Manchester City vs Manchester United preview

Game : Manchester City (11-14 points) vs Manchester United (3-25 points)

Date : Sunday, 30 November, 2008

Venue : City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester

Kickoff : 13.30 GMT

Manchester City did the double over their more famous rivals last season, and Mark Hughes will be keen to repeat that feat when City host United in a Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon.

City beat their toughest opponents in the UEFA Cup group stage, German giants Schalke, 2-0 at the Veltins Arena on Thursday night, and that too without star forward Robinho. The Brazilian might be fit for the derby on Sunday though. Against Schalke, Kompany played in central defence alongside Dunne, with Richards taking Pablo Zabaleta’s place on the right.

Should Robinho play, he is a good bet to score. He has scored against both Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premiership. Stephen Ireland is also in excellent form, and was outstanding against Schalke.

Man City starting lineup against Schalke-
Hart, Richards, Dunne (c), Kompany, Garrido (Ball ), Ireland, Hamann, Wright-Phillips, Vassell, Sturridge, Benjani (Jo )

Man City’s last five games in all competitions ( Man City scorers indicated in brackets)

Man City 3-2 FC Twente ( Shaun Wright Phillips, Robinho, Benjani)
Man City 1-2 Tottenham ( Robinho)
Hull City 2-2 Man City ( Stephen Ireland*2)
Man City 3-0 Arsenal ( Stephen Ireland, Robinho, Daniel Sturridge pen)
Schalke 0-2 Man City ( Benjani Mwaruwari, Stephen Ireland)

Man City home record ( last five games- all competitions)
LWWLW.

The losses were against Liverpool and Tottenham. The wins were against Stoke, Arsenal and FC Twente.

Manchester United drew 0-0 in the Champions League in Spain against Villareal to confirm their progress to the next stage. Star striker Dimitar Berbatov, who is struggling with a hamstring injury, might not be rushed into this clash. Paul Scholes is out, but Gary Neville stands a chance of making it to the first 11.

Manchester United last five games ( all competitions) ( Man United scorers indicated in brackets)

Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd ( Rafael)
Man Utd 1-0 QPR ( Carlos Tevez pen)
Man Utd 5-0 Stoke City ( Cristiano Ronaldo*2, Danny Welbeck, Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov)
Aston Villa 0-0 Man Utd
Villareal 0-0 Man Utd

Manchester United away record last five games
DDLDD

Draws against Villareal, Aston Villareal, Celtic and Everton. Loss to Arsenal.

Last Manchester United lineup ( Kuszczak, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher (Gibson) , Carrick (Tevez), Nani (Park), Anderson, Rooney.)

Corresponding fixture last season
Man City 1-0 Man Utd ( Geovanni)

I’ll take a draw here. City 1-1 United. Robinho or Ireland for City, and Ronaldo to score for United.