Old rivals take to the pitch again as Pep's sky blues roll up to Old Trafford to take on Ruben's Reds as Manchester comes to a standstill for one of the biggest matches of the season.
Both sides could do with a win over the other as there is nothing quite like winning a derby but also because United and City have had poor seasons by their standards.
I mean, it feels like we have no standards when looking at how we've been this year.
But all form goes out the window in these big encounters and we should be expecting fireworks as per us.
Predicted Lineup
Amorim has both good and bad news regarding his potential lineup. He confirmed that Mount has the potential to start games but that they need to be careful with his minutes despite fans wanting to see the number 7 in the XI. Mainoo is also not far off returning however stalwart defender De Ligt is a doubt for this afternoon. That will be a big blow.
Should the Dutchman not be available, it means that the only two centre-backs Amorim will have at his disposal is Yoro and Maguire, both of whom are coming back from their own injuries. Mazraoui to complete the back three.
Dorgu to stay as LWB even though he had a forgetful game against Forest. City will be looking to target him.
I can see the manager bringing the trio of Garnacho, Zirkzee and Hojlund back up front. He decided to opt for Bruno as a no 10 alongside Garnacho with Zirkzee as the striker in that defeat last time out.
It didn't work which is why I believe he will revert to a trio that has shown some level of success. I doubt he'll risk Mount in this team even though he would slot in perfectly.
This will mean the skipper to drop back as the no 8 next to Ugarte with Casemiro having to do with a spot on the bench.
With all that being said, it will be interesting to see exactly what Amorim will do with an eye on that massive game on Thursday at Lyon. I can see him making changes at certain times in order to keep players fresh for that quarter final in France.
Approach
It's very difficult to judge when it comes to a derby because nobody wants to give the other the upper hand in any way. This one also happens to be at home and one of the last few before we move into the new circus, I mean stadium 😅 so it should make for a spectacle.
However, with such an important game in a few days time, will Amorim want his players to go hard running the risk of potential injury? As it is, we have been a bit threadbare at times this season and ahead of the most important part of this truly horrific first campaign for the Portuguese, he wouldn't want to do anything that could perhaps jeopardise it.
On the other hand, he won't want City to come and walk all over us especially since we can do the double over them.
What we've seen from United though when it comes to these big games, we do happen to turn up and put in a performance, much like the reverse fixture earlier in Amorim's reign.
Ruben's Reds put in stellar displays at Anfield, The Emirates (FA Cup), Arsenal at home and the Emptihad in November when we managed to get positive results in all of them, winning two and drawing the other two.
There's something about these bigger games that tend to get the players going like no other.
Many say that it's because teams like City, Liverpool and Arsenal take the initiative and United are allowed to play a more defend and counter game which is a style that we're more suitable to.
We can sit deep with the five defenders and two midfielders ahead and look to break on City. The problem with this is that we don't actually have so much pace in our team to truly cause them problems.
The other area where we can look to hurt the champions is via set-pieces but that isn't an area where we're strong either. Open play sees us struggle as well. A lot of this is down to the fact that we are very selfish and by we I mean Garnacho.
Much of our play does come down the left which is the number 17's preferred side but when he ignores overlapping runs and looks to cut in and shoot all the time, it makes him predicatbale and also reduces the chances of us creating anything in the final third.
Amorim spoke about how Garnacho is doing a lot of things right but that it's about his decision-making that is his real issue. That's the area of his game that needs drastic improvement. Should he sort this out along with trying to keep things simple and not try too hard all the time, he will be a much better player.
He has taken the second most shots in the league for United with 68, 10 behind skipper Bruno. However, the captain has scored 8 which is the most for the club. Garnacho has just 4 meaning that he averages a goal every 17 shots.
As he is one of our main threats and outlets though, we need him to be performing at a better level.
I've just remembered, Amorim left Garnacho (and Rashford) out of the squad for the derby at City for whatever reasons. Maybe this can be an opportunity for him to prove the manager wrong?
