Manchester City vs. Manchester United: Latest Build-Up and Team News

Manchester City vs. Manchester United

Premier League, kick off Monday 30th April, 20:00 UK / 15:00 ET

The fate of the 2011-12 Premier League could be decided early next week as the two top clubs clash in Manchester at The Etihad Stadium, with City in second and United in first place, with just three points between them.

For Manchester City it is very simple: win the game, or lose the title.

With just two fixtures to play after this one, it is inconceivable that United will give their neighbours another chance to get back at them if they let this opportunity slip, so the Red Devils will be doing anything and everything to ensure they head back to their own half of the city with at least a point in the bag.

If United win, they will need just another single point from their remaining two games to seal their 20th title. A draw will be enough if they take four points from their last two games, which are at home to Swansea City and away to Sunderland.

City, for their part, know that a win will put them on top of the table in goal difference by at least seven goals, with just Newcastle United away and QPR at home left to play.

Recent Form

City looked to have blown their lead at the top of the Premiership with two draws and a defeat, but three wins on the spin against West Brom, Norwich and Wolves—blasting a dozen goals in the process and conceding only once—have put them right back on the coattails of United.

United had seemed impervious to pressure or opponent since bowing out of the Europa League in March, winning four in a row with four clean sheets, but a slip-up away to Wigan opened the door for City and, after a 4-0 drubbing of Aston Villa, last week's epic 4-4 draw with Everton has seen their seemingly unassailable lead reduced to catching distance.

Home and Away

City's home is nothing short of excellent, having won 16 and drawn just once in their 17 home league fixtures this season, with only Sunderland having taken points off them at The Etihad Stadium.

Having 51 goals scored and only 10 conceded at home is the best in the entire division on both counts, as is their points tally by some distance.

Away from home, United have similarly impressive statistics in that they lead the Premiership in the number of away victories (12 out of 17 games), goals conceded (just 13) and points gained (39), while only City have managed the same goals scored (36).

Team News

City will likely continue with the Argentine front pair of Sergio Aguero and former United player Carlos Tevez, despite the return from suspension of Mario Balotelli.

Micah Richards is fit again so he could replace Pablo Zabaleta in defence.

Boss Roberto Mancini has a big decision to make in his midfield, with the improved form of Samir Nasri of late or the more defensive solidity of two holding players against their rivals United a key decision.

For United, Anderson, Darren Fletcher and Nemanja Vidic remain long-term absentees, but they have no new injury worries.

Phil Jones and Chris Smalling will be hoping for inclusion at right-back after the less-than-impressive performance of Rafael against Everton and the more defensive-minded stability they can give their team.

Johnny Evans and Rio Ferdinand will almost certainly continue in the centre of defence, while Alex Ferguson must also decide whether to pair Wayne Rooney with Danny Welbeck again or push the latter wide.

Nani, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young will also all be vying for starting berths in wide midfield areas.

Season Statistics

Where will we see goals? Will we see goals?

Both these two teams concede less than a goal per game on average, but since they also score a goal every 38 minutes each, there is a pretty good chance we are in for at least a couple of strikes on the night.

City outscore United in several key areas over the course of the season, including total number of shots (475-436), total passes and pass completion (86 percent to 85) and also in one area which could be telling on the night: aerial 50-50s win percentage (54 percent to 47).

However, United do have a better chance conversion rate (20 percent to 18) and they have one area in which they excel far more than City, which may be a key to their game plan, especially if United are forced to play on the counter—they put in far more crosses than City, 917 to City's 730.

City complete one percent more of these crosses successfully than United do, but that figure translates to United completing 35 more crosses than City over the course of the season—in other words, one per game.

One cross which meets a United shirt could be all it takes to end the Premier League season as a title race.

Head to Head last six

Jan 2012, FA Cup, City 2 United 3

Oct 2011, Premier League, United 1 City 6

Aug 2011, Community Shield, City 2 United 3

April 2011, FA Cup, City 1 United 0

Feb 2011, Premier League, United 2 City 1

Nov 2010, Premier League, City 0 United 0

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