Manchester United vs Manchester City 09/03/20

9 March 2020

Manchester United welcome Manchester City to Old Trafford this weekend, looking to secure their second consecutive triumph in the Premier League (PL) H2Hs for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.

The hosts eased past Derby County in their midweek’s FA Cup encounter to bring their unbeaten run in all competitions to nine games (W6, D2). United’s upturn in results has coincided with a notable defensive improvement. The Red Devils have kept a clean sheet seven of their nine matches during the abovementioned run, conceding precisely one goal apiece in the other two. In turn, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have shut out their rivals in five of their last six competitive home matches (W4, D1, L1), with three of their four victories during that stretch yielding at least a three-goal margin. But, they now take on a side they’ve failed to beat in all four of their previous top-flight H2Hs at Old Trafford (D1, L3), drawing a blank on two of those occasions.

Meanwhile, the visitors have racked up five straight wins in all competitions going into this fixture, with four of their last successes each coming via a single-goal margin. None of City’s seven previous PL away games have ended in a draw (W5, L2), with three of their last five road results (win/loss) producing a one-goal margin, too. Notably, quick-start Citizens have opened the scoring in 11 of 14 PL road trips so far this campaign (79%), winning nine of such matches (D1, L1). Pep Guardiola’s main worry ahead of this trip could be City’s inability to respond after shipping the opening goal. Indeed, they lost all three of their PL away fixtures in which they’ve conceded the first goal.