Manchester United and Manchester City are nearing kickoff in the latest derby edition between two of the Premier League’s most powerful clubs. They both need a win, but for different reasons, as City chase a second straight title while United are searching for a top-four finish to guarantee Champions League next season. After Man U’s recent run of form, what is typically an exhilarating match may turn into destruction.
Manchester United vs. Manchester City
- When: Wednesday, April 24
- Where: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- TV: NBCSN
- Streaming: fuboTV (watch for free)
The Citizens were crushed to see their quadruple hopes extinguished by a Champions League quarterfinal defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, but a potential treble still remains within their sights.
Guardiola will look to mastermind his second derby win on United’s own soil, but will do so without the services of star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who was ruled out by his manager on Tuesday:
“It’s a muscular problem. We see day by day but he [De Bruyne] is not available tomorrow. Unfortunately, he was injured and then another one and then another one. He had two or three muscular problems as a consequence of his knee.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side has gone from looking ready and revitalized to tired and turgid in their recent displays. After losing once in their first 17 matches under the Norwegian, they’ve now lost six times in their last eight games.
It’s only a slight consolation that just one of those losses came to pass at the Theatre of Dreams (1-0 vs. Barcelona, April 10), where they’ve suffered just two defeats thus far in 2019.
Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Burnley on Monday means United can draw level in fifth with a win over City. But one would imagine the Citizens should have the resources and motivation needed to reclaim the summit.
The Manchester derby power balance has leaned increasingly in City’s favor over the last few years, but United can strike a blow for the history books if they turn an upset on Wednesday.
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