More than pride will be at stake when Manchester City travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday.

Old Trafford plays host to another fiery chapter in the Manchester derby this Sunday, as Manchester United welcome bitter rivals Manchester City in what will be Kevin De Bruyne’s final derby appearance before he bids farewell to English football. With pride, points, and Champions League positioning at stake, both sides enter this clash with very different narratives and momentum.

Manchester United return to home turf licking their wounds after a limp 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in midweek — their 13th Premier League loss of the season. The decisive moment came via a familiar face, as Anthony Elanga, once considered part of United’s future, tore through their backline to deliver a powerful reminder of the club’s poor transfer decisions.

That defeat snapped a four-game unbeaten run for Ruben Amorim’s side in all competitions and reinforced the glaring issues still haunting Manchester United — chief among them, their lack of bite in the final third. The attack continues to misfire, and there was little response after Forest’s early breakthrough, highlighting the growing frustrations surrounding underperforming stars like Antony, Jadon Sancho, Rasmus Hojlund, and Joshua Zirkzee.

Even more troubling for the hosts is their inability to defend their home ground. Manchester United have failed to keep a clean sheet at Old Trafford in their last 12 matches across all competitions, with the last shutout coming back in December — a 4-0 rout of Everton. Since then, every visiting side has found a way through, and City, even below their best, are more than capable of capitalising on that frailty.

While Premier League ambitions have faded, hope remains in the form of a Europa League quarter-final against Lyon, where a trophy and a backdoor route into the Champions League still beckon. But with City arriving, Manchester United will need a performance well above recent standards to prevent this season’s decline from deepening further.

It is the end of an era for Manchester City, with Kevin De Bruyne announcing his decision to leave at the end of the season. A decade of brilliance in blue will soon conclude, but not before one last outing against Manchester United — a fixture where he has often dictated the rhythm and showcased his class.

Manchester City returned from the international break in comfortable fashion with a 2-0 win over Leicester, courtesy of Jack Grealish’s long-awaited first league goal of the season and a cool finish from Omar Marmoush, who notched his fifth of the campaign. That win arrested a two-game Premier League skid and briefly propelled Pep Guardiola’s side back into the top four.

However, Chelsea’s win over Tottenham later in the week saw them slip back to fifth, though with England’s high UEFA coefficient, even that position is likely to secure Champions League football next season. Guardiola’s men also have one eye on the FA Cup, where they face Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals, but domestic league form, particularly away from home, remains an issue.

City have won just three of their last 11 away games in the Premier League, and in that stretch, they have suffered six defeats, as many as in their previous 37 combined. It is an uncharacteristic dip for a side defined by dominance and control. The Etihad may remain a fortress, but City have become vulnerable travellers, something United will aim to exploit.

Still, the blue half of Manchester may take confidence from their recent performances in this derby, despite not winning any of the last three over 90 minutes. The last meeting at the Etihad ended in a dramatic 2-1 win for Manchester United, an absorbing contest that proved even in transition, they can rise to the occasion. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

Manchester United

The Red Devils remain without several key players heading into Sunday’s derby showdown at Old Trafford. Lisandro Martínez (knee), Amad Diallo (ankle), Ayden Heaven (ankle), Luke Shaw (calf), and Jonny Evans (back) are all ruled out through injury and will not return in time for the clash. There is also concern over Matthijs de Ligt, who picked up a knock during the midweek defeat to Nottingham Forest and is considered a major doubt.

With de Ligt likely unavailable, Harry Maguire is expected to be drafted back into the starting lineup, forming part of a three-man defence. In midfield, there is some hope that Kobbie Mainoo could return to the squad after missing the game against Nottingham Forest due to an unspecified issue. However, manager Ruben Amorim confirmed that the youngster is not yet fit to complete a full 90 minutes and may be used cautiously.

Elsewhere, Mason Mount made a brief return from injury off the bench during the midweek clash and is now deemed ready to start. Amorim confirmed that the former Chelsea man is in contention for a place in the XI as he aims to finally establish himself at United following a disrupted debut season. There are no suspensions within the squad.

Manchester United are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Andre Onana will continue in goal, shielded by a back three featuring Noussair Mazraoui on the right, Harry Maguire in the centre, and Leny Yoro on the left. The wing-back roles will be filled by Diogo Dalot on the right and Patrick Dorgu on the left, both expected to provide width and defensive coverage.

