This weekend sees the biggest match of the season featuring neighbours Man City and Man U. The two Manchester giants, City and United, battle it out at Old Trafford on Sunday. City boast a two-point lead over their rivals after making very light work indeed of the Premier League to date, amassing six wins from seven and racking up 27 goals in the process.
They will be further buoyed at having got a Champions League monkey off their back, with Roberto Mancini going bananas at watching City pinch their first win in the competition against Villarreal. A point for discussion on another day: have City's struggles in Europe's premier club competition been indicative of a poorer standard in the Premier League or, instead, English exertions draining personnel prior to Champions League tests? Anyway, the chance to move five points clear of the Red Devils presents quite the incentive for Mancini and his men.
They will be further buoyed at having got a Champions League monkey off their back, with Roberto Mancini going bananas at watching City pinch their first win in the competition against Villarreal. A point for discussion on another day: have City's struggles in Europe's premier club competition been indicative of a poorer standard in the Premier League or, instead, English exertions draining personnel prior to Champions League tests? Anyway, the chance to move five points clear of the Red Devils presents quite the incentive for Mancini and his men.
United, meanwhile, have been purring along as only United know how, although last weekend's weakened starting XI against Liverpool put the cat amongst the pigeons. Regardless, a point gained at Anfield was not to be sniffed at, while it can be expected that the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney, Nani and Javier Hernandez are all bending Ferguson's ear for a return in the league against City. The Red Devils arguably have the mental edge over City, having already fought from two goals down to triumph at Wembley in August. Furthermore, they have won five and lost not one of the last six Premier League games against the Citizens.
Despite United's edge in recent meetings, it would surprise few if the match ended in a deadlock, with both sides unbeaten in the top flight thus far and conscious of a mental setback. Indeed, it will be intriguing to see just how progressive both sets of starting line-ups are, after Ferguson went on the defensive on Merseyside having seen his backline and goalkeeper exposed of late.
City, of course, have a wealth of options, but, after Mancini hauled off winger Adam Johnson for holding midfielder Gareth Barry before half-time during midweek, the Italian must weigh up whether attack is the best form of defence at the Theatre of Dreams.
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