Manchester City vs Manchester United – Three Key Player Battles

Manchester United make the short trip to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City on Sunday in what certainly promises to be an exciting Manchester derby.

Manchester City go into the game sitting second on the table after an undefeated start to the season, winning five and drawing two out of their first seven games. But they face a resurgent Manchester United side that has won their last four league games, including beating table-toppers Arsenal 3-1 in their previous fixture.

Both Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag very well know that winning the bragging rights in the derby could go a long way in setting the tempo ahead of a busy October schedule. So where could the game be won or lost? Let us take a look at the three key battles that could decide the Manchester derby.

#Bruno Fernandes vs Rodri

Bruno Fernandes seems to have found his mojo back after a disappointing last term. The addition of Christian Eriksen has hugely benefitted Fernandes, with Eriksen sharing a lot of the creative burden that the Portuguese playmaker has been shouldering since his arrival at the club in January 2021.

This, in turn, has allowed Fernandes to simplify his game and not always go for the ‘hero ball’. He is Man United’s creative spark and is expected to start in his favoured No.10 role.

Perhaps, Pep Guardiola will want Rodri to keep a check on Fernandes. One of the first names on the team sheet, Rodri will have to be wary enough to help with his general defensive duties whilst also picking up the United playmaker’s late runs into the box.

This midfield duel between Fernandes and Rodri will be worth keeping an eye on.

#Erling Haaland vs Raphael Varane & Lisandro Martinez

Erling Haaland has started life at Man City in astounding fashion. He is scoring goals left, right and centre, and will be raring to create headlines in the upcoming Manchester derby.

Let alone goals, Haaland’s physical dominance over his opponents in the Premier League so far has been quite scary to watch. That begs the question—how will Man United stop him?

Of course, standing in Haaland’s way are Man United’s newfound centre-back pairing of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez. When Varane has started alongside Martinez at the back in the Premier League, United have won conceded just two goals and won four games on the bounce. That just tells one the partnership that is brewing between the duo, along with full-backs Diogo Dalot and Tyrell Malacia.

All in all, who comes out on top between Haaland and United’s two centre-backs will go a long way in defining the outcome of the Manchester derby.

#Kevin de Bruyne vs Scott McTominay

Kevin de Bruyne is one of the world’s best players for a reason. There isn’t anything he cannot do from a midfielder’s perspective, making him an invaluable asset to Pep Guardiola’s side.

If Erik ten Hag’s side allow De Bruyne time to get on the ball and drift into the half-spaces behind Haaland, then they will be in for a long afternoon. So the role that Scott McTominay has will be vital.

McTominay has been enjoying a new lease of life under Ten Hag, coming into his own alongside Eriksen in midfield. The temptation to start Casemiro in such a big game will be there for Ten Hag, but form suggests it would be unwise to break the partnership of McTominay and Eriksen.

It is imperative that McTominay protects United’s backline from City’s galaxy of stars, most importantly De Bruyne. If the Scotsman can neutralise De Bruyne’s influence in the game, United will have a big chance of returning home with a positive result.