Manchester City vs Manchester United Prediction 03.03.2024

• Competition: England - Premier League
• Date: Sunday, 3rd, March 2024
• Kickoff: 15:30 UK / 16.30 CET
• Venue: Etihad Stadium (Manchester)

The Etihad Stadium will be the battleground for the epic Sunday clash as Guardiola's City and ten Hag's United reignite their hostilities in the historic 192nd Manchester derby.

Manchester City vs Manchester United Betting Tips: AH1 (-1.5)

Despite appearing lackluster and uninspired in their recent Premier League outings, with a 1-1 stalemate against Chelsea followed by back-to-back narrow 1-0 victories over Brentford and Bournemouth respectively, Pep Guardiola's side showcased their beastly side midweek, setting a strong tone for the weekend ahead.

In a dominating display, the Citizens simply steamrolled Luton at Kenilworth Road in a remarkable 6-2 victory to secure advancement to the FA Cup quarter-finals for the sixth year in a row, all thanks to the Norwegian goal-machine Erling Haaland who bagged five goals, extending City's enviable unbeaten run to 18 matches in any format (W16, D2).

Breathing down the neck of table-toppers Liverpool with just one point separating them, City will strive to transfer their cup dominance onto the league stage, a task that seems well within reach, considering the blue side of Manchester hasn't tasted defeat at home since November 2022, racking up an astronomical 30 victories and five draws in that time.

Even with their greatest foe MUFC standing in their path, the ensemble conducted by Pep Guardiola aims to update their tally with fresh three points in the weekend's heated action, as they can boast a brilliant recent H2H record against the Red Devils, coming out on the winning side in five of the last six Manchester derbies, including a 3-0 trashing at Old Trafford earlier this season.

Speaking of the red half of Manchester, they had been on an enviable upward trajectory with four triumphs on the trot against Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham, Aston Villa, and Luton, yet that ascent came crashing down in a disheartening manner as Erik ten Hag's troops succumbed to a last-gasp 1-2 loss against Fulham, dealing a painful blow to their European ambitions.

Fortunately, the Red Devils didn't hesitate to return to the winning column, achieving a hard-fought 1-0 win against relegation fighters Nottingham Forest in the midweek FA Cup clash, marking their sixth straight victory away from home as they set up a quarter-final showdown with current Premier League pace-setters Liverpool.

Despite basking in a mesmerizing streak of six triumphs on the road across all competitions, MUFC boss Erik ten Hag has reason to panic ashead of the Sunday's battle, for not only is his backline ravaged by numerous injury absences, but he also can't shake off the memory of his side shipping ten goals from Manchester rivals City in their last two visits to the Etihad.

If De Bruyne and Erling Haaland continue their dazzling displays and replicate Tuesday's rampage against the Hatters, Man United might just get swept off the City's grassy pitch. Given that Guardiola and his boys are firing on all cylinders, a thumping home victory should be well within reach, meaning we're backing the Citizens to win with a handicap.