One of the season's most anticipated matches occurs when Manchester United visits Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, December 15, at 11:30 a.m. ET.
The Manchester Derby has been steeped in history since the first meeting between these clubs in 1881. However, over the past 16 years — since City increased its financial and footballing power — this fixture has gained greater relevance in title races.
Both teams are in poor form and desperately need a turnaround. Here is my Manchester City vs. Manchester United prediction for Sunday’s clash.
Manchester City vs. Manchester United Prediction, Pick, Odds
| Man U Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+0.5 +130 | 2.5 -225o / 175u | +375 |
| Man City Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-0.5 -167 | 2.5 -225o / 175u | -163 |
- Manchester City vs. Manchester United moneyline odds: Manchester City -163, Draw +350, Manchester United +375
- Manchester City vs. Manchester United over/under: 2.5 Goals (Over -225, Under 175)
- Manchester City vs. Manchester United pick: Over 2.5 goals
I am backing Over 2.5 goals in the Manchester City vs. Manchester United match.
Manchester City Prediction
Pep Guardiola’s team is far from the level that got them four consecutive Premier League titles. They’ve only won one of their past 10 matches and are coming off a 2-0 defeat to Juventus on Wednesday in the Champions League.
City is out of the top three in the Premier League standings, nine points behind leaders Liverpool. It's a disappointing position for a team plagued by injuries to key players.
The main headache will be assembling the defense, with John Stones and Nathan Ake out, Manuel Akanji unlikely to recover in time and Rico Lewis suspended following his red card in the draw against Crystal Palace. Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden were on the bench during the midweek loss to Juventus, so they will likely return to the lineup against United.
Manchester United Prediction
The arrival of Ruben Amorim to United brought high hopes, but so far, the Portuguese manager has been unable to turn the team’s fortunes around. They’ve suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League: a 2-0 loss away to Arsenal and a painful 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.
Last Thursday, they managed a 2-1 victory in the Czech Republic against Viktoria Plzeň, which positioned the Red Devils for direct qualification to the Europa League Round of 16. Rasmus Højlund, the team’s main threat inside the box, scored both goals.
Including the Danish striker in the starting XI will likely be one of the changes Amorim makes for his first Manchester Derby. The manager seems to have an almost fully fit squad, apart from Luke Shaw, though he may consider resting some players who featured midweek.
Manchester City vs. Manchester United Prediction
Despite their struggles, City is favored to secure a victory at home. United has lost five of their past six Premier League matches against their city rivals and have been defeated in their past three Premier League visits to the Etihad.
The betting odds are tighter than in previous derbies due to the uncertainty surrounding Guardiola’s side. However, United’s performances don’t inspire much confidence either, so I’m not inclined to pick a winner in this one.
Instead, this game is shaping up to be high-scoring. City’s defense is leaking goals, conceding 21 in their past nine matches. Meanwhile, United knows Erling Haaland is a threat as the Norwegian has six goals and three assists in four appearances against the Red Devils.
Manchester City vs. Manchester United Pick: Over 2.5 goals (Bet365)
