Home   >   MOTDs   >   MOTD preview: Manchester United v Manchester City

MOTD preview: Manchester United v Manchester City

By on March 24, 2014

How times have changed since Manchester United came back from behind in 2009 to win 4-3 in one of the greatest Manchester derbies ever. Way back when United were coming off the back of their second successful Premier League title defense while Manchester City were the new kids on the block and still just United’s “noisy neighbors.” But now, five years on, the two fierce cross-town and title rivals have already gone through six different managers altogether while being left with only five possibly similarities between the two sides then and now. Not to mention that the tables have turned.

In 2009 Manchester United were the on form team who had just splashed the cash for Dimitar Berbatov, while Manchester City are now the side spending the big bucks and reaping the rewards. With a Premier League title under their belt, City are the favorites to win the league, watching their rivals struggle for a spot in Europe.

United have already lost nine league matches this season and although David Moyes side are still in the Champions League, only have a slight chance of making it into Europe’s elite competition this season. The Red Devils are sitting in seventh place in the league, a full eleven points off the top four. However, United’s recent form could help them pull an upset over City.

The English champions have won three of their last five matches, a record even City can only match. But where United can’t match City is in the Sky Blues’ goal scoring ability. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have already scored 76 goals this season in just 28 games, 28 more than United have bagged over two more matches.

They [City] have quality – very good midfield players who are goalscorers.” – Manchester United manager David Moyes

This, stacked up against United’s shaky defense, which has allowed over a goal per match at home this season, could prove to be killer. Especially as United’s defense will be without Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, and Nemanja Vidic due to injury and suspension, City might even go as far as putting more past United than in their famous 6-1 victory at Old Trafford in 2011/2012. City are also suffering from injury, though, with top scorer Sergio Aguero unavailable due to a hamstring problem.

Yet the visitors will have recent history on their side, having won four of the five previous Manchester derbies. City have scored an astonishing 15 goals on those five matches, almost triple the six that United have netted. But whether City keeps their bragging rights remains to be seen, after all, the one thing that hasn’t changed since 2009 is United’s ability to achieve the impossible.

[divider]

FOLLOW THE MANCHESTER DERBY LIVE WITH FOOTBALL EVERY DAY’S PLAY-BY-PLAY COMMENTARY ON TWITTER AT @FootballEvryDay!

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.