losing three in a row within a single season in December 2015.

A Tale of Two Teams: Analyzing the Current Form

Both teams find themselves in precarious situations. City's poor run of form, with only one win in their last 10 games in all competitions, is unprecedented in their recent history. This slump is largely attributed to a combination of injuries and a lack of overall team performance. Pep Guardiola has highlighted the incredible effort of players like Nathan Ake to play through the injuries despite being at less than half their best, leading to the need to recover and ultimately affecting the team's overall performance. Their failure to control midfield without Rodri is particularly concerning, along with the poor form of key players like Gundogan and Bernardo Silva. The team is conceding goals easily and not scoring many. United's situation is equally concerning. After registering just two goal involvements in his nine Premier League games under Erik Ten Hag this season, Bruno Fernandes has had a hand in six in his last six following the Dutchman’s departure (3 goals, 3 assists). This showcases a significant improvement in the team’s attacking abilities. The new manager, Ruben Amorim, is still adapting his team’s tactics and strategies. His tactical decisions have yielded mixed results, with some games showcasing the team's capacity for improving performances, but others still falling short. The most recent defeat to Viktoria Plzen highlighted the need for improved attacking strategies. But with the return of experienced players, like Jonny Evans, and the improved performance of Bruno Fernandes, there’s reason to believe the team is adapting to new strategies.

Key Battles and Tactical Approaches

This match will likely see a clash of tactical styles. Amorim's likely five-man backline will focus on containing City's attack. United's strategy will focus on counter-attacks, exploiting any gaps in City's defense. For City, it will be crucial to find ways to break down United's defense, while also limiting their counter-attacking opportunities. Individual battles, especially in midfield, will be crucial to the match's outcome. If United can disrupt City’s midfield play, they can initiate more counter-attacks.

The Road Ahead: Predicting the Future

A derby victory for either side would offer a much-needed boost in morale. However, both teams recognize that one win wouldn't solve their underlying issues. For City, a victory would help to restore a degree of confidence, but the team's underlying problems with injuries and inconsistencies remain. For United, it would offer tangible proof of their progress under the new manager. But ultimately it might not be enough to make up for the overall inconsistencies in this season. The need for improvement is clear for both teams going forward. Both clubs are looking to leave the malaises and challenges of this season behind, and a derby victory could be a vital catalyst for a turnaround.

Post-Match Analysis: A Glimpse into the Future

The Manchester Derby, always a spectacle, arrives at a particularly pivotal moment for both teams. The result, regardless of the victor, will offer insights into each team's capabilities and potential for future success. While a win might offer temporary solace, the underlying issues plaguing both Manchester City and Manchester United demand continued analysis and strategic adjustments moving forward. The road to recovery will be long, but today’s match could determine the trajectory for the remainder of the season.