By Ian S. Palmer
Bet on Soccer NOW at Pinnacle!
The most anticipated English Premier League match this weekend by far is the Manchester derby between Manchester United and Manchester City. The two neighbors will clash this Sunday, October 25 at United’s Old Trafford ground and battle it out for local bragging rights. The contest will also have a huge impact on this year’s title race. Man United is coming off of a 1-1 draw in Russia with CSKA Moscow in European Champions League action on Wednesday while Man City beat Spanish La Liga side Sevilla 2-1 at home in the same competition the same night.
Pinnacle SOCCER BETTING LINE – Manchester United vs Manchester City:
- Pinnacle lists Man United as the close favorites at +167 with Man City +184 and a draw at +240
Manchester United vs Manchester City – Head to Head
- Man City has won four of the past five encounters including a 1-0 home victory last season, but United won at Old Trafford by a 4-2 score. City had won three in a row at Old Trafford before last year’s defeat though. Overall, the two Manchester sides have met 145 times in the past with Man United winning 57, losing 43 and drawing the other 45. They’ve also edged City in the goalscoring department 208 to 204 in those contests.
Man City enters the weekend in first place in the Premier League with 21 points from seven wins and a pair of losses with a league-leading 24 goals scored and eight allowed. United occupies third place with six victories, a draw and two defeats for 19 points. They’ve scored 15 times and also conceded eight. They’re tied on points with Arsenal, but the Gunners take second place with a better goal difference.
United is undefeated at home this year with three wins and a draw and have won two in a row. They’ve also outscored their opponents 7-1 in those games. Also they’re unbeaten in their past eight overall at home. Luckily for manager Louis Van Gaal, he has a healthy squad to choose from. Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini can’t say the same thing as he’ll be without forwards David Silva and Samir Nasri as well as defenders Aleksandar Kolarov and Fabian Delph. To make matters worse, he’ll also be without top scorer, Argentine international striker Sergio Aguero and defender Gael Clichy is doubtful.
Bet on Soccer NOW at Pinnacle!
Manchester City drilled Bournemouth 5-1 in their last league outing which saw Raheem Sterling score a hat trick in the first half and striker Wilfried Bony add a pair. City’s last road game wasn’t pretty as they were thumped 4-1 at White Hart Lane in London by Tottenham Hotspur. It was their first and only away defeat of the campaign after triumphing in their first three road trips with three straight clean sheets. Man City has managed to outscore the opposition 7-4 on the road so far and have won five of their last six away games in all competitions.
City has more options when it comes to the attack even with Silva and Aguero on the sidelines. Both clubs have solid netminders as English international Joe Hart is between the posts for City and Spanish international David De Gea does a great job for United. However, sometimes these games are a little too conservative with both teams trying not to lose rather than going out to take all three points. However, there have been at least three goals scored in eight of the past 10 Manchester derbies.
Bet on Soccer NOW at Pinnacle!
Click here to learn more about SOCCER BETTING and how to bet on the Manchester City vs Sevilla match from eBetting101.com.