Manchester City vs. Manchester United: 10 Bold Predictions for Derby at Etihad

It's here! It's finally here! The week all us English football fans have been waiting for—Manchester United visiting crosstown rivals Manchester City at the tail end of the season.

The winner will have a leg up in the league table. The loser will walk away with their title hopes intact, but probably not their ego.

Manchester United is coming off a terrible draw against Everton in which they blew a two-goal lead late in the match and let the Toffees come back to tie the game 4-4 and scratch out a point.

Manchester City, riding a three-game win streak, just defeated Wolverhampton 2-0 to come within three points of the league lead.

Who's going to win? Will it be a blowout or a close one down to the wire? Will Roberto Mancini and Sir Alex Ferguson play mind games with each other this week?

(That last one is a given. Of course they will!)

Join me as all these questions and more will be answered in my 10 bold predictions for when the Red Devils of Manchester United clash with the Blues of Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

Ashley Young Will Be Back as Starter

The first of my bold predictions isn't nearly that bold, but it's necessary to the match's outcome.

After being benched for the Everton game, Ashley Young has a chip on his shoulder and will impress the coaching staff enough on the training pitch to get his (rightful) place back at winger.

Rafael Will Keep Starting Place at Right-Back

Everton hung four on Manchester United—the first time that's happened since October 23 against Manchester City—but the rarely used Rafael Da Silva will keep his position at right-back.

He's only got 11 league appearances this season, but Rafael showed against the Toffees that he has a killer instinct along the right sideline. He makes his way forward and supports Antonio Valencia well enough to allow the Ecuadorian midfielder to spend more of his time in the opponent's third of the pitch than near the midfield line.

...But Phil Jones Will Come On Before 30th Minute

Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson makes fewer tactical mistakes in a season than I do in a single round of FIFA, but his inclusion of Rafael into the starting lineup will be one of them.

I predict the young, ambitious Rafael will make a blunder along the right sideline and cause Ferguson to rethink his strategy of a wide-open, high-scoring contest against Mancini and rather look for Phil Jones—the smarter, stronger defender—to make right the error of his ways.

City Will Open the Scoring

You, me and everyone's mother can hate on Manchester City until the cows come home, but no one can deny how good they are at Etihad Stadium.

The Blues are a spectacular 16-1-0 at home and have outscored opponents 51-10 in those 17 games. That's an average of three goals for Manchester City per match.

...And 0.5 goals for the other guys.

There's no way Manchester United hold the scoreless draw for long, especially with Rafael at right-back.

...And It'll Be Gareth Barry!

You want bold predictions? How about the guy on Manchester City's high-scoring squad with only one goal opens the scoring?

The right will be vulnerable to attack, and Carlos Tevez and Samir Nasri will make a successful run towards goal shortly before the 30th minute. David de Gea is a great goalkeeper, and I suspect he'll be there to deflect the first shot from either of those guys, but Barry will be in the right place at the right time and collect his second goal of the season.

Danny Welbeck Will Score Before Halftime

Is there a player on the Red Devils who has had a better last few weeks than Welbeck?

The young English forward has impressed Ferguson as of late, earning starting nod after starting nod and absolutely delivering. He's scored two goals and assisted on two others in the last two weeks.

Welbeck showed last week against Everton why he's being valued so highly as of late, being in on three of the team's four goals. He'll help out again, scoring the goal that puts United level with City.

...Twice!

Oh, did I say goal? I meant goals.

As I said before, Welbeck has been in on several goals the last couple of weeks, and the number of chances he's taking at goal has increased greatly recently.

In the last four matches, the 22-year-old forward has consistently made runs at goal with Wayne Rooney and Antonio Valencia. He's averaging just over four shots a match over that stretch.

He'll score the goal that gets the Red Devils level, but he'll also be the one to score the goal that gives them the lead at halftime.

Wayne Rooney Extends Scoring Streak

The guy who's leading the Red Devils with 26 goals in 31 appearances scores another one? Real bold, Ryan...

...In Extra Time of Second Half

BOOM!

That's right—with the match tied up, Rooney will score his fifth goal in the last three weeks after the 90th minute. The game will be tied 3-3, and United's best player will slot one home, helping Ferguson rejoice just as wildly as in the picture to the left.

Manchester United Will Win 4-3

Will Manchester United get at least a point out of Monday's match against Manchester City? Yup. Depending on how strong you think the Red Devils are, this could be a bold prediction or not.

Will it be three points? Again, yup. Now, here's where the boldness comes in.

After dropping their match last week to Everton, who sees United coming into Etihad Stadium and handing City their first home loss? Me.

Will the final result be as fast and loose as 4-3? That's my bold prediction.

These are my predictions for what will happen when Manchester United visit Manchester City. Comment and add your own!