Five things to look out for – Manchester City vs Manchester United

Manchester Metropolis face bitter rivals Manchester United within the first derby of the season on the Etihad Stadium.

The Blues are heading into the Manchester derby behind United within the Premier League desk for the primary time since December 2020, after dropping two of their opening three fixtures.

Ruben Amorim’s facet haven’t fared a lot better with simply 4 factors to this point within the league, and crashed out of the Carabao Cup on penalties to League 2 facet Grimsby City a couple of weeks in the past.

Listed here are 5 issues to look out for as blue meets pink in Manchester:

Donnarumma making his debut

Anybody bear in mind the final world famend goalkeeper, extremely favoured by Pep Guardiola, that changed a departing membership legend and made his debut in a Manchester derby?That’s proper, Claudio Bravo!

The Blues had been profitable however Bravo left quite a bit to be desired on his debut at Outdated Trafford 9 years in the past, when objectives from Kevin de Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho had been sufficient for Metropolis to squeak a 2-1 victory over the road.

However Metropolis’s latest signing is a very totally different kind of goalkeeper to the Chilean, and I count on him to begin and make his mark within the derby.

Gianluigi Donnarumma shouldn’t be a typical Pep Guardiola goalkeeper. The Metropolis supervisor has most well-liked his ‘keepers to be good with their toes above all else, therefore his removing of Joe Hart upon taking up in 2016.

However Donnarumma doesn’t match the mould. He’s a world class goalkeeper and a very good shot stopper, however leaves quite a bit to be desired along with his toes.

Although towards United who will in all probability penetrate Metropolis’s backline quite a bit on the break, I count on Donnarumma’s shot stopping to turn out to be useful on his debut.

Gamers coming back from harm

There was a time period the place Metropolis regarded to have an harm disaster forward of the derby, however that seems to not be the case anymore.

Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico O’Reilly and Rico Lewis all pulled out of their nationwide squads, while Phil Foden, Savinho, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol weren’t even chosen on account of their accidents. All of these gamers appear to now be in rivalry for the derby.

John Stones is a doubt after leaving England responsibility and Omar Marmoush’s harm picked up taking part in for Egypt isn’t as dangerous as first feared, leaving him sidelined for only a few weeks.

Rayan Cherki is out for an additional six weeks and Rayan Ait-Nouri nonetheless isn’t absolutely match after the heavy sort out he acquired through the Tottenham sport. Apart from that, everybody is sweet to go.

The returning gamers, significantly Gvardiol and Foden, have the potential to essentially make the distinction for Metropolis.

Their elite degree and familiarity with the system is an efficient mixture with the brand new gamers offering power however nonetheless discovering their toes.

Who begins on the left of assault?

Marmoush’s harm means choices on the left hand facet are wanting slim.

Jeremy Doku is the apparent alternative, however regardless of his good match towards Kazakhstan within the worldwide break, he’s not had a terrific begin to the season and has by no means actually impressed earlier than in a Manchester derby.

Savinho, recent again from “harm” is one other alternative. However whether or not Guardiola would throw him straight in having not performed for a month (or whether or not he even sees him as a left winger) stays to be seen.

Ait-Nouri’s harm causes some points, as one choice could possibly be a slim left winger, reminiscent of Foden, with the Algerian full again offering the width.

It could possibly be replicated with Gvardiol or O’Reilly however I believe that could be unlikely.

Doku is the more than likely to begin, and although he’s thrilling to look at, he must show greater than that if he needs to assist Metropolis on their option to victory.

The specter of United on the transition

United are lastly beginning to discover gamers that match Amorim’s system, and you may count on them to absolutely do higher this season than end fifteenth, as they did final 12 months.

Bryan Mbeumo was probably the greatest gamers within the Premier League final season, and Matheus Cunha additionally impressed at Wolves.

Damage guidelines Cunha and fellow attacking midfielder Mason Mount out of the derby, which implies United are prone to arrange with a ahead line of Bruno Fernandes and Mbeumo behind new celebrity striker Benjamin Sesko.

Fernandes is among the finest playmakers within the league, and Mbeumo threatens operating in behind. Sesko hasn’t had a lot time to show himself but, however he too at RB Leipzig appreciated to counter assault.

Metropolis have struggled massively towards quick attackers, and you may count on them to do the identical towards United primarily based on current proof.

Khusanov’s tempo helps, and Gvardiol will even assist take care of Mbeumo on the left of Metropolis’s defence, however given the current struggles of Metropolis as a defensive unit, you’ll be able to count on that to proceed.

Derby day satisfaction vital for each groups

Each side have had an underwhelming begin to the season and can wish to put issues proper within the derby.

United might be some extent forward of Metropolis within the league, however after three video games (the place their solely win required a final minute penalty from Fernandes towards newly promoted Burnley at Outdated Trafford) it means little.

Metropolis all the time lose at house to Spurs, and while Brighton was annoying, they had been the higher group for 60 minutes and gamers returning to health will increase the extent of the group throughout the complete 90.

It’ll be a passionate, intense derby as a result of significance it holds for each groups, and I feel in the event that they dig deep sufficient Metropolis can discover the standard to beat their fiercest rivals.