The Manchester Derby will be played early on in this 2025/26 Premier League campaign. United’s troubles have been well reported this season, but they travel to the Etihad above neighbours City, who have to bounce back form consecutive league defeats.
Read on for GG’s match predictions, player-v-player battles and our top betting tips for the Manchester Derby below.
Man City vs Man United Prediction & Tips
Match Result – Draw @ 33/10 with BetMGM
Despite his patchy record as Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim has regularly earned results in fixtures his team weren’t expected to, including in this fixture and at Anfield last season. City have struggled out of the blocks, but it is still difficult to be confident in backing United, so a draw looks best value.
Under 2.5 Goals @ 27/20 with BetMGM
There were only five goals in the three fixtures between the two sides combined last season if including the Community Shield. This game has trended against previous goal-flowing type more recently and a tense affair, given the state of both teams, may ensue.
Amad Diallo to Score Anytime @ 6/1 with William Hill
Amad proved the tormentor of the Etihad last season, scoring and winning the penalty which helped turn the game in United’s favour. He presses forward from the right wing back role and should have scored last time out against Burnley, so this game could set up for him to strike at some point.
Man City Form & Team Setup
Going back to the Club World Cup, it is now three defeats in four games for Man City. Comparisons have already been drawn with the difficulties they faced last season, especially given they lost to Brighton in identical fashion to 2024/25 last time out: being ahead for the majority before going down 2-1. Their defeat by Tottenham at the Etihad three weeks ago brought to an end a run of five home victories in succession, however. City did end last term in good form on their own patch.
The worry may be that Rodri has fully returned to the fold without making as instant an impact as hoped. Josko Gvardiol may also now return from his absence, but even if he is back, Rayan Ait-Nouri has been signed as a more full-time left back, while upfront, Guardiola has placed early-season faith in Norwegian youngster Oscar Bobb to sit to the right of compatriot Erling Haaland, the early pacesetter in the Golden Boot with three goals in three games.
Man United Form & Team Setup
Man United belatedly got off the mark from a winning perspective for the campaign with their last-gasp success against Burnley. That result will not have eased many supporters fears, but a new goalkeeper in the shape of Belgian Senne Lammens could well put smiles on faces if able to get off to a convincing start in net. United’s keeping woes have included mistakes from either Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir occurring in the Arsenal, Grimsby and Burnley fixtures.
It is yet to be discovered whether Matheus Cunha will be fit after limping off in the first half against Burnley, while new signing Benjamin Sesko is still yet to start in the league although may now be up to match fitness after playing for Slovenia in the international break. Despite the turmoil in which United seem to invariably find themselves, Bryan Mbeumo has made a good start for his new club and may be the most prominent of United’s attacking trio off the right
Head-to-Head Battles and What the Stats Reveal
In the 18 matches this decade, City do not hold as convincing an advantage as may be believed given their dominance in the modern era. They do still hold the edge though, winning nine of those 18 games to United’s six, while there have been three draws, one of which saw City come through a penalty shootout to win the 2024 Community Shield.
Of the six of those games to have been played at the Etihad, it is three apiece too, with United securing a dramatic 2-1 success in December of last season. There are no overly dominant goalscorers either, as Erling Haaland, having scored a hat trick on his first ever game against United in City colours, has managed just one in the eight fixtures since.
Key Battles on the Pitch
Erling Haaland vs Matthijs De Ligt
It has been a promising start to the season for Matthijs De Ligt after a shaky first term in United red, but his improved form will be put right to the test by the insatiable goalscoring appetite of Haaland, the only player to have three goals in the Premier League so far this season.
Bryan Mbeumo vs Rayan Ait-Nouri
Bryan Mbeumo scored three goals and made two assists in his six games for Brentford against Wolves, two of which were scored when Rayan Ait-Nouri was in the Wolves side last season. The two could well square off again on that side of the pitch.
Rodri vs Bruno Fernandes
Rodri’s commanding presence will be desperately needed if City are to regain form. With Bruno Fernandes likely to harry him at every opportunity, he will need to return to his brilliant best.