Who: Manchester City vs Manchester United
What: English Premier League
Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, United Kingdom
When: Sunday, September 14 at 4:30pm (15:30 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 1:30pm (12:30 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.
Manchester City and Manchester United have spent fortunes on some of the world’s best attacking players, and yet, Sunday’s derby will spotlight their goalkeepers.
City secured Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain, and United landed Belgium international Senne Lammens on transfer deadline day to solve problems in their lineups.
Even though United confirmed on Friday that Lammens would not be starting in goal, all the focus will be on those attempting to stop the goals rather than score them.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the latest Manchester derby, and this time, one with a twist.
What have Man City said about Donnarumma?
City manager Pep Guardiola says he is willing to adapt the team’s approach following the signing of Donnarumma and will not expect the Italian to offer the same ball-playing abilities as the departed Ederson Moraes.
Ederson, who ended his trophy-laden eight-year spell at City by joining Fenerbahce last week, revolutionised the goalkeeper position in English football with his distribution and technical skills.
That made him a perfect fit for Guardiola’s style of play, but the same cannot be said of Donnarumma, a brilliant shot-stopper whose strength isn’t passing the ball out from the back.
Donnarumma is in contention to make his debut for City against United following his move from Paris Saint-Germain, although Guardiola wouldn’t confirm whether the Italy international will start.
“Always, I try to adapt to the quality of the players,” Guardiola said Friday. “I will not demand Gigi do something that is uncomfortable.
“We are talking about the best player I have ever seen in the distribution, short or long, with Ederson. We didn’t take Gigi to do what Ederson has done. Gigi has another quality.”
Guardiola said he wasn’t trying to “undermine” Donnarumma by pointing out Ederson’s qualities and spoke glowingly about his new signing’s strengths.
“He’s so tall. He’s so huge,” Guardiola said with a smile, adding: “He’s a big presence on the big stages.
“What he has done in the Champions League last season at Villa Park, Anfield, many games, proves how good he is.”
Guardiola said he met Donnarumma for the first time on Wednesday but didn’t see him train on Thursday.
“We’ll see,” Guardiola said when asked if Donnarumma will come in for James Trafford, who has started City’s first three games in the Premier League – a win at Wolverhampton before back-to-back losses to Tottenham and Brighton.
What have Man Utd said about Bayindir and Lammens?
Altay Bayindir will continue in goal for United in the derby match despite the signing of Belgium international Lammens.
The goalkeeper position has been problematic for United manager Ruben Amorim, who sent last year’s first-choice, Andre Onana, on loan to Turkish club Trabzonspor on Thursday.
Bayindir has made some high-profile errors, particularly from balls into the box, on the occasions he replaced Onana, but retains the faith of Amorim after Lammens – an unheralded 23-year-old from Belgium – was brought in from Royal Antwerp on September 1.
“Altay is going to continue,” Amorim said on Friday. “Because it’s a different league, it’s a different country, different trainings, different ball. So we will try to maintain that.
“They will fight for the position. For this game, it’s clear Altay will start.”
Lammens is largely unknown outside his native country, and Amorim said he is a goalkeeper with “great potential”.
“I know that we are in the moment that the goalkeeper has to be really strong and have a lot of experience,” he said, “but we are also in the moment that we have to look at the present and also with a focus on the future.”
Lammens, Amorim added, is a keeper who can “give us different things” and can be United’s first choice “for a lot of years.”
On the departure of Onana, Amorim added: “In this club, the pressure is sometimes so hard in every detail. Sometimes you need a change.”
What are Man City and Man Utd’s forms like ahead of the derby?
The Manchester derby at Etihad Stadium already feels like a must-win for both teams.
City, whose four-year title reign ended last season, is playing catch-up after only three games (1-2). Back-to-back defeats to Tottenham and Brighton have highlighted concerns that Guardiola’s squad is not equipped to mount a challenge at the top.
United lost their opening day encounter with Arsenal and drew their second match, away at Fulham. The entirety of the Gunners’ trip to Old Trafford and the first half in London appeared to be vast improvements from Amorim’s side, playing his much-debated 3-4-3 formation.
The second half against Fulham was underwhelming, however, as was the 3-2 win against Burnley, which needed a 97th-minute penalty from Bruno Fernandes to seal the points.
Prior to that match, United were dumped out of the League Cup on penalties at fourth-tier Grimsby Town.
What happened the last time Man City played Man Utd?
The teams last met at Old Trafford in a Premier League clash on April 6. With United destined for a bottom-half finish and City’s title defence long over, the game resulted in a drab 0-0 draw.
What happened in the same fixture between City and Utd last season?
The match at the Etihad Stadium last season ended in a remarkable 2-1 win for United. The match was played on December 15, less than a month after Eric ten Hag was sacked, and appeared to be heading to another defeat for United with City leading through Josko Gvardiol’s first-half strike. Fernandes scored an 88th-minute penalty to level the match, before Amad Diallo netted a 90th-minute winner.
Head-to-head
This is the 196th Manchester derby, of which United have won 79 matches compared with City’s 61 victories.
City have not won in the last four matches against United, although the Community Shield meeting at the start of last season saw City lift the trophy after coming out on top on penalties.
The FA Cup final the season before was won by United and ended a three-game losing streak against City.
Manchester City team news
Striker Omar Marmoush will miss Sunday’s game against United after he hurt his knee on international duty with Egypt.
Marmoush went off injured early in his country’s World Cup qualifying game against Burkina Faso on Tuesday.
“Initial results on a scan performed in Egypt indicate he will not be available for the Manchester derby on Sunday, and he will now return to Manchester for more assessment and to begin his rehabilitation,” Manchester City said Wednesday in a statement. “Everyone at City wishes Omar a speedy recovery.”
The 26-year-old forward joins a lengthy injury list at City, with John Stones and Phil Foden among several players who missed international games.
City didn’t specify how soon Marmoush might return. City starts its Champions League campaign against Napoli on September 18.
Egypt’s game was a 0-0 draw, which meant Egypt has to wait to confirm its place at next year’s World Cup.
Manchester Utd team news
Matheus Cunha, Diogo Dalot and Mason Mount are all out of Sunday’s match.
Amorim said he “doesn’t know” how long the trio will be unavailable.
Given Cunha’s absence in attack, Benjamin Sesko is in line for his first Premier League start following his big-money move from RB Leipzig.
Manchester City predicted starting lineup
Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Ake, O’Reilly; Bernardo, Rodri, Reijnders; Bobb, Haaland, Doku
Manchester United predicted starting lineup
Bayindir; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Sesko, Amad
Man City last five matches
W-L-W-L-L (all competitions, last result on the right)
Man Utd last five matches
W-L-D-D-W
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