Manchester City vs Manchester United as it happened: Ten-man United hold on for a goalless draw
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United held on for a goalless draw in a feisty derby with Manchester City after midfielder Marouane Fellaini was sent off for a headbutt in the Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.
The Belgian was dismissed when, moments after being booked for a foul on Sergio Aguero, he tripped the Argentine and then, in clear view of referee Martin Atkinson, confronted him by pushing his forehead towards the City forward who fell.
City, who dominated most of the game, thought they had a late winner when Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, on as a late substitute for his first appearance since being injured in February, headed home from close range but was offside.
The result leaves City in fourth place, still a point - and a place - ahead of their local rivals in the race for a top-four finish and Champions League qualifying spot, and extends United's unbeaten run to 24 league games.
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What time does it start?
Manchester City vs Manchester United kicks off at 20:00
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports 1 from 19:00. Highlights will be shown at 12am on Sky Sports 1.
It’s a big game for…
Sergio Agüero. The prolific Argentine was controversially dropped for new signing Gabriel Jesus, before being recalled after the 20-year-old Brazilian fractured his metatarsal in February. With Jesus on the verge of a full recovery, Agüero is running out of opportunities to prove to Guardiola that he is still the man to lead the line for City.
Weird stat…
Despite emerging victorious in their last encounter in the EFL Cup in October, Jose Mourinho has won only four of his 18 meetings with Pep Guardiola.
Remember when…
Vincent Kompany’s header gave City a 1-0 win over United to put them firmly in charge of the title race in the 2011/12 season. The win put City top of the league on goal difference, just three weeks after they trailed United by eight points. City’s captain has returned to the starting eleven in recent weeks and will be hoping to inspire his team to another famous derby win on Thursday.
Player to watch…
Marcus Rashford. The youngster was rested for Manchester United’s 2-0 win at Burnley on Sunday, presumably to keep him fresh for the derby on Thursday. The 19-year-old has impressed in recent weeks in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, scoring against Chelsea in the league and clinching the winner against Anderlecht to send United into the semi-final of the Europa League.
Past three-meetings…
Manchester United 1 Manchester City 0, EFL Cup October 2016
Manchester United 1 Manchester City 2, Premier League September 2016
Manchester City 0 Manchester United 1, Premier League March 2016
Form guide…
Manchester City: DDLWWL
Manchester United: DWDWWW
Odds…
Manchester City to win: 87/100
Manchester United to win: 13/4
Draw: 27/10
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Manchester derby as Pep Guardiola's City lock horns with Jose Mourinho's United for the third time this season.
City won the first meeting in the Premier League back in September but United knocked them out of the EFL Cup - which they went on to win - a month later.
The winner of tonight's game will go a long way to securing Champions League football for next season, with so few games of the season remaining.
Kick-off is at 8pm this evening but join us for all the build up to the game...
Anddd once again for the traditionalists...
Man City: Bravo, Zabaleta, Kompany, Otamendi, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Toure, De Bruyne, Sterling, Sane, Aguero.
Subs: Sagna, Fernando, Caballero, Jesus Navas, Clichy, Gabriel Jesus, Garcia.
Man Utd: de Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Darmian, Ander Herrera, Carrick, Fellaini, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Martial.
Subs: Rooney, Lingard, Young, Romero, Shaw, Fosu-Mensah, Tuanzebe.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
So, United make four changes. Rashford replaces Rooney and Carrick comes in for the injured Pogba. As expected, Martial gets the nod ahead of Lingard, with Blind and Darmian both included in a patched-up back-line.
Sterling returns for City, with Gabriel Jesus returning to the bench after his long injury lay-off.
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