Old Trafford stands ready to witness if Bruno Fernandes can etch his name further into derby lore while Manchester United aim to extend their recent unbeaten streak against Manchester City.
The Manchester Derby between Manchester United and Manchester City will be the star match of the 31st week in the Premier League. This will be their 196th derby since 1891. United won 80 of these derbies, City won 61, and 54 games ended in draws.
The two football giants have many problems this season. Manchester City are in fifth place in the Premier League and have yet to achieve what they want in the championship race this season. They have collected 51 points with 15 wins, six draws and nine losses in 30 matches.
Manchester City, who have scored 57 goals and conceded 40 goals and have a +17 goal difference, can usually display their attacking power but have struggled in defense at times. Although Pep Guardiola’s students have fallen short of claiming the championship, especially due to recent losses, their goal is still to get the Champions League ticket and finish the league in the top ranks.
This will be the third time that Guadiola and Rúben Amorim have faced each other. Before the 40-year-old joined United, he defeated City with Sporting CP 4-1 in a fantastic Champions League fixture, with Amorim defeating the Spaniard a second time at The Etihad 2-1 with United thanks to late goals from Amad and Bruno Fernandes.
It should also be noted that an era is ending at Manchester City. The team’s Belgian star, Kevin de Bruyne, announced that he will be leaving the team at the end of this season after ten years. This means that this will be the last Manchester Derby for De Bruyne.
Unfortunately, United’s season was even worse. The team managed by Ruben Amorim are in 13th place in the Premier League and have been performing below expectations this season. They have collected 37 points with ten wins, seven draws and 13 losses in 30 matches.
The team, which has scored 37 goals and conceded 41 goals with a -4 goal difference, are drawing an inconsistent graph in both attack and defense. The recent decline, in particular, has kept the team in the middle. They aim to rise to the top of the league by showing a more solid performance in the remaining weeks.
Yet, the Manchester Derby is more than just another Premier League fixture. Throughout its long history, this clash has been defined by both memorable players and periods where one team held the upper hand. As we look ahead to tomorrow, let’s take a moment to remember some of those key moments and figures.
Can Fernandes Spark Another Chapter in United’s Recent Derby Dominance?
Fernandes has scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in all competitions at Old Trafford this season.
It means that if he only provides one assist in the derby, he will have produced more than ten goals and ten assists at home for the third consecutive season (2020-21 and 2022-23 seasons). Will the captain be able to achieve this before his alleged departure?
Schmeichel’s Magic & Record-Breaking Runs
Peter Schmeichel is the only player to remain undefeated for both clubs in the derby. The legendary goalkeeper played for Manchester United from 1991 to 1999 and then controversially for Manchester City in the 2002-03 season.
Remarkably, he never lost a Manchester Derby in his career for either side, a testament to his inspiring presence.
Read More: “I prefer…” Bruno Fernandes opens up on position change under Rúben Amorim, it proves why he is Manchester United’s captain
The Golden Eras
There were times when Red ruled Blue. Reliving Manchester United’s glorious era is what fans love the most. History’s record books highlighted two such golden eras. A remarkable eight consecutive derby victories between 1993 and 2000 showcased sustained superiority over Manchester City.
This was followed by an equally impressive sixteen-game unbeaten streak from 1990 to 2001. It underlined a prolonged period where The Sky Blues simply could not get the better of the Red Devils.
How these statistics will change and how the new match will fit into the history of the Manchester derby, we will find out on Sunday afternoon.
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