Can Manchester United pull off an unlikely double against Manchester City?
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Odds, preview and betting tips for this afternoon’sManchester derby
There are still doubts surrounding Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’ssuitability as Manchester United manager.
But he’ll go a long way to silencing his critics – at leasttemporarily – if he can guide his side to a third win over rivals ManchesterCity in as many months.
United have won twice at the Etihad since December, in thePremier League and the Carabao Cup, and today they welcome their neighbours toOld Trafford, where they’ve lost just once in the league since August.
Ostensibly, City have little to play for, with the titlevirtually in Liverpool’s hands and a top-four place all but guaranteed. Butwith bragging rights at stake, Pep Guardiola will be desperate to put a dent inUnited’s march towards Champions League qualification.
Manchester United v Manchester City Match Odds
Despite home advantage, United go into the clash as outsiders at 21/5, while City are expected to extend their winning run to six matches in all competitions at 8/13. But for those who can’t separate them the draw is going at 3/1.
Sergio Aguero has netted nine times against United and our traders have him at 5/6 to score anytime or 13/5 to open the scoring.
Meanwhile, the hosts have been revitalised by Januarysigning Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese has scored in his last two PremierLeague games and he’s priced at 14/5 to bag again.
United were left shell-shocked when they were thrashed 6-1 in this fixture in 2011 and City are 125/1 to repeat that scoreline.
United have turned their season around despite losing MarcusRashford to injury, with Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood chipping in withtheir share of goals.
Meanwhile, the emergence of Odion Ighalo will have givenSolskjaer something to think about. The former Watford striker joined United onloan in January and he’ll be pushing for a start after following up his goalagainst Club Brugge with a brace in Thursday’s FA Cup win over Derby.
A decision must also be made about who plays in goal. DavidDe Gea has had an uncharacteristically poor season, with his most recentmistake handing Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin a goal in his lastouting.
There have been suggestions that Sergio Romero could becalled upon. The Argentine has kept five clean sheets in his six appearancesthis season.
For City, Guardiola is sweating over the fitness of talismanKevin De Bruyne. United will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing aCity side without the Belgian after he missed their midweek FA Cup win with aback problem.
They’ll also be without Aymeric Laporte, whose comeback frominjury was short-lived after he was ruled out for a month with a hamstringproblem. The Frenchman’s return coincided with three clean sheets in four games.
Despite trailing table-toppers Liverpool by 22 points, Citywon’t have completely ruled out a late title charge, particularly amid JurgenKlopp’s side’s recent blip.
And with a game in hand to play, a win over United couldprove pivotal in the season’s run-in.
Solskjaer’s side sit fifth in the table, three points behindfourth-placed Chelsea, but with Wolves, Tottenham and Sheffield United on theirtail, completing the league double over their rivals would be a huge boost.
All odds and markets are correct as of date ofpublication
