The first official game between Manchester City and Manchester United was on Christmas day in League Division Two and finished as a 1-1 draw. Prior to that Manchester United had been called Newton Heath, while Manchester City were previously known as Ardwick.
The first top division game came in 1906 and all derby games since then in the league have been in the top flight of English football.
While both clubs enjoy a rivalry with Liverpool, this is the game which allows fans to enjoy the bragging rights in Manchester. City have won on four of the last five occasions the two teams have played, including a 2-1 win in the FA Cup Final back in June.
Over the years, both teams have enjoyed periods of dominance in this fixture. Man Utd never lost to City in an game from February 1990 right through to November 2002. Between January 1952 and Dec 1955, City went 9 games without defeat against United, winning six of those contests.
Both clubs are the only English teams to do a Treble of League Title, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season (United in 1999, City last season). United have won 20 league titles to City’s 9, 12 FA Cups to City’s 7 and they have 3 Champions League titles to City’s one.
This weekend’s game is the first time the two have met this season.
You can enjoy a wide range of bets on this game courtesy of bet365 Sport which offers extensive pre-game betting and In Play betting.
Let’s look into the history of this famous Premier League fixture a little more.
Manchester United v Manchester City – Head To Head
- Matches Played – 190
- Manchester United Wins – 78
- Manchester City Wins – 59
- Draws – 53
Manchester United v Manchester City Trends
- Manchester City have won five of the last seven games between the two, losing the other two including a 2-1 defeat in this fixture last season.
- Although the last three Manchester derby games in the Premier League have been won by the home team, in the 16 games before that, the away side won the match on 11 occasions, with 2 draws and just 3 home wins in that run.
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in the last four matches between the two teams.
- Since January 2006, there has been just four drawn games between the two teams, all of which have finished in a 0-0 scoreline.
- Both teams have scored in the last four matches between the two, but before that there had been a run of six games where one or neither team scored in the match.
- United have lost two of their five home fixtures this season, scoring and conceding seven goals in those games.
- Manchester City have won 3 and lost 2 of their away games this season, scoring nine goals and conceding five.
Manchester United v Manchester City – Memorable Matches
- Jun 2023 – FA Cup Final – Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United
The first Manchester derby FA Cup Final ended with a win for City as they captured the second leg of their famous treble last season. A goal just a few seconds into the game from Ilkay Gundogan was cancelled out by Bruno Fernandes penalty on 33 minutes, but Gundogan struck again in the second half to hand City their 7th FA Cup Final victory.
- Oct 2022 – EPL – Manchester City 6-3 Manchester United
An astonishing game at the Etihad saw City lead 6-1 at one point before two late Anthony Martial goals made the scoreline a little more respectable for the Red Devils. City’s Phil Foden and Erling Haaland both notched hat-tricks in this game, which was the first Manchester Derby to feature nine goals in the history of the contest.
- April 2018 – Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United
Two first half goals from Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan handed table-topping Manchester City a 2-0 half time lead and with it the Premier League title, at least it appeared. However a second half fight back from United saw Paul Pogba score twice and then Chris Smalling head home to hand the visitors a morale boosting win and keep City’s Championship celebrations on ice.
- September 2009 – Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City
An incredible game from start to finish saw United take an early lead through Wayne Rooney, only for City to level through Gareth Barry. Darren Fletcher scored two second half goals for United, separated by a Craig Bellamy strike for City. As the game entered the 90th minute Bellamy added a second to seemingly snatch a point for City, but right at the end of the game Michael Owen fired home to give United a key win.
- April 1974 – Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City
Ex-Manchester United legend Denis Law was the pantomime villain of the piece as his goal for Manchester City, a cheeky back heel from inside the six yard box, handed his new club a 1-0 victory which condemned Manchester United to relegation from Division One. Law famously never celebrated the goal as he knew what this meant for his former club.
