Man City vs Man Utd: Erling Haaland vs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez plus different key battles

Manchester City and Manchester United will compete within the 188th Manchester derby on the Etihad on Sunday, stay on Sky Sports. Ahead of the massive Premier League conflict, we talk about the important thing battles.

State of play forward of kick-off

Five factors separate champions City and United forward of the season’s first assembly between the rivals, however Erik ten Hag’s aspect have a sport in hand.

City have 5 wins and two attracts from their seven fixtures up to now this season, giving them a complete of 17 factors. After shedding their opening two video games, United have received their previous 4 to offer them 12 factors from six matches.

Of the earlier 187 Manchester derbies, City have received 57 occasions, United 77 and there have been 53 attracts. The earlier assembly completed 4-1 to City on the Etihad in March.

Sunday 2nd October 1:00pm


Kick off 2:00pm

Key battles

Can Varane and Martinez cease Haaland?

City have scored 23 targets within the Premier League up to now this season, greater than another aspect. Erling Haaland has scored virtually half of these (11).

The Norway worldwide, who has discovered the web 14 occasions in all competitions since becoming a member of from Borussia Dortmund, is prone to come up towards Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez on Sunday. Manchester United’s new centre-back pairing has been key to their current mini-revival, however there isn’t any harder take a look at in soccer proper now than going through the world’s most prolific No 9.

City scored 99 targets within the league final season on their technique to the title, and that was with out Haaland. They hit United for 4 within the earlier derby again in March.

Seven months later, although, lots has modified at Old Trafford. The arrival of a brand new supervisor and new gamers has breathed new life into the purple aspect of Manchester, whereas a run of 4 consecutive wins after a disastrous begin to the marketing campaign has created a really completely different temper. It is not any coincidence United’s sudden turnaround in kind has occurred with Varane and Martinez on the coronary heart of their defence.

Much has been product of Martinez’s peak at 5ft 9in, however the stats recommend there was a fuss about nothing. As United saved their first clear sheet of the season towards Southampton final month, the Argentine received 5 out of 5 aerial duels and had a 100 per cent floor duel success charge. He has continued that spectacular kind and alongside him, Varane has seemed again to his commanding finest.

Their performances have saved United captain Harry Maguire on the bench, and they are going to be eager to strengthen their place as Ten Hag’s first-choice defensive duo by thwarting an virtually invincible Haaland on the Etihad. How the City ahead plans to outsmart them might be an enchanting watch.

Will De Bruyne have an excessive amount of for McTominay?

While Varane and Martinez have rightfully earned loads of plaudits in current weeks, Scott McTominay‘s improved performances have additionally contributed to United’s upturn in outcomes.

Despite calls from supporters to drop him in the beginning of the season, McTominay has answered his critics impressively and is at present Ten Hag’s most popular participant to guard the again 4. Keeping a £70m defensive midfielder in Casemiro on the bench is a testomony to how nicely the Scotland worldwide is taking part in.

McTominay has been wonderful all through United’s four-game profitable run, however Sunday’s derby poses a frightening problem. There is arguably none harder than attempting to cease Kevin De Bruyne.

The Belgian was instrumental as City saved their undefeated begin to the season by beating Wolves 3-0 earlier than the worldwide break.

He picked up two assists at Molineux to take his tally within the Premier League to 92 – the identical quantity as Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard managed in additional than twice as many video games. De Bruyne leads the best way within the league this season with six in seven video games.

Is there a greater midfielder in world soccer proper now? That’s what McTominay is up towards.

Grealish to offer Dalot actuality test?

Diogo Dalot is within the type of his life. The Portugal worldwide established himself as United’s first-choice right-back final season beneath interim boss Ralf Rangnick and has continued to carry down that place beneath new supervisor Ten Hag.

He has been an ever-present within the league this time period and has arguably been United’s most improved participant beneath the Dutchman. His spectacular kind has even led to discussions over a brand new long-term contract at Old Trafford.

Dalot underlined his attacking credentials by scoring twice in Portugal’s current 4-0 win over the Czech Republic, however it’s his defensive resolve that might be examined probably the most on Sunday when he’s prone to come up towards Jack Grealish.

Despite admitting he has not been at his finest since becoming a member of from Aston Villa for £100m final 12 months, Grealish has began three video games in a row in all competitions on the left-hand aspect of City’s assault and scored his first purpose of the season towards Wolves final day out.

It might be no shock if he was to take up that place for the champions once more on Sunday and Dalot will must be ready for a distinct kind of problem. His defensive intelligence is certain to be examined towards somebody of Grealish’s technical high quality, whereas the 23-year-old’s trademark marauding runs ahead will must be carried out with extra warning and precision on the Etihad.

Sancho can show level to Southgate

Another participant benefitting from taking part in beneath Ten Hag is Jadon Sancho. The winger performed a key function as a part of a fluid ahead line in pre-season and has carried these spectacular performances into the brand new marketing campaign. He has three targets in eight matches this season. It had taken him 24 video games to try this final time period.

The 22-year-old has rediscovered the shape that satisfied United to pay £73m to signal him from Borussia Dortmund final summer time, however his current shows are but to persuade everybody. He was overlooked of Gareth Southgate’s newest England squad for the Nations League matches towards Italy and Germany.

Sunday, although, presents him with maybe one final alternative to drive Southgate’s hand earlier than he names his World Cup squad subsequent month. Getting the higher of England’s finest right-back in Kyle Walker may do exactly that. Such a efficiency would make it virtually unattainable for the Three Lions boss to disregard.

But overcoming Walker is an almighty activity. Since becoming a member of City in 2017, the England worldwide has reworked into maybe the perfect defensive full-back in world soccer. Eden Hazard, Neymar and Bukayo Saka have all described Walker as one of many hardest opponents they’ve confronted.

The 32-year-old’s wonderful restoration tempo and skill to defend one-on-one conditions make his potential battle with Sancho maybe probably the most fascinating one, given United’s tendency to hit groups on the counter-attack.

Although Sancho scored towards Walker and City again in March when Rangnick was in cost, he’s undoubtedly taking part in with extra confidence beneath Ten Hag. Sunday’s fixture will present simply how a lot he has improved.

Man City vs Man Utd: The £1bn showdown

The first Manchester derby this season will unfold in entrance of the Sky Sports cameras this Sunday – however how do the groups form up going into the showdown?

Watch Manchester City vs Manchester United stay on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event from 1pm on Super Sunday; kick-off 2pm.

Sunday 2nd October 1:00pm


Kick off 2:00pm