One of the biggest Manchester derbies in a while takes place on Thursday night when the blue half of the city and the red half collide at the Emirates Stadium. Man City go into the match a point ahead of their rivals who will move above them into the top four should they win the game. City will go above Liverpool into third with a win of their own.
Man City
City head into the derby off the back of an agonising defeat in the FA Cup semi-final to Arsenal on Sunday. That game wasn’t what was needed for a number of reasons. Not only did City get taken to extra time but David Silva and Sergio Aguero both picked up knocks. Aguero is expected to play here but Silva may not be fit.
That would leave a hole in their attack but it is their defence they are likely to be more concerned with heading into the final six matches of the season. They haven’t been keeping many clean sheets recently and at the same time they haven’t been winning too many games although they have won their last two in the league.
Man Utd
Jose Mourinho’s men haven’t always been pretty to watch this season but nobody can deny their effectiveness, their fight, heart and spirit. They head into this match having not lost any of their last 23 matches in the league which shows that the Portuguese manager has got them organised and fit into his system.
They were taken to extra time last week against Anderlecht but since then they have taken care of a tough as teak Burnley side and have closed the gap not just on City above them but Liverpool above them too and a win here would actually take them level with Liverpool on points and possibly above them on goal difference.
Team News
It remains to be seen whether David Silva is passed fit to play. Indications are that he won’t be. Gabriel Jesus is back in training and might have to be on the bench even though Pep Guardiola doesn’t want that.
Man Utd are without some huge players for this match. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo are long term absentees and he’s now without Paul Pogba, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones who are all injured too.
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Betting
It is a little bit like survival of the fittest for these two sides and I have to say as a result of that I’m not expecting a classic match here. We’ve already seen Jose Mourinho take his Man Utd side to Liverpool and bore everyone to tears and he could try that tactic here. Even if he doesn’t his side will be under orders to keep possession.
Man City haven’t been winning many matches recently and I suspect confidence could be a little low and if David Silva isn’t fit to play then the door to the United goal may remain locked without a string puller to unlock it. In fairness a draw isn’t a bad result for either so it might be that this is a tighter, tenser tussle and we would want it to be and one without many goals.
At odds against under 2.5 goals looks a solid bet to me especially with all but one of the few United matches to have more than 2.5 goals coming against sides in the bottom six. I’ll also have a tiny punt on no goalscorer too in case the match plays out like that United game at Liverpool earlier in the season.
Tips
WON – Back Under 2.5 goals for a 4/10 stake at 2.05 with Betbright
WON – Back No Goalscorer for a 1/10 stake at 12.00 with Betbright
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