Manchester United approach the derby after a 4-0 Champions League victory over “Sabah”, while Manchester City arrive at Old Trafford with four consecutive competitive victories and two extra days of recovery.
On September 13 at 21:00 IST, “Manchester United” will face “Manchester City” at “Old Trafford”. The match starts at 16:30 local English time.
Manchester United have taken four points from their opening three Premier League matches. After losing to “Hull City”, they responded with five goals against “Ipswich Town” but then surrendered the lead twice in a 2-2 draw with “Everton”. They followed that result with a 4-0 Champions League victory against “Sabah”. Manchester City have won all three league matches and strengthened that run with a 2-0 Champions League victory away against “Porto”.
Teams Current Form
“Manchester United” form
Manchester United have already shown two very different sides of their game. The 2-0 defeat against “Hull City” was a poor opening result, but the response at Old Trafford was emphatic: United defeated “Ipswich Town” 5-2, with Bruno Fernandes scoring three times.
The following trip to “Everton” again exposed the main concern. Bryan Mbeumo put United ahead and Benjamin Šeško restored their advantage late in the match, but Michael Carrick’s team failed to protect either lead. Everton’s second equaliser came in stoppage time.
Manchester United followed the 2-2 draw with “Everton” by defeating “Sabah” 4-0 in the UEFA Champions League on September 10. Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Šeško and Lisandro Martínez scored.
The clean sheet was an important response after United had conceded four goals across their previous two Premier League matches. The derby now comes only three days after the European fixture, so recovery time is limited compared with Manchester City, who played their Champions League match on September 8.
“Manchester City” form
Manchester City’s league start has been much more controlled. They defeated “Bournemouth” 2-1, won 4-1 away against “Crystal Palace” and then overcame “Coventry City” 1-0.
The performance against Coventry was not spectacular, but City did what strong teams often need to do in such matches: they controlled territory, limited the opponent and found the decisive goal through Erling Haaland.
City then travelled to Portugal and beat “Porto” 2-0 in the Champions League. Haaland scored both goals after the break, while the defence recorded another clean sheet.
Four competitive victories in a row, two consecutive clean sheets and Haaland scoring consistently give City the stronger current profile before the derby. Their advantage is not simply attacking quality: they have recently been much better than United at controlling matches after taking the lead.
Probable Lineups
“Manchester United” lineup
4-2-3-1:
Senne Lammens, Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martínez, Patrick Dorgu, Youri Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo, Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Šeško.
This potential lineup is based directly on the Manchester United starting XI used in their latest official match, the 4-0 UEFA Champions League victory against “Sabah” on September 10.
Marcus Rashford was available from the bench but did not start that match, so he is not automatically inserted into the potential XI for Manchester City.
“Manchester City” lineup
4-2-3-1:
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, Marc Guéhi, Joško Gvardiol, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Enzo Fernández, Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland.
This potential lineup is based on the starting XI used by Manchester City in their latest official match, the 2-0 Champions League victory against “Porto”.
No player from that starting eleven has been confirmed unavailable for the derby, so there is no factual reason to change the base XI before the official team sheet is published.
Who will not play
For “Manchester United”, Carlos Baleba, Matthijs de Ligt, Amad Diallo and Manuel Ugarte are unavailable because of injuries.
Marcus Rashford was included in the matchday squad against “Sabah” but did not start. His fitness status should still be monitored, although it does not affect the base potential XI because he was not part of the latest official starting lineup.
Luke Shaw has also had his workload managed, but there is no confirmed information ruling him out against Manchester City.
For “Manchester City”,
Jérémy Doku is unavailable
because of a calf injury.
Nico O’Reilly has been dealing with a back problem. He was not part of the starting XI against Porto and therefore his status does not require a change to the lineup above.
There are no confirmed suspensions affecting either potential starting XI at the time of this forecast.
The most accurate information on the final starting lineups will be available immediately before the meeting.
Statistics for the Last 5 Matches
“Manchester United”
10.09.26, UEFA Champions League:
Manchester United 4-0 Sabah
06.09.26, EPL:
Everton 2-2 Manchester United
30.08.26, EPL:
Manchester United 5-2 Ipswich Town
22.08.26, EPL:
Hull City 2-0 Manchester United
24.05.26, EPL:
Brighton 0-3 Manchester United
In the last five official matches, “Manchester United” have 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. The team scored 14 goals and conceded 6.
“Manchester City”
08.09.26, UEFA Champions League:
Porto 0-2 Manchester City
05.09.26, EPL:
Manchester City 1-0 Coventry City
28.08.26, EPL:
Crystal Palace 1-4 Manchester City
23.08.26, EPL:
Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth
16.08.26, FA Community Shield:
Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City
In the last five official matches, “Manchester City” have 4 wins and 1 defeat. The team scored 9 goals and conceded 5.
Head-to-Head Statistics
17.01.26, EPL:
Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City
14.09.25, EPL:
Manchester City 3-0 Manchester United
06.04.25, EPL:
Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
15.12.24, EPL:
Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United
10.08.24, FA Community Shield:
Manchester City 1-1 Manchester United, Manchester City won 7-6 on penalties
In the last five official head-to-head matches before penalty shootouts, “Manchester United” have 2 wins, “Manchester City” have 1 win and 2 matches ended in draws. The teams scored 5 goals each.
Main prediction for the “Manchester United” - “Manchester City” game
Manchester United – Manchester City: forecast on event 13 September 2026
Manchester City - Hcap (0)
There is enough evidence to favour City, but not enough to ignore United’s recent record in this fixture. Manchester United have lost only one of the five head-to-head matches listed above before penalties and defeated City 2-0 at Old Trafford in January.
Manchester United’s defensive picture is mixed rather than uniformly poor. They conceded twice against both Ipswich and Everton, but responded with a 4-0 clean-sheet victory against Sabah. Manchester City nevertheless represent a much stronger attacking test than United faced in that European match.
The difference in game management may prove decisive. Against Everton, United twice moved ahead and twice failed to protect the advantage. City have recently been far more comfortable once they establish territorial and scoreboard control.
Manchester City also have the advantage in recovery time. They played away against Porto on September 8, while Manchester United completed their Champions League match against Sabah on September 10, leaving Carrick’s team two fewer days to prepare for the derby.
For
Additional predictions
Erling Haaland to score at any time deserves attention as an individual market for the derby.
Haaland’s scoring form remains the main argument for this market. He has scored five goals in his last three appearances: a brace away against "Crystal Palace", the winner against "Coventry City" and both goals against "Porto".
Manchester United improved defensively against Sabah and kept a clean sheet, but the level of opposition changes significantly here. City create more sustained pressure, attack the penalty area with greater numbers and give Haaland a much stronger supply line than United faced in midweek.
