If you asked a football fan at random to nominate the greatest rivalry in football then I doubt that a match up between the two sides in Manchester would top the list.
For sides in the other major cities of England the most bitter comments would usually be reserved for another club within a few miles. Generally fans of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal genuinely hate each other while you could pick any of the sides in Birmingham and they would not look further than county boundaries.
Yet, for Manchester United, their noisy neighbours rank way behind Liverpool and Leeds in the list of ‘must-win’ matches. Bizarrely, the fixture list has produced a more antagonistic derby full of mutual loathing on Merseyside on the same day than the one most will be watching at the other end of the M62!
Yet the Manchester match-up this weekend is extra special as the two clubs occupy the top positions in the league although there is a genuine argument that, tactically, Chelsea could be considered to be a more likely contender for the title than the Red Devils whose form and ambition against other top teams has been questioned of late.
While it is still early in the season such has been the form of City that a victory for the visitors to Old Trafford will see many proclaim the title race over. Conversely, a victory for Jose Mourinho would see the champions-elect derailed for the first time this season.
Will the match this weekend rank amongst some of the all-time classics?
It doesn’t have the intrigue of a former player returning to haunt previous teammates as happened in 1974 when Denis Law condemned United to relegation with a deft back heel.
Neutrals will be hoping for a repeat of the 2009 classic when City, managed by United legend Mark Hughes who was spending Sheikh Mansour’s millions, fielded Carlos Tevez.
United took the lead three times only for City to equalise on each occasion, the last of which came in the final minute of normal time. Yet there was still time for Michael Owen to latch onto Ryan Giggs’ through ball to steal the winner for Ferguson’s men in a game ranked as one of the best the Premier League has ever seen.
There is evidence this season to suggest both sides are capable of scoring as many again.
Pep Guardiola’s side have also scored in every league match this season in finding the back of the net an incredible 46 times in 15 games. In fact, the only time they have failed to score was in a cup match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Victory over West Ham United on Sunday saw them accumulate 13 consecutive Premier League wins joining Arsenal and Chelsea as the only sides to have accomplished the feat.
It would be somewhat ironic if they were to take the outright mantle against the side that still gloat about the number of historic trophies they have claimed – a sure sign that the pressure is on!
Many pundits, however, believe there is a gulf in class between these two sides. It’s doubtful that Mourinho’s men will aggressively attack. He is more likely to park the bus and try to spoil and stifle the fluid movement of the City midfield and forwards.
He will be hampered by the fact that he will be without his talismanic midfielder and most expensive player, Paul Pogba, who was dismissed for a challenge in which he positioned his studs on the back of Bellerin’s leg, although the fact it was on the floor at the time divides opinion about the Frenchman’s intent, meaning United may appeal.
The Portuguese manager will likely flood midfield and will need to closely monitor City’s Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva.
The Belgian midfielder provided his 35th assist in the last two years when he chipped an exquisite pass for Silva to finish as City reclaimed their eight-point lead at the top of the table.
It will be a match between the best forward line and midfield against the man being touted as the best goalkeeper. David de Gea equalled the league record for most saves in a single match when he repelled Arsenal 14 times last weekend.
Normally, I would suggest he kept United in the game single-handed although he used both, hands and feet to keep the Gunners at bay. Surely United cannot expect similar results again?
A further complication is that both sides are engaged in European fixtures midweek. On paper City have the toughest job to recover with an away match at Shakhtar Donetsk although the result is irrelevant having won the group and so will rest their key performers. United play at home a day earlier although need a result to guarantee top spot.
Abu’s prediction: While the rest of the league needs United to win, City have too much class. They will attack as though they are the home team while Mourinho’s men will concede possession and throw themselves into defence. In the early stages they will hope to use speed on the counter attack while expect United to deploy a number of their taller players in the later stages as they lump the ball forward and use set pieces. Strategically it will be a classic although perhaps not for the casual observer. Man City to extend their lead at the top to 11 points.
