There’s local bragging rights and a potential Champions League spot up for grabs in today’s Manchester Derby.
It’s been a strange season for both Manchester sides, with both City and United failing to fire on all cylinders this campaign. But with West Ham slipping up against Chelsea on Saturday, both clubs are going all guns blazing to secure a Champions League spot. (Now there’s a sentence that felt weird to type)
Manchester United are hoping to bounce back from their Europa League knock out to Liverpool on Thursday and have named a strong line up.
#mufc XI: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Schneiderlin, Carrick, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Rashford. pic.twitter.com/4A4RHSNNDU
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 20, 2016
The big news is that Marouane Fellaini has been dropped from midfield, with Morgan Scheiderlin tasked to shield a back four of a Smalling, Blind, Rojo and a returning Darmian.
Up front and Van Gaal is once again trusting the youth of Martial, Rashford and Lingard to stretch the City defence. Big things will be asked of Juan Mata, to provide the creative nous that United have sorely lacked in recent weeks.
Over to Manchester City and defensive injuries are behind their major changes.
TEAM NEWS: How City line up in the 171st #ManchesterDerby! #CMONCITY #cityvunited #mcfc pic.twitter.com/CCvzWbw5sj
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 20, 2016
With Kompany and Otamendi now out, a lot will be asked of the centre-back pairing of Eliaquim Mangala and MartÃn Demichelis.
City fans will be hoping Sergio Aguero adds to his tally of Manchester derby goals. The striker has scored eight times in this fixture to date.
The last time the teams met up it was for a 0-0 at Old Trafford. Here’s hoping there’s slightly more excitement this time around.
