English Premier League:
Handicap
Manchester United vs Manchester City
0 : 1 1/2
The red side of the city are looking to take another step towards another title while the blue side are hoping to knock them out of their stride and make them wobble on their perch at the top of the table. Kick-off: Sunday, May 10, 13:30 (BST). Old Trafford, Manchester
The Rewards of Revenge
Gunning for Premier League and Champions League success, motivation shouldn’t be too hard to come by for Manchester United. But the memories of last season’s double defeat to Manchester City will surely give the title chasers an extra kick.
Reds manager Sir Alex Ferguson certainly isn’t the sort to let such matters lie. He will drill into his players the importance of repeating the commanding 1-0 victory recorded in November.
After dismantling Arsenal in the Champions League last Tuesday, United are in no mood to let this opportunity for revenge slip away.
The team has shifted into top gear in recent weeks, after a bout of March madness threatened to put their all encompassing quest for glory into reverse.
At the forefront of the charge is Cristiano Ronaldo. The World Player of the Year’s transformation from Old Trafford sweetheart to Real Madrid flirting pariah has come full circle in recent weeks, as he’s re-discovered the form which put him at the pinnacle of the game.
Ronaldo will be further fired up for the visit of City, after his farcical sending off at Eastlands. When the bit is between the Portuguese’s teeth, he can be an unstoppable footballing force.
If he storms through the Blues’ defence, United will usurp Liverpool at the top of the table and move ever closer to a third successive Premier League title.
On A Roll
In a season full of exciting highs and depressing lows, Manchester City manager Mark Hughes will be thrilled to have discovered a more mundane level of consistency of late.
After recording three wins on the bounce, his standing at the Eastlands upstarts has never been firmer. If this run continues against his old club Manchester United, his position will be confirmed in the folklore of both.
Hughes has certainly struggled to manage the pressure of guiding the world’s richest team to some kind of success. His succession to the Blues hot seat has certainly not been helped by the decent job that Sven Göran Eriksson did twelve months ago.
Life in shadows of the Swede never comes starker than when facing a United side that Eriksson overturned twice.
The Welshman is able to use the 2-1 victory at Everton, a fortnight ago, as a sign that the away day pain that has punctuated his time in charge is finally coming to an end.
This was arguably his finest moment to date, as the Brazilian duo of Robinho and Elano combined to put the dampers on the Wembley buzz growing in Merseyside.
The frustration caused by Robinho’s fluctuating form cannot be allowed to rear its head again. If Hughes can continue to positively influence the renegade ex-Real Madrid man, then the Citizens could record a repeat victory on enemy turf.
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FORM GUIDE
Manchester United:
5th May vs. Arsenal (A) won 3-1 (CHAMP LG)
2nd May vs. Middlesbrough (A) won 2-0 (PREM)
29th April vs. Arsenal (H) won 1-0 (CHAMP LG)
25th April vs. Tottenham Hotspur (H) won 5-2 (PREM)
22nd April vs. Portsmouth (H) won 2-0 (PREM)
Manchester City:
2nd May vs. Blackburn Rovers (H) won 3-1 (PREM)
25th April vs. Everton (A) won 2-1 (PREM)
19th April vs. West Bromwich Albion (H) won 4-2 (PREM)
16th April vs. Hamburg (H) won 2-1 (UEFA CUP)
12th April vs. Fulham (H) lost 3-1 (PREM)
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United:
Wes Brown (foot) has joined Owen Hargreaves (knee) on the sidelines for the rest of the season. Gary Neville has brushed off a knock and comes back into an otherwise full strength Manchester United squad.
Last starting XI (vs. Arsenal): Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (Rafael Da Silva 65), Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson (Giggs 63), Park, Ronaldo, Rooney (Berbatov 66).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Evans, Scholes, Tevez.
Squad: Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Rafael, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Nani, Anderson, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Park, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez, Berbatov, Macheda.
Possible starting XI: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Rooney.
Manchester City:
The return of midfielder Pablo Zabaleta boosts a Manchester City squad missing Daniel Sturridge (thigh), Dietmar Hamann (knee), Benjani (thigh) and Craig Bellamy (knee). England international winger Shaun Wright-Phillips (ankle) is also struggling to feature.
Last starting XI (vs. Blackburn Rovers): Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Bridge, De Jong, Kompany, Ireland, Elano (Petrov 78), Caicedo (Bojinov 62), Robinho
Subs Not Used: Hart, Garrido, Fernandes, Evans, Berti
Squad: Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Bridge, Elano, Ireland, De Jong, Kompany, Robinho, Bojinov, Caicedo, Garrido, Fernandes, Evans, Etuhu, Clayton, McGivern, Berti, Hart, Petrov, Zabaleta.
Possible starting XI: Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Bridge, De Jong, Kompany, Elano, Ireland, Robinho, Caicedo.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United: After laying Arsenal to the sword, Cristiano Ronaldo is looking to give the same treatment to his city rivals. The Portuguese superstar was unplayable against the Londoners, scoring two breathtaking goals. A repeat performance on Sunday will cement United’s position at the top of the table.
Manchester City: Vincent Kompany has been one of the signings of the season, fitting seamlessly into the Manchester City midfield. Manager Mark Hughes would have seen how Manchester United crushed Arsenal in that area. The dominating figure of the former Anderlecht man should ensure this doesn't happen again.
PREDICTION
Derby matches are famously un-predictable, but it’s impossible to look beyond a Manchester United team within sight of the Premier League finishing line.
Manchester City are on a roll, but lightning won’t strike twice. Even with Robinho in their ranks, the Europa League chasers will have to defer to their omnipotent neighbours.
Manchester United 3-1 Manchester City
( Matt Monaghan / Goal )
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