Manchester City vs Manchester United: Three key battlegrounds that could decide outcome of Manchester derby

Manchester City and Manchester United will both approach Sunday’s meeting at the Etihad with recent examples of how to best punish their near neighbour.

As impressive as City have been in recents months, the loss against Tottenham Hotspur two weeks ago highlighted again the Sky Blues’ seemingly only weakness, and the best way to overcome the Premier League champions.

Meanwhile, it takes a little less digging to uncover United’s deficiencies, which are blatantly obvious for those who have watched the team this season.

Below, we’ve picked out three key on-field battles which could help determine who will come out on top in Sunday’s derby.

City’s marauding attacks

One of City’s greatest strengths is how they’ve managed to perfect their striker-less system, which often sees them start without a player occupying the traditional centre-forward role, yet manage to get ample men in the box for crosses.

It’s a problem which has dogged multiple centre-backs this term as they have to adapt to an unorthodox system.

Often defenders can lose concentration while not faced up against a forward, yet within a blink of an eye have three City players running beyond them. Concentration and anticipation will be key for the Red Devils’ starting centre-backs, which will likely be Raphael Varane alongside Harry Maguire or Victor Lindelof.

But for City, rarely will they face a defender of the level of Varane, and perhaps looking to exploit his defensive colleague should be City’s modus operandi at the Etihad.

Meanwhile, navigating past David De Gea, arguably the best goalkeeper in the league this season, is another issue the champions will have to contend with.

Exploiting the space behind

Spurs provided the blueprint of how to beat City when they returned from Manchester with all three points last month.

Even in games City have dominated, it’s not uncommon to see an opposition side sprinting beyond the last defender and towards Ederson’s goal.

That’s how Antonio Conte overcame Pep Guardiola, as Tottenham counter-attacked with ruthless efficiency. Full-backs Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo are encouraged to advance into the opposition half, but it does leave gaps in the wide areas which Harry Kane managed to take full advantage of with his excellent range of passing.

Bruno Fernandes’s through balls can be somewhat hit or miss, but he’s more than capable of supplying that inch-perfect pass into United’s wingers on Sunday. Incidentally, the Red Devils’ widemen Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga are the club’s most in-form players at present.

While Guardiola may try and negate some of that threat by starting with John Stones at right-back, attacking the gaps out wide certainly seems United’s best route to victory.

Midfield battle

United enjoyed 68% possession last weekend against Watford, but that will be very different on Sunday.

City’s starmen Kevin De Bruyen, Bernardo Silva and Rodri will retain the ball in the derby and continuously spray it around in search of that killer pass in behind United’ defence.

The Red Devils’ midfield will need to be at their defensive best if they’re to stop City dictating the flow of proceedings.

That’s why starting Paul Pogba may not be the wisest move for Ralf Rangnick and, despite the World Cup winner’s undeniable talent, he is a liability out of possession.

A trio of Fred, Scott McTominay and Fernandes has a much more determined and concentrated feel to it, and none of them shirk responsibility when it comes to covering ground.

But Fernandes has been accused of a lack of positional discipline at times, and choosing the right moments for United’s midfield to drop, advance and press will be key against City.