The Manchester Derby Between Two Wounded Giants: City and United

An eagerly anticipated derby is set to take place at the Etihad Stadium, where reigning champions Manchester City will host their rivals Manchester United on Sunday as part of the 16th round of the Premier League.

In a clash between two struggling teams, despite the managerial changes at United, both City and their neighbors aim to recover from recent setbacks. Last season’s champions, managed by Pep Guardiola, suffered a Champions League defeat against Juventus midweek, marking their seventh loss in their last 10 games across all competitions.

City currently sit fourth, eight points behind league leaders Liverpool after 15 rounds. Liverpool also hold a game in hand. City’s recent form has been underwhelming, managing just one win in their last six league matches, including heavy defeats at home to Tottenham Hotspur (0-4) and away to Liverpool (2-0).

The key issue for City appears to be their defense, which has conceded 21 goals in nine matches since the beginning of November – the highest among teams in Europe’s top five leagues during that period.

This derby also serves as a rematch of last season’s FA Cup final, where City lost 2-1 but avenged that defeat with a penalty shootout victory in the Community Shield earlier this season. Meanwhile, United are also seeking a resurgence under new manager Ruben Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag.

The former Sporting Lisbon coach started his United tenure with a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town, followed by a commanding 4-0 victory over Everton, giving fans hope for a turnaround. 

However, reality struck when Arsenal defeated United 2-0, followed by a disappointing 3-2 loss at Old Trafford against Nottingham Forest. United narrowly scraped a 2-1 win against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League, underlining the challenges Amorim faces.

Here are some notable statistics that could help you predict the right result and win with Betway:

• Manchester City have won five of their last six Premier League matches against Manchester United, losing just once. This is more victories than they managed in their previous 13 meetings (4 wins, 3 draws, 6 losses).
• Manchester United have lost their last three away league games against City, conceding 13 goals in the process. The last time United lost four consecutive away league matches at City was between 1952 and 1955.
• United have suffered 20 league defeats to City – their second-most against any team in the competition, behind Arsenal (21).
• Erling Haaland has been directly involved in nine goals (6 goals, 3 assists) in four Premier League matches against United, more than any other City player in the derby.
• Phil Foden has scored six goals in his last four league games against United, trailing only Sergio Agüero, who netted eight goals in the Manchester derby.
• After contributing to just two goals (2 assists) in his first nine league games under Erik ten Hag this season, Bruno Fernandes has contributed to six goals in his last six matches following the Dutchman’s departure (3 goals, 3 assists). Fernandes has also been involved in five goals in his last six matches against City across all competitions (2 goals, 3 assists), assisting in each of the last three.

Betway is the go-to platform for football fans in Kuwait looking to elevate their derby day excitement. With competitive odds and a seamless betting experience, it stands out as the premier choice for Premier League enthusiasts.