England - Premier League
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Played
April 30, 2012 8:00 PM BST
Etihad Stadium — Manchester
Referee:‬ A. Marriner‎
Attendance:‬ 47259‎
 
45+1′ Vincent Kompany
 

Manchester City - Manchester United Preview: Top two set for titanic ‘title decider’

A win for the hosts will send them top of the Premier League on goal difference, while victory for the visitors will see them within a point of retaining their champions' crown

By Gill Clark

More On :  Man Utd., Manchester City FC, Manchester City FC vs Man Utd.
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER CITY

Hart
Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy
Y Toure, Barry
Silva, Tevez, Nasri
Aguero
MANCHESTER UNITED
 
De Gea
Smalling, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra
Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Nani
Rooney, Welbeck

Manchester City look set to welcome back Micah Richards from injury, while striker Mario Balotelli is also available having completed his three-match ban after his sending off against Arsenal.

However, given their recent form manager Roberto Mancini is expected to continue with Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez up front.

Manchester United, meanwhile, have few absentees other than long-term injury victims Nemanja Vidic, Darren Fletcher and Anderson. Nani, who injured an ankle in training, and Jonny Evans are both doubts, but are expected to be fit for the clash.

However, after watching his side throw away a 4-2 lead against Everton last weekend, Sir Alex Ferguson may decide to shake-up his starting XI. Chris Smalling is being tipped to get the nod ahead of Rafael at right-back while in midfield Ryan Giggs, Tom Cleverley, Ji-sung Park and Ashley Young are all available.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Manchester City have an incredible home record this season. Roberto Mancini’s men have won 21 of 22 games at the Etihad, scoring 51 goals in just 17 games.
  • The hosts have already thrashed the visitors in this campaign. They famously won 6-1 at Old Trafford back in October, United’s heaviest ever Premier League defeat.
  • In the 6-1 win, City were ruthless in front of goal. They scored six goals from just seven shots on target.
  • However, on their own ground it’s a different story. City have not scored at home against United in the league for almost five years.
  • Manchester United have already beaten Manchester City twice this season: a 3-2 win in the Community Shield and another 3-2 win in the League Cup at the Etihad.
  • In Premier League meetings between these sides there have been six red cards, and Manchester United have been shown a whopping five of them. Jonny Evans (pictured right) was the last man to see red in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford.
  • The champions come into the game in red hot goalscoring form. They have scored eight goals in their last two games, four against Everton and four against Aston Villa.
  • Manchester United won the title with 80 points last season. They have already collected 83 points to date and if they win their three remaining games they could equal their best ever Premier League points tally of 92.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Manchester City FC 1-2 Man Utd.
    12.13 %
  • Manchester City FC 1-3 Man Utd.
    12.04 %
  • Manchester City FC 2-1 Man Utd.
    11.08 %
Head to Head
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Apr 8, 2013 Man Utd. 1 - Manchester City FC 2
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Dec 9, 2012 Manchester City FC 2 - Man Utd. 3
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Apr 30, 2012 Manchester City FC 1 - Man Utd. 0
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England - FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ Jan 8, 2012 Manchester City FC 2 - Man Utd. 3
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Oct 23, 2011 Man Utd. 1 - Manchester City FC 6
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Last Five Matches
Manchester City FC
May 14, 2013Reading 0 - Manchester City FC 2EPL
May 11, 2013Manchester City FC 0 - Wigan Athletic 1FA
May 7, 2013Manchester City FC 1 - West Bromwich Albion 0EPL
May 4, 2013Swansea 0 - Manchester City FC 0EPL
Apr 27, 2013Manchester City FC 2 - West Ham 1EPL
Man Utd.
May 12, 2013Man Utd. 2 - Swansea 1EPL
May 5, 2013Man Utd. 0 - Chelsea FC 1EPL
Apr 28, 2013Arsenal 1 - Man Utd. 1EPL
Apr 22, 2013Man Utd. 3 - Aston Villa 0EPL
Apr 17, 2013West Ham 2 - Man Utd. 2EPL
Odds
Returns: Manchester City £21.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £95.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Man Utd. £560.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1Joe HartGoalkeeper
4Vincent KompanyDefender
5Pablo ZabaletaDefender
6Joleon LescottDefender
22Gael ClichyDefender
18Gareth BarryMidfielder
8Samir NasriMidfielder
21David SilvaStriker
42Yaya Touré Midfielder
16Sergio AgüeroStriker
32Carlos TévezStriker
30Costel PantilimonGoalkeeper
2Micah RichardsDefender
13Aleksandar KolarovDefender
7James MilnerMidfielder
34Nigel De JongMidfielder
10Edin DzekoStriker
45Mario BalotelliStriker
1David de GeaGoalkeeper
3Patrice EvraDefender
4Phil JonesDefender
5Rio FerdinandDefender
12Chris SmallingDefender
11Ryan GiggsMidfielder
7Ji-Sung ParkMidfielder
16Michael CarrickMidfielder
17NaniMidfielder
22Paul ScholesMidfielder
10Wayne RooneyStriker
40Ben AmosGoalkeeper
2RafaelDefender
18Ashley YoungMidfielder
7Antonio ValenciaMidfielder
9Dimitar BerbatovStriker
14Javier 'Chicharito' HernandezStriker
19Danny WelbeckStriker
Players to Watch
Carlos Tévez
Carlos Tévez
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 32
Games Goals YC RC
33 11 3 0
Carlos Tevez has been hugely influential since his return to the club, leaving many to ponder the question of whether City may indeed have wrapped up the title already if the Argentine had not returned to South America for five months of the season.

The striker has scored four and grabbed two assists in his last three games, whilst also helping Sergio Aguero rediscover his goalscoring touch, and you suspect he would love nothing more than to score against his former team, and pip them to the title.
David de Gea
David de Gea
Position: Goalkeeper
Squad Number: 1
Games Goals YC RC
28 0 0 0
Back in October when City thrashed United 6-1, questions were being asked of the young Spaniard, yet fast forward six months and he is now the established No. 1 at Old Trafford.

His best performances this season have come against the bigger teams: he was superb against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and United will need him at his best once again - particularly because, you suspect, he will be in for a busy evening.
 
Prediction
A mouth-watering encounter is in prospect at the Etihad as the best home record in the league meets the best away record in what many are billing as the 'title decider'.

Whilst the league cannot be mathematically won on Monday, victory for either side will generate huge belief and put the title tantalisingly close. However, United do have a slight advantage in that a draw will keep them three points ahead of their rivals with just two games left to play.

Both teams have already beaten each other this season, and whilst City have home advantage, they have struggled when the pressure has been on, meaning United’s greater experience in these situations may prove crucial.
Editor's Prediction
Manchester City 2
Man Utd. 2
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Match News
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man Utd. 		25 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		20 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0