Form
Not the best of form for United as we have been very hit and miss, as we've been all season.
That loss to Forest meant that we still haven't managed to win back-to-back games in the league this campaign.
Not having won two games in a row in the league for Man United.
😐.
Our 30 matches have seen just 10 wins with 7 draws and 13 losses. We've also managed to score just 37 which puts us 15th in the table for goals scored. By conceding 41, our GD is at -4.
Our last home win was that 3-2 comeback over Ipswich at the end of February. In fact, in the last 8 home games in the PL, United have just the 2 wins 😳.
The overall home record makes for grim reading too as we are 12th in the home table with just 6 wins, 2 draws and 7 defeats in 15 matches. More losses at Old Trafford than wins.
What can one say about that?
The goal difference is also at a pathetic -4. All of this gives us a total of just 20 points out of a possible 45.
Ruben Amorim has taken charge of 9 home games in the league since becoming United boss and in that time has won just 3 of those matches: 4-0 Everton, 3-1 Southampton, 3-2 Ipswich.
How are we this bad at home?! 🤯
City
As for the Cityzens, they too have had a poor season by their high standards. Well below the top of the table, out of the Carabao Cup early, out at the round of 16 in the Champions League after just about making it through the league phase and have just the top 4/5 and FA Cup to play for.
That is not Man City standards.
On top of all this, the robot Herling Haaland will be missing due to an ankle injury which is no doubt a big blow for Guardiola as he is a player who has a good record against United, and also the recent news that star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has announced that he will be leaving the club after a decade.
Tough news to take for the blue half of Manchester but that could perhaps spur them on especially KDB knowing that this will be his final-ever Manchester derby.
Pep's side sit 5th in the table after their 30 matches which could be good enough to qualify for the Champions League next season given how well English teams are doing in Europe.
They have won just half of their games whilst drawing 6 times and losing an unusual 9. Their goal difference is also a little low at just 17 which is 26 behind Liverpool. Speaking of the leaders, the current champions are a mammoth 22 points behind Arne Slot's table toppers.
22.
Away from home, City are in mid-table. 10th is their position after their 15 matches with 6 wins, 3 draws and 6 defeats. Their GD is also just +4 which is not something you associate with Pep's team. This all gives them 21 points which is just 4 more than United.
When looking at the records of both sides at this stage last season, you can see just what a difference a year makes:
More wins, fewer draws and defeats, more goals and more points. City were just 3 behind LFC at the top whilst United were fighting for Europe as we were 6th.
How did both clubs fall off so drastically?
Maybe there's something in the water in Manchester 🤷♂️.
As mentioned, they will be without the striking viking as well as Rodri, Ake, Stones and Akanji.
This gives us more of a chance.
City will of course be looking to take revenge on us after the earlier victory for United at the Emptihad. Pep also has a bit of a personal battle with Amorim as in the two meetings between them this season, Amorim has won both, one at Sporting and the other with United.
Should be an interesting one.
Recent Meetings
It's been very either or in these derbies. While City have won the majority in recent years, United have picked up a fair few victories themselves.
United have won the last two which was Amorim's first derby and the FA Cup final at the end of last season. City did win three in a row before that but it's not a foregone conclusion that they will definitely win.
But one thing this fixture guarantees is that there will be a victor.
The last stalemate between the two was in December 2020 as the pair played out a drab 0-0 at Old Trafford.
Prediction
Funnily enough though, I do think it will be a draw. A part of me thinks that it will be 2-2 for some reason.
United are obviously terrible, City are nowhere near the team they've been over the years but as it's at home and a derby, I feel like we'll turn up and make it difficult for them. The fact that we go to Lyon on Thursday might play a part as well.
One thing that's certain though, is that there will be drama 🍿.
Background player image: Harry Maguire scores in Man Utd's 3-2 win over Ipswich | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)