“Mancunian derby” Manchester United – Manchester City April 24, 2019 may be decisive in the fight for the title of the English championship. Fans will hear the starting whistle at Old Trafford at 22:00 Moscow time. Manchester United The Reds are out of shape. The team flew out of the Champions League, losing to Barcelona in two matches (0:1, 3:0), and risk not getting there next season. United are in sixth position, three points behind fourth. The complexity of the situation lies also in the fact that in addition to the match Manchester United – Manchester City, the hosts will also play against Chelsea. The Red Devils have no chance of playing in the Premier League either. United have lost three of their last five matches, including a duel against one of the main competitors – Arsenal (2:0). Problems caught up with Solskjaer’s wards in the last round, in which they went to Everton. Difficulties began in the 13th minute, Digne threw in an out, Calvert-Lewin moved the ball further, and Richarlison struck with scissors – 1:0. Guests could not oppose anything to the opponent, United did not get absolutely nothing. Sigurdsson managed to worsen the position of the Mancunians even more, the Icelander decided to strike from a long distance, and David De Gea did not have time to react to the ball – 2:0 in the 28th minute. The Reds were on fire, and Solskjaer needed to urgently change something before the second half. The coach understood this task in his own way, after the break the guests had more attacking Young and Pereira, but it was difficult to significantly change the situation. Very soon, another Everton player scored, Luca Digne caught the ball on the rebound and sent it into the near corner – 3:0 in the 56th minute. United looked helpless, and Liverpool took advantage of this. Theo Walcott managed to score another goal for his team, the Englishman, who came on as a substitute in the 51st minute, scored a goal in the 64th – 4:0. The only good moment came from the “reds” towards the end of the match, Martial received the ball in the penalty area and struck into the right corner, but he changed the trajectory – past the goal. Outcome – 4:0, the guests suffered a humiliating defeat. They will be able to justify themselves to their fans only if they win the match between Manchester United and Manchester City. Manchester City “Sky Blues” also said goodbye to the Champions League, losing in a tense struggle to Tottenham (1:0, 4:3). But, unlike their neighbors, the Citizens have already guaranteed themselves a place in this tournament for next season. Last week, City had to host Spurs at home twice, the second time in conjunction with a Premier League game. Guardiola gave a rest to some players, so the Stones, Zinchenko and Foden appeared on the field, it was the exit of the latter that became the key. Foden entered the game well, and already in the fifth minute he allowed his team to take the lead, the young Englishman was in the right place at the right time, closing the discount from Sergio Aguero. Foden played the game well and was one of the most active in the “townspeople”. Soon the midfielder could score a double, in the 23rd minute he took the ball well, but hurried up with the decision and shot exactly in the place where the goalkeeper was standing. In addition to Foden, the danger came from other City players. Bernardo Silva could have scored twice in the first half, first the Portuguese struck from an average distance – past the goal, and then from close range, but the goalkeeper took the blow. The activity near the Spurs goal dropped a little after the break, yes, the attacks continued, but they rarely ended in danger near the Gassaniga goal. Foden again had the best scoring chance, the young talent of the “citizens” shot from a great position after the rebound, but his shot lacked accuracy. The result – 1:0, the “sky blue” won and kept a two-point gap from Liverpool, with one more game in hand. Odds for the match Manchester United – Manchester City on April 24, 2019 Bookmakers from the Pari-Match company quite easily determined the favorite of this confrontation. Odds for the match Manchester United – Manchester City: Manchester United win – 6.70; Draw – 4.70; Manchester City win – 1.49. Manchester United – Manchester City: prediction for the match For City, this match can be the game of the whole season, because they should not lose points in any case. “Citizens”, most likely, will not play for time and will move towards the opponent’s goal from the starting minutes of the match. A similar scenario can be expected from the Red Devils, because despite the more defensive style of play, they need a victory in this match no less than the guests. Forecast for the match Manchester United – Manchester City: goal up to the 15th minute inclusive, odds – 2.75, or bet: draw at least in one half: no, odds – 2.12.
