By Daily sports on March 7, 2021

It’s one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the year, as Manchester United travel to the Etihad Stadium this Sunday to take on in-form rivals Manchester City.

After the Reds extended their unbeaten away league run to 21 games in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men face a difficult challenge as they take on a City team who have won 21 straight matches in all competitions.

However, United have won on their last two trips to the Etihad, winning 2-1 in the league last season and 1-0 in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.

United have never won three consecutive matches at the stadium.

TEAM NEWS

Anthony Martial, David De Gea and Donny van De Beek, who all missed the Palace game on Wednesday, remain doubts. Martial picked up a knock on his knee ahead of the trip to Selhurst Park, De Gea was absent due to personal reasons, while van de Beek hasn’t played since West Brom away on Valentine’s Day, despite making the bench at the weekend.

Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Phil Jones remain sidelined through injury.

As for the hosts, Nathan Ake has resumed full training after being missing since Boxing Day due to a muscular injury. However, it remains to be seen if he will be selected for the matchday squad. Other than that, Manchester City have no other injuries.

FORM GUIDE

The Reds were unbeaten in February, a month which included a historic 9-0 victory against Southampton at Old Trafford and a thumping 4-0 away win over Real Sociedad. However, United go into Sunday’s game having registered three consecutive 0-0 draws in a row against Palace, Chelsea and La Real. As for City, they extended their winning streak on Tuesday by dispatching Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-1 to go 14 points clear at the top of the league. That form has translated over to the Champions League too, as Pep Guardiola’s side hold a 2-0 advantage over Borussia Monchengladbach going into their last-16 second leg next week.

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

In the history of the Manchester derby, United have won 76 out of 184 games, with City winning 55 and there being 53 draws. But at the Etihad, the Reds have the advantage in the league. Since City left Maine Road in 2003, United have won eight of the 17 top-flight meetings, including the most recent league fixture at Eastlands in December 2019, thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. However, while the earlier league fixture at Old Trafford this season ended in a 0-0 draw, City came out on top in the Carabao Cup semi-final, with a 2-0 win at the Theatre of Dreams.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Despite being without a striker for several games this season, City have found a regular goalscorer in Ilkay Gundogan, who has managed to register 11 league goals from midfield, but he has failed to score in his last four appearances in all competitions. Most of City’s attacking power comes from their wingers, with Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling scoring a combined 16 league goals and providing nine assists. City’s centre-back pairing of John Stones and Ruben Dias has impressed in recent months and Pep Guardiola’s men have registered the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season, with 15.

•Based on reports by BBC and manutd.com. PHOTO: Action during a previous Manchester derby

Source Daily sports

Posted March 7, 2021

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