Manchester United v Manchester City – Played For Both Teams
There are a small number of players, including some very famous stars, that have turned out for both Manchester City and Manchester United over the years including:
- Denis Law (AC)
- Peter Schmeichel (G)
- Peter Barnes (AML)
- Carlos Tevez (AC)
- Peter Beardsley (AC)
- Andy Cole (AC)
- Terry Cooke (AC)
- Wyn Davies (AC)
- John Gidman (DR)
- Owen Hargreaves (MC)
- Andrei Kanchelskis (AMR)
- Brian Kidd (AMC)
- Sammy McIlroy (MC)
- Mark Robins (AC)
Manchester United v Manchester City – Current Form & Team News
- Manchester United – 8th in the EPL, 15pts from 9 games (-2)
- Manchester City – 2nd in the EPL, 21 points from 9 games (+12)
EPL Form
- Manchester United – WLWLLWLWW
- Manchester City – WWWWWWLLW
Top Goalscorer & Assists
- Manchester United – Scott McTominay (3 goals), Marcus Rashford & Bruno Fernandes (3 assists)
- Manchester City – Erling Haaland (9 goals), Julian Alvarez & Phil Foden (4 assists)
Current Squads
Manchester United
Goalkeepers
- Andre Onana
- Altay Bayindir
- Tom Heaton
- Radek Vitek
Defenders
- Victor Lindelof (DLRC)
- Raphael Varane (DC)
- Lisandro Martinez (DLC) – Injured
- Luke Shaw (DL) – Injured
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR) – Injured
- Harry Maguire (DC)
- Diogo Dalot (DMR)
- Tyrell Malacia (DL)
- Jonny Evans (DC)
- Sergio Reguilon (DL)
Midfielders
- Scott McTominay (DMC)
- Christian Eriksen (MC)
- Casemiro (DMC)
- Hannibal Mejbri (MC)
- Kobbie Mainoo (AMRC)
- Sofyan Amrabat (DMC)
- Donny Van de Beek (AMC)
- Mason Mount (AMC)
- Bruno Fernandes (AMC)
- Facundo Pellestri (AMRL)
Attackers
- Alejandro Garnacho (ALC)
- Antonu (AMR)
- Marcus Rashford (ALC)
- Rasmus Hojlund (AC)
- Jadon Sancho (AMRL)
- Anthony Martial (AC)
- Amad Diallo (AMR)
- Shola Shoretire (AC)
Manager
Erik Ten Hag
Manchester United Team News
Manchester United’s injury worries eased with Sergio Reguilon, Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia all back in training, but Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan Bissaka, Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo are amongst those out for a longer term.
Amrabat may drop out of the team at the weekend to allow Casemiro to return, but the Brazilian could also replace McTominay.
Manchester United Probable Starting XI
Manchester United – 4-2-3-1
- GK – Onana
- DR – Dalot
- DL – Reguilon
- DC – Varane
- DC – Lindelof
- DMC – Casemiro
- DMC – McTominay
- AMC – Fernandes
- AMR – Antony
- AC – Hojlund
- AML – Rashford
Manchester City
Goalkeepers
- Ederson
- Stefan Ortega
- Zack Steffen
- Scott Carson
Defenders
- John Stones (DMC)
- Josko Gvardiol (DC)
- Ruben Dias (DC)
- Manuel Akanji (DLRC) – Suspended
- Kyle Walker (DR)
- Nathan Ake (DLRC)
- Sergio Gomez (DC)
- Rico Lewis (DMRC)
Midfielders
- Kevin de Bruyne (AMC) – Injured
- Bernardo Silva (AMLC)
- Phil Foden (AMLRC)
- Rodri (DMC)
- Kalvin Phillips (DMC)
- Mateo Kovacic (MC)
- Matheus Nunez (MC)
- Oscar Bobb (AMC)
- Mackenzie Hunt (MC)
Attackers
- Jack Grealish (AML)
- Erling Haaland (AC)
- Julian Alvarez (AC)
- Jeremy Doku (AMR)
Manager
Pep Guardiola
Manchester City Team News
Manchester City will be without the injured Kevin de Bruyne for the game with Manchester United, while Manuel Akanji will be absent through suspension after his sending off against Brighton.
Manchester City Probable Starting XI
Manchester City – 4-5-1
- GK – Ortega
- DR – Walker
- DL – Ake
- DC – Gvardiol
- DC – Stones
- DMC – Rodri
- MC – Kovacic
- AMC – Alvarez
- AML – Bernardo Silva
- AMR – Foden
- AC – Haaland
Current Betting Odds with Bet365 for Manchester United v Manchester City
- Manchester United to win – 7/2
- Draw – 3/1
- Manchester City to win – 7/10
A quick look at the odds for the Manchester derby with bet365 Sport shows Manchester City as the odds-on favourites to win the game, even though it is at Old Trafford. City’s good form and the fact that this match does have a history of away wins, may well be a key part in that.
I can see a game here where both sides do find the net, but a Man City win with both teams to score isn’t that good a value bet in my view. It’s currently 9/4 with bet365 Sport if you do want to place that bet here.
The bet I do like is Marcus Rashford to score at any time for Manchester United at 11/4. The England man is overdue a goal for United, but scored for England against Italy and he does seem to be the man that turns up in the big games for United with a goal.
So I’d predict a Man City win by a 2-1 scoreline (currently 8/1 with bet365), with Rashford to score for United and a Haaland double to get the points for City.