Manchester City vs Manchester United Match Prediction, Fantasy Football Tips and Possible Starting Lineups

Premier League’s Gameweek 16 is almost upon us, and it’s shaping up to be an absolute treat for football fans. While Everton taking on Arsenal and Chelsea hosting Brentford promise plenty of intrigue, the main event is undoubtedly the Manchester derby. All eyes will turn to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, where Manchester City and Manchester United are set to reignite their fierce rivalry in what promises to be a thrilling showdown.

Manchester City and Manchester United find themselves in unfamiliar territory this season, desperately chasing consistency after stuttering starts. Who would've thought we’d be talking about both Manchester clubs struggling to find their rhythm at this stage? Yet, here we are. For City, it’s been a nightmare run with just one win in their last ten games across all competitions. Their most recent setback came in Turin, where Juventus handed them a 2-0 defeat that left Pep Guardiola searching for answers. Injuries, particularly in defense, have only made matters worse, and for the first time in his glittering managerial career, Pep is grappling with a crisis that threatens to derail their season. Having just signed a new contract, all eyes are on the Catalan maestro to navigate this storm and steer the reigning champions back on course. 

Meanwhile, across town, things aren’t any rosier at Old Trafford. United are in disarray both on and off the pitch. Erik Ten Hag’s abrupt dismissal—despite a fresh contract extension in the summer—and Dan Ashworth’s quick exit as sporting director have painted a picture of chaos behind the scenes. It’s safe to say that the environment within the United organization isn’t conducive to winning football, and that’s precisely the challenge Ruben Amorim has been brought in to tackle. But let’s not sugarcoat it—he’s got a mountain to climb. Back-to-back losses to Nottingham Forest and Arsenal have laid bare the scale of the rebuild needed at Old Trafford. 

This week, the task only gets tougher. Amorim’s United head to the Etihad to face the reigning Premier League champions. While Manchester City are far from their imperious best, they still have the firepower to make life miserable for any opponent. With both teams desperate for a statement win, the Manchester derby promises fireworks.  

Manchester City vs Manchester United – Match Date, Time and Venue  

Date: 15th December 2024                  

Time: 10:00 PM (IST)              

Stadium: Etihad Stadium  

Location: Manchester, England 

Manchester City’s Possible Starting XI 

Ederson; Walker, Dias, Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol; Kovacic, B.Silva, De Bruyne; Savinho, Nunes, Haaland. 

Manchester United’s Possible Starting XI  

Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez; Diallo, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot; Fernandes, Rashford, Hojlund. 

Manchester City vs Manchester United Fantasy Team 

Goalkeeper: Andre Onana (United) 

Defenders: Josko Gvardiol (City), Noussair Mazraoui (United), Kyle Walker (City) 

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (City), Bruno Fernandes (United), Bernardo Silva (City), Amad Diallo (United) 

Forwards: Erling Haaland (City), Rasmus Hojlund (United), Savinho (City) 

Manchester City vs Manchester United Fantasy Lineup 

Manchester City vs Manchester United – Fantasy Team Captain and Vice-Captain   

Choice 1: Erling Haaland (C), Amad Diallo (VC)                

Choice 2: Kevin De Bruyne (C), Rasmus Hojlund (VC)             

Disclaimer:   

The author has provided you with the above-mentioned match prediction on the basis of his research, understanding, and analysis, consider the points and make your own decision.