Manchester City take on the visitors Manchester United in the round 16 match of English Premier League. The match will be played on Sunday, December 15th at Etihad Stadium (Manchester).
Manchester City face a series of challenges. The "Citizens" managed to retain their Premier League title last season, albeit in a fiercely contested battle. However, they suffered an unfortunate exit in the Champions League on penalties and would not have minded adding a domestic cup to their trophy cabinet. The new season began with several challenges: the sale of Julián Álvarez, the addition of Savio (alongside the unexpected return of İlkay Gündoğan), and injuries to key players like Oscar Bobb and Rodri. On top of this, long-awaited hearings regarding financial breaches were looming. Initially, things seemed to be on track: a Super Cup victory, a dominant performance in the Champions League group stage, and leading the Premier League. But then came an unprecedented slump—seven consecutive matches without a win. City were eliminated from the League Cup and fell behind Liverpool in the Premier League, including a 0-2 defeat to the Reds. The reigning champions bounced back in December with a thrashing of Nottingham Forest but were held to a draw by Crystal Palace and suffered a 0-2 loss to Juventus in the Champions League, jeopardizing their chances of reaching the knockout stage.
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Manchester United had a strong first season under Erik ten Hag. However, the 2023/2024 campaign was a disaster, marked by an early exit from the Champions League and poor league form. It was only at the end of the season, with an FA Cup win against City, that United salvaged some pride—enough for ten Hag to keep his job and secure several new signings in the summer. Despite the reinforcements, United struggled at the start of the new season, performing even worse in the Premier League and drawing too many games in the Europa League. By November, Ruben Amorim took over as manager. His debut match ended in a draw against Ipswich, and he warned fans to expect difficulties ahead. He was proven right: victories over Bodø/Glimt and Everton were followed by a 0-2 loss to Arsenal, a defeat to Nottingham Forest, and a narrow win over Viktoria Plzeň in the Europa League.
City dominated recent derbies with six wins in their last seven encounters, aside from a loss to United in the FA Cup final. The teams faced off in the Super Cup, where City managed to equalize late and ultimately won on penalties. The home side will be the favorites, but City—and Guardiola himself—seem uncertain about how to handle this unfamiliar period of struggle. A bet on United with a +1 goal handicap could be a smart choice.
Prediction for the match: Manchester United to win with +1.0 handicap.
