Will the Red Devils continue their run?
In the Premier League, Manchester United have won three of the last four Manchester derbies against city rivals Manchester City (one draw). This is the first time since the period between 2008 and 2011 that the Red Devils have gone four league games in a row unbeaten against the Sky Blues.
However, no other team in the Premier League has celebrated more away victories at Old Trafford than the Citizens. Also, with United’s 2021 calendar year already seeing more home defeats on record than at any time in 20 years, the odds are swinging in the visitors’ direction ahead of the Manchester United v Manchester City derby.
However, Guardiola’s eleven are not exactly travelling strong. The Citizens were eliminated by West Ham in the EFL Cup last week. They then suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace in the league. It was their tenth league game without a goal of their own.
With City having conceded only six goals and having the second best defence in the Premier League, Manchester United vs Manchester City is the best value with under 2.5 goal betting.
Manchester United – Statistics & current form
After Manchester United picked up just one point from a possible 12 from four consecutive league games, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was on the brink of retirement after a thumping 5-0 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool FC.
But then, under the Norwegian, as so often in his career as United coach, the decisive league match was won 3-0 away at Tottenham Hotspur. Not Solskjaer, but his opposite number, Nuno Espírito Santo, was subsequently relieved of his duties.
Just two games and the Red Devils are abruptly back on target
The key player in the recent 3-0 win in London was once again the returning Cristiano Ronaldo, who also scored a brace in the Champions League during the week to secure top spot in Group F in a 2-2 draw with Atalanta Bergamo.
The tide could now turn again. If United win the Manchester derby, Solskjaer’s side would draw level on points with city rivals City, regain their place in the top four and be back on track to achieve all their goals for the season.
Without Varane in the Manchester Derby
However, the Red Devils go into the Manchester derby at the Theatre of Dreams as underdogs, with no other club having suffered more Premier League defeats to date than the Sky Blues.
After all, the recent record speaks in favour of the English record champions, who have not lost to the Citizens for four league games in a row (three wins, one draw). The problem, however, is that not only is Raphael Varane out for a month, but Victor Lindelöf is also questionable.
Predicted Manchester United line-up:
De Gea – Shaw – Maguire – Bailly – Lindelöf – Wan-Bissaka – Fred – McTominay – Fernandes – Ronaldo – Cavani
Last matches played by Manchester United:
Champions League Grp. F
11/02 2021 – Atalanta Bergamo 2 – 2 Manchester United
Premier League
10/30 2021 – Tottenham 0 – 3 Manchester United
10/24 2021 – Manchester United 0 – 5 Liverpool FC
Champions League Grp. F
10/20 2021 – Manchester United 3 – 2 Atalanta Bergamo
Premier League
10/16 2021 – Leicester 4 – 2 Manchester United
Manchester City – Statistics & current form
Manchester City won their seventh national championship in England this summer, securing the coveted Premier League title for the third time in the last four years. Although the Sky Blues subsequently lost the Champions League final, they can still look back on a successful season.
However, things could be better for Pep Guardiola’s side, who have won six of their first ten league games (two draws, two defeats) but are “only” in third place with 20 points out of a possible 30.
Despite away win at Chelsea five points behind the Blues
Already five points behind leaders Chelsea, against whom the Sky Blues suffered their most painful defeat in club history so far this summer in the Champions League final.
Guardiola’s team took revenge on matchday six with a 1-0 away win at Stamford Bridge. In the end, however, too much was left undone for the Citizens to be able to compete at the top of the table with this three-point win behind them.
The second best defence in the Premier League
The main problem is currently to be seen in the offensive. Although City have already scored 20 goals in ten league games, an average of two goals per game. However, in three league games – as many as in the entire 2020/21 season – the Sky Blues failed to score a goal of their own, which meant that the games could not be won.
Because the defence is very good with only six goals conceded, there is much to suggest that the Manchester derby will be a low-scoring affair. There is a lot of value to be found in betting on under 2.5 goals for Manchester United against Manchester City.
Predicted Manchester City line-up:
Ederson – Cancelo – Laporte – Stones – Walker – Silva – Rodri – Gündogan – Grealish – Mahrez – Foden
Last matches played by Manchester City:
Champions League Grp. A
11/03 2021 – Manchester City 4 – 1 Club Bruges
Premier League
10/30 2021 – Manchester City 0 – 2 Crystal Palace
Carabao Cup
10/27 2021 – West Ham (5)0 – 0(3) Manchester City
Premier League
10/23 2021 – Brighton 1 – 4 Manchester City
Champions League Grp. A
10/19 2021 – Club Brugge 1 – 5 Manchester City
Manchester United – Manchester City Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
Head to head: 77 – 53 – 55
The Manchester derby has taken place 185 times in total so far and the Red Devils lead the head-to-head comparison by a very clear margin. The Premier League match has also been clearly in the hands of Solskjaer’s side recently, who are unbeaten in four encounters (three wins, one draw).
Manchester United – Manchester City Tip
With Manchester United against Manchester City, the prediction must, on the one hand, take into account the fact that the Red Devils have recently had a knack for their city rivals in league action. On the other hand, however, it must not be ignored that not only the absence of Varane is a clear weakening of the English record champions, but with Lindelöf possibly even a second key player in the defense is out.
The outcome of the Manchester derby is correspondingly difficult to predict, which is why it makes the most sense to switch to betting on a maximum of two goals being scored. After all, the City offence no longer stings as regularly, while the visitors bring the second best defence in the league.
