Manchester United head to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening hoping to stop Manchester City from wrapping-up the Premier League title.
City’s 3-1 victory over Everton at Goodison Park last weekend means they’re now just one win away from winning the title so they can wrap things up on Saturday.
Not only that, but a City victory would see them crowned champions after a record 33 games, which would beat United’s existing record that was set during the 2000/01 campaign.
There is no doubt City have been the best team in the league by a distance this season but it’s important we delay the coronation for at least another week.
We warmed up for the game with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Swansea last weekend to cement our second-placed position in the table but it’s going to be a much stiffer test on Saturday.
The good news for United is that Pep Guardiola is expected to rest some of his key men as the Manchester derby falls in-between their Champions League quarter-final tie with Liverpool.
City have a lot to do in the second leg at the Etihad next week after being thrashed 3-0 at Anfield last night so we could see a much-changed starting eleven from the hosts on Saturday.
They know the title is already theirs – it’s just a matter of time before it’s confirmed – so Pep would be mad not to rest his key men ahead of the return leg against Liverpool.
Betting Odds
While the title is long gone, United do still have a chance to salvage some pride by getting a result this weekend. A look at the Premier League betting odds shows us that City are the 19/20 favourites to win this game having won 19 of their 22 home games in all competitions this season.
United are on offer at around 16/5 to take home the three points from the Etihad but that’s probably optimistic considering we’ve only won once in our last nine trips to the ‘Big Six’ and that was a rather fortunate win at Arsenal that required a herculean effort from David De Gea. Therefore, the draw at 11/4 is probably our best hope of getting a positive result this weekend.
City are known for their free-flowing football but they have been surprisingly conservative in the derbies as all three ties at the Etihad between City and United have seen fewer than two goals. Under Mourinho, United have seen less than three goals in six of their last nine visits to top-six rivals, so the smart money may be on Under 2.5 goals at odds of 11/10.
I’m backing United to earn a closely-fought 1-1 draw this weekend which will prevent City from lifting the title for at least another week.
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