Defending champion Manchester City will be trying to regain its dominant form on Sunday when it hosts Manchester United in an English Premier League match. The Manchester derby doesn't require added motivation, but both teams will be desperate for points when they take the pitch at Etihad Stadium. City (21-3-3) is the defending champion and has its sights on a fourth title in five years, but it is just three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the EPL table. United (13-8-6) is in a battle with a slew of challengers for the fourth spot.
Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET in Manchester, England. Caesars Sportsbook lists Man City as the -265 favorite (risk $265 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in its latest Manchester City vs. Manchester United odds, with Man U the +750 underdog. A draw is priced at +380 and the over-under for total goals scored is 2.5. Before making any Manchester United vs. Manchester City picks or Manchester derby predictions, you need to see what proven soccer insider Martin Green has to say.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Since then, his European soccer picks have been stunningly accurate. Green has generated more than $37,000 for $100 bettors since the 2017-18 season, and he has his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.
Now, Green has broken down the Manchester United vs. Manchester City matchup from every angle and just locked in his coveted picks and Premier League predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his EPL picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Manchester City vs. Manchester United:
- Man City vs. Man U spread: City -1.5 (+105)
- Man City vs. Man U over-under: 2.5 goals
- Man City vs. Man U money line: City -265, United +750, Draw +380
- MC: Kevin De Bruyne creates 5.14 shots per 90 minutes, best in EPL
- MU: Bruno Fernandes leads the EPL in total shot-creating actions (114).
Why you should back Man City
The Cityzens have risen above United in recent years, but both teams are supremely talented, so they won't take this one lightly. City has been dominant on both ends of the pitch all season, scoring the second-most goals in the league (64) while allowing the fewest. It also has held the ball for 68 percent of its matches, best in the league by five percent over No. 2 Liverpool. Riyad Mahrez has been locked in, putting up 19 goals in all competitions, one of those in Tuesday's 2-0 win against Peterborough in an FA Cup matchup. Jack Grealish also scored in that match.
Grealish and Phil Foden (seven goals) can cause a lot of problems for defenses, while Raheem Sterling (team-high 10 league goals) is a dangerous finisher. City also has supreme midfielders in Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, who both have seven goals. The Cityzens have scored at least one goal in 24 straight games.
Why you should back Man United
The Red Devils have taken a backseat to City in recent years, but they still have had success against their rivals. Their style of play, where they sit back and defend before springing counter-attacks, is the type that has troubled the Cityzens. United is 4-3-1 in the past eight meetings in all competitions and has three wins and a draw in the past five in league play. United has plenty of talent to compete with the best teams, with players like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford more than capable of having significant impact on the outcome of this match.
United also will be desperate for points to stay in position to return to the Champions League next season. It is on an 11-game unbeaten run (5-6-0) in all competitions, scoring 15 goals over that span. It hasn't been particularly impressive, but it has been getting the results. City hasn't been overly dominant in recent weeks, either, losing its last home game 3-2 to Tottenham. It also was fortunate to take a 1-0 victory against Everton last Saturday, getting a Foden goal in the 82nd minute and avoiding a penalty on what looked like a hand ball late in the game.
How to make EPL and Man City vs. Man United picks
Green has analyzed the Manchester United vs. Manchester City match from all sides, and he is leaning over on the goal total. He also provides his two confident best bets and has a full breakdown of the match. He's only sharing his expert EPL picks at SportsLine.
So, who wins Manchester City vs. Manchester United? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Manchester City vs. Manchester United, all from the European soccer expert who has generated well over $37,000 for $100 bettors over the past four seasons, and find out.
