Manchester United visit the Etihad Stadium on Saturday aiming to delay Manchester City’s quest to win the Premier League title.
Victory for City would secure top spot with six games to spare, but United boss Jose Mourinho will be eager to prevent that from happening this weekend.
Pep Guardiola’s side head into the game on the back of Wednesday’s disappointing 3-0 defeat at Liverpool in the Champions League.
Punters who utilise sports betting with MansionBet can back City at 5/6 to win the match, with United available at 16/5 and the draw on offer at 53/20.
The Red Devils are still hoping to fend off Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for second place and they have virtually a full squad to choose from.
Sergio Romero is still missing after picking up a knee problem playing for Argentina against Italy during the international break, while Daley Blind is out with an ankle problem.
However, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Marouane Fellaini are all in contention for a place in the squad.
Guardiola may decide to make changes for the derby game, particularly with the return leg against Liverpool scheduled for next Tuesday.
Sergio Aguero is battling to be fit for Saturday’s game after missing three weeks with a knee injury, while Benjamin Mendy is back in training but still some way off a return to first-team action.
Fabian Delph has been out of City’s squad since being sent off at Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup, but he was back on the bench at Anfield and could be recalled to the starting line-up.
United have lost just two of their last seven meetings with City in all competitions and Mourinho is likely to make things difficult for the home side as he bids to stop them winning the title.
The two sides fought out a 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium last season and a repeat of that scoreline in their latest derby clash can be backed at 10/1.
City won 2-1 at Old Trafford back in December and they are priced at 33/4 to match that feat on Saturday.
Guardiola’s side have been in sparkling form for much of this season, but Wednesday’s result at Anfield may well have been a shock to the system.
Mourinho will undoubtedly take satisfaction from delaying City’s inevitable march to the title and backing United to secure a 1-1 draw at 6/1 looks the call in this one.
