A derby day in Manchester -- a clash that a lot of football fans across the world waits for with a lot of anticipation. Yes, it is that day of the year again when the Blues of Manchester will host their arch-rivals Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Both clubs have not had a good time in recent times. However, Manchester City have recently qualified for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. But the win was not really convincing.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have won just a single game in their last five matches across all competitions. The stats are strikingly similar for Manchester United as well.
The Red Devils were recently eliminated from the UEFA Europa League after they were beaten by Liverpool.
Louis van Gaal is under tremendous pressure and he is surely aware of the current situation. United are currently in the 6th position: three points of West Ham United and five points adrift City.
They will want to reduce that gap and come in closer to the top four. This is a very important game for the Red Devils. Up next, they will have to face West Ham United for a replay of the FA Cup quarter-final. They will get a major boost ahead of that clash.
"We are now four points behind City, I think, so you have to win. Otherwise the gap is bigger and bigger and the matches that you have to play are not so big. If we lose, I think then it is seven points and we have to play another eight matches," van Gaal was quoted as saying by ManUtd.com.
"Then it is very sharp to recover from that gap. It is still possible, but I think it's difficult then because West Ham is also in front, so it is not only City but West Ham United."
City, on the other hand, will want to catch up with the top three teams by registering a victory over the Red Devils.
"It's always important, if you have 24 hours or 48 hours more of resting. It's not a decisive thing for the game but you can prepare the game better. That's the problem of playing in the Europa League – playing on Thursday is difficult," Pellegrini was quoted as saying by the official website of the club.
Probable lineups:
Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Mangala, Otamendi, Clichy; Fernando, Fernandinho; Sterling, Toure, Silva; Aguero.
Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Rojo; Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin; Martial, Lingard, Mata; Rashford.
Where to Watch Live
The Manchester derby -- is scheduled for a 4 p.m. GMT (12 p.m. ET, 9:30 p.m. IST) start. Live TV coverage of the match in India will be on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD 2, while the match can also be viewed via live streaming online on Hotstar and Starsports.com.
Manchester City vs Manchester United match will be shown live in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD 1, with the live stream option on SkyGO. Viewers in the UK can also listen to the match live on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Viewers in Singapore can watch the match live on 102 mio, while live coverage of the game in Thailand will be on CTH.
Bein Sports Arabia 2 HD will broadcast Manchester City vs Manchester United live in the Middle East and North Africa, while the action can also be live streamed on Bein Sports Connect.
Australia viewers can watch the early Manchester City vs Manchester United game live on Fox Sports 4, while the online live stream options are on Fox Sports On Demand and Foxtel Play.
NBCSN and NBC Universo will broadcast Manchester City vs Manchester United live in the US, while the action can also be live streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra.
Audience in Canada can watch the action live on Sportnet1, with the live streaming option on SportsnetWorldNow.
