Manchester City vs. Manchester United – England Premier League, Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England 2PM Monday April 30, 2012
By Jason Green of Predictem.com
Match Odds: Manchester City 2.10 / Manchester United 2.40 / Draw 3.50
Moneyline: Manchester City +110 / Manchester United +240 / Draw +250
Over/Under: 2.5 goals
This is a HUGE England Premier League match, as Manchester City sits in first place in the league table only leading Manchester City by 3 points. While there arte still 2 more EPL matches after this one if Man City loses or even plays to a draw Man U will likely take the league title.
Earlier this season when these 2 city rivals met at Old Trafford Man U was embarrassed getting crushed by Man City 6-1 so Man U may have a little revenge on their minds after losing badly on their home pitch.
After looking like they had wrapped up the league title a couple weeks back man U has stumbled with 1 win, 1 loss, and 1 tie in their last 3 matches while Man City has won 3 straight.
The Man U defense will have to deal with a Man City club that has scored the most goals in the EPL and has scored 12 goals in their last 3 matches. United must play better defense than they did in their last match when they gave up 4 goals to Everton in a draw in their last match.
Man U’s offense has been playing well with 8 goals scored in their last 2 matches, but will be facing a City defense that has only conceded 1 goal in their last 3 matches.
While Manchester United was crushed at home by City in EPL play they have beaten them twice this season the FA Community Shield match as well as in the FA Cup.
Manchester City Recent Form
3/31/2012 Manchester City 3 Sunderland (Premier League)
4/8/2012 Arsenal 1 Manchester City 0 (Premier League)
4/11/2012 Manchester City 4 West Brom 0 (Premier League)
4/14/2012 Norwich City 1 Manchester City 6 (Premier League)
4/22/2012 Wolverhampton 0 Manchester City 2 (Premier League)
Manchester United Recent Form
4/2/2012 Blackburn Rovers 0 Manchester United 2 (Premier League)
4/8/2012 Manchester United 2 Queens Park Rangers 0 (Premier League)
4/11/2012 Wigan 1 Manchester United 0 (Premier League)
4/15/2012 Manchester United 4 Aston Villa 0 (Premier League)
4/22/2012 Manchester United 4 Everton 4 (Premier League)
Man City G Joe Hart has 2 clean sheets in his last 3 matches, but don’t expect one in this game.
United will be dealing with a Man City offense that is not only playing well, but will attack from the opening whistle. Sergio Agero, Edin Dzeko, and Mario Balotelli have combined for 38 goals in the EPL season and one of them will score in this match.
Man U may be a slightly better team in the midfield and that will be key in this derby match. If they can win the time of possession battle they have a HUGE edge in this match.
Wayne Rooney is 2nd in the EPL in goals this season and scored twice in the 4-4 draw facing Everton. The City defense will key on him, nut I still think he will find a way to tickle the twine. He is the big gun for United, but Javier Hernndez has 10 goals and 3 other players have at least 5 goals on the season.
Man United G David De Gea has had an up and down season and has had to deal with some injuries, but he will get the start in this match. Facing Everton he and the backline struggled, but I do not see that happening again, as they will play good D against an attacking Manchester City squad.
With City attacking from the get-go they will be vulnerable to the counter-attack and I think Man U will take advantage of that and score one goal off the counter.
Jason’s Pick: Man U is coming off a draw giving up 4 goals and they are not on their home pitch, but with all that is on the line in this match they will step up and win. Man U will, pretty much, capture the EPL title with a 2-1 or 3-2 win in this match.