STAR PREVIEW: Man City v Man U

Unlike the other semi-final in this competition, which was won by Aston Villa in thrilling style, this one appears to be a forgone conclusion. Normally Manchester derbies are a must-see event, but you’d forgive most United fans for maybe giving this one a miss as they are 3-1 down after the first leg.

As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer once said before perhaps his finest moment as United manager – a 3-1 win away to PSG in last season’s Champions League – “mountains are there to be climbed”, but that mountain now resembles Ben Nevis as opposed to the Mount Everest-esque challenge that awaits them at the Etihad. City are rightly massive odds-on to qualify, and they’re also comfortably favourites to win the 2nd leg in 90 minutes.

Since that first leg meeting United have managed to navigate a tricky FA Cup draw with Wolves before dismissing Tranmere with ease, but two defeats to Liverpool and Burnley have highlighted the difficulties facing the reds and their stunning 2-1 performance when they won here in the Premier League feels a long time ago.

Man City v Man Utd
Carabao Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg
19:45 Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Ultra HD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches, Since 2010)
JAN 2019 CARABAO CUP Manchester United 1-3 Manchester City
DEC 2019 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United
APR 2019 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United 0-2 Manchester City
NOV 2018 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United
APR 2018 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United
DEC 2017 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City
APR 2017 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester City 0-0 Manchester United
OCT 2016 CARABAO CUP Manchester United 1-0 Manchester City
SEP 2016 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City
MAR 2016 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United
OCT 2015 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
APR 2015 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United 4-2 Manchester City

United are badly missing Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba in midfield, but the long term absence of Marcus Rashford threatens to curtail their season. Rashford, who scored United’s only goal in the first leg, is already being sorely missed and whilst Anthony Martial managed to get on the scoresheet in a 6-0 win against Tranmere, he was well off the pace against Liverpool and Burnley. United need him to improve rapidly if they’re to cope with Rashford’s absence, for all that Mason Greenwood has taken big steps forward this season.

Nearly all observers feel the title is Liverpool’s but City have not played badly this season as a whole and their unlucky 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace (City won the shot count 25-5 and the corner count 14-2) is their only failure to win in their last six games and they should be too good for United here no matter who Pep Guardiola chooses to start. City have scored 65 goals in the Premier League from 24 games and haven’t been goal-shy in the cup either, and they can beat a one goal handicap if fully committed.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)
BACK Manchester City -1 5 pts at 5/6 with

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