In central midfield, Manuel Ugarte will anchor alongside Bruno Fernandes, who will operate slightly more advanced and look to link midfield with the attack. Just ahead of them, Mason Mount and Alejandro Garnacho are likely to serve as dual attacking midfielders or inverted wingers, supporting central striker Rasmus Højlund, who will lead the line and look to exploit City’s defensive lapses on the road.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mount, Garnacho; Hojlund

Manchester City

Erling Haaland remains sidelined with a severe ankle injury expected to keep him out for at least another five to seven weeks. The Norwegian’s absence leaves a significant void in City’s attack, one that manager Pep Guardiola will have to fill creatively against their local rivals.

Haaland is one of five key absentees for Manchester City heading into this high-stakes encounter. Rodri is recovering from an ACL injury and remains out long-term, trio Nathan Ake (foot), John Stones (thigh), and Manuel Akanji (groin) are also unavailable. The absences leave Guardiola’s defensive line stretched and force further reliance on younger and rotational options.

There is better news regarding Abdukodir Khusanov, who missed the midweek win over Leicester but is expected to be available for selection. However, emerging talent Nico O’Reilly, who stepped in admirably during the last match, may retain his place at left-back.

In midfield, Kevin De Bruyne is fully fit and raring to go, though he could surprisingly start from the bench in what would be his final Manchester derby, with Guardiola weighing up tactical flexibility and current form. There are no suspensions in the City squad, giving Guardiola some room to rotate despite the injury list.

Manchester City are expected to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Ederson Moraes will start in goal, with a defensive back four featuring Matheus Nunes at right-back, Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol as the central defenders, and Nico O’Reilly occupying the left-back position.

In midfield, İlkay Gündogan will partner Pablo Gonzalez in a double pivot, responsible for both ball recovery and distribution. Ahead of them, Savinho will operate from the right flank, Jack Grealish is expected to reprise his role in the number 10 slot following his goalscoring performance against Leicester, and Jeremy Doku will offer pace and trickery on the left wing. With Haaland unavailable, Omar Marmoush will once again lead the line, hoping to build on his fifth goal of the season and trouble a shaky Manchester United defence.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gundogan, Gonzalez; Savinho, Grealish, Doku; Marmoush

Key Stats

• Manchester United are aiming for their first Premier League double over Manchester City since 2019/20, following a 2-1 victory at the Etihad earlier this season.

• Manchester City have won more Premier League away games at Old Trafford (9) than any other visiting side. Five of those wins have come under Pep Guardiola—the most by any away manager in the competition’s history.

• Manchester United are unbeaten in their last three matches against Manchester City in all competitions (W2 D1), their best run since a four-game stretch between January 2010 and February 2011.

• The away team has won 10 of the last 18 Premier League Manchester derbies (D2 L6), making it one of the few fixtures where the visiting side frequently triumphs — only Crystal Palace vs Liverpool (12 away wins) has more.

• United have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight Premier League home matches, their longest such run since 2021. Under Ruben Amorim, they have conceded 17 goals in nine home league games, the worst goals-conceded-per-game ratio (1.89) of any permanent United manager at Old Trafford in Premier League history.

Player to Watch

Kevin de Bruyne

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In what could be his final Manchester derby, Kevin De Bruyne steps into the spotlight as the emotional and tactical heartbeat of Manchester City. The Belgian playmaker, who recently announced his decision to leave the Etihad at the end of the season, has long been a defining figure in this storied rivalry, controlling games with vision, intelligence, and unmatched creativity.

De Bruyne has made a career of rising to big occasions, and there are few stages more emotionally charged or tactically demanding than a clash at Old Trafford. With Erling Haaland sidelined, City will lean heavily on De Bruyne’s ability to orchestrate from midfield and unlock defences with inch-perfect passes, late runs, and his trademark whipped deliveries.

Though there is a possibility Pep Guardiola may manage his minutes, should De Bruyne start — or even come off the bench—expect him to dictate the tempo and provide a calm, calculated presence aga, nst a Manchester United side that has struggled to control games in midfield. His ability to exploit gaps, especially with Jérémy Doku, Jack Grealish, and Omar Marmoush making forward runs, will be critical.

Considering this is his derby swan song, do not be surprised if De Bruyne leaves a lasting imprint, one final masterclass in enemy territory to remind the footballing world of his enduring brilliance.

Prediction

Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City

The Manchester derby rarely follows the script. Manchester City arrive as the more complete side, but their away form gives Manchester United a glimmer of hope. Yet, the Red Devils’ defensive issues and blunt attack could prove costly once again, especially with Kevin De Bruyne scripting his final act in this rivalry.

A tense, emotional derby should end with Pep Guardiola’s side edging it, as De Bruyne leaves one final mark on enemy territory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Guardiola and his charges.