One of the best rivalries in soccer is renewed on Tuesday afternoon when Manchester City takes on Manchester City in a Manchester Derby. It’s not a Premier League game, however, but the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinals. Manchester City is the defending champions of this competition. The final will be held at Wembley Stadium in London on March 1. All 92 clubs in the Premier League and English Football League enter the Carabao Cup, also called the EFL Cup. Let’s take a look at the latest Carabao Cup Odds for Manchester United vs Manchester City while making some predictions.
Manchester United vs Manchester City 2020 Carabao Cup Odds & Prediction
- When: Tuesday, 3 PM ET
- Where: Old Trafford
- Live Stream: ESPN+
- Carabao Cup Odds: Manchester City -158 / Manchester United +316 / Draw +303 (Total 2.5 goals)
Manchester United vs Manchester City Last Meeting
The clubs played on Dec. 7, 2019, in the Premier League and Manchester United prevailed 2-1. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring with a penalty on 23 minutes after VAR ruled a handball by Bernardo Silva. Just six minutes later Anthony Martial doubled United’s lead by drilling a low shot past City keeper Ederson. City’s goal was via an 84th minute header by Nicolas Otamendi off Riyad Mahrez’s corner.United and City last met in the League Cup semifinals in 2010, when a late Wayne Rooney header gave Sir Alex Ferguson’s side a memorable win. Pep Guardiola’s side have lifted the trophy in each of the last two years and have not lost a League Cup tie since a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford in October 2016.
Why Bet on Manchester City?
City come off a 4-1 win over Port Vale on Saturday in the English FA Cup. Oleksandr Zinchenko scored his first goal in nearly a year to put City up early — the left-back’s shot from outside of the box taking a deflection off a sliding defender before beating Scott Brown in the Port Vale goal in the 20th minute. Port Vale tied it in the 35th minute, but Sergio Aguero gave City the lead for good in the 42nd minute. Taylor Harwood-Bellis scored his first senior goal for City in the 58th minute and Phil Foden closed out the scoring in the 76th minute.Man City advanced in this competition with a 3-1 win over Oxford United in December. City have dominated the League Cup under Pep Guardiola but rarely have they been tested quite like they were by Oxford who managed 18 goal attempts, more than any side against City since the Spaniard took charge.
“I know for the years I was not here we were the noisy neighbors,” said Guardiola, who has witnessed City collect 73 more points than United since his appointment. “Now I don’t know who we are.”
City has displaced United as the pre-eminent force in English soccer and raised the benchmark of what it takes to win the title after posting 198 points in the previous two seasons.
Injury-wise Aymeric Laporte is on his way back to full fitness, but probably not in time for this match. Fellow center-back Nicolas Otamendi should be available. Leroy Sane remains sidelined.
Expected Line-Up
- 31-Ederson Moraes
- 2-K. Walker
- 5-J. Stones
- 30-N. Otamendi
- 21-David Silva
- 25-Fernandinho
- 8-İ. Gündoğan
- 17-K. De Bruyne
- 20-Bernardo Silva
- 10-S. Agüero
- 7-R. Sterling
Why Bet on Manchester United?
Man United also played Saturday in the English FA Cup and tied Wolverhampton 0-0. United didn’t have a single shot on target. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made seven changes from the team that lost 2-0 at Arsenal last Wednesday with only Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Daniel James and Nemanja Matic keeping their places. Ashley Young, Tahith Chong, Brandon Williams and Mason Greenwood were among the players to come in. Sergio Romero came in for David De Gea and kept another clean sheet, while Diogo Dalot was introduced as a substitute on Saturday for his first senior involvement since last October at Newcastle United.Solskjaer said he will not use the same tactics against City as he did in that 2-1 win in December.
“We really respect them and as I have said, in my opinion, they are the best team in England,” said Solskjaer. “We’ve looked at that game [against City] and we were very pleased with the result. You won’t beat City twice in a row or three times with the same tactics so we’ll have to do something better. Pep [Guardiola] will have his team fired up.”
United were frustrated for 51 minutes at Old Trafford by fourth-tier Colchester United but England striker Marcus Rashford broke the resistance and an own goal by Ryan Jackson and one for Anthony Martial took the hosts to a 3-0 win to advance in this competition last month. The 22-year-old Rashford has 14 goals in all competitions this season, already making it his most prolific campaign as a professional.
Some Injuries
United are banged up currently. Midfielder Paul Pogba had surgery to cure an ongoing ankle problem. Pogba and returned to the side following a three-month absence, but following a 45-minute run-out against Newcastle on Boxing Day, Pogba missed the next two matches after aggravating the injury. He is expected to miss around a month.Fellow midfielder Scott McTominay will be sidelined for longer than initially feared with the Scotland international ruled out for the remainder of January. Defenseman Harry Maguire is one of several Manchester United players who will be assessed ahead of this match on whether they can play. He was hurt Saturday. Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard were all sent home from training on Friday and a decision on their involvement with be made on Tuesday morning.
“We hope that everyone is going to be available but we don’t know, because some recover quicker from illnesses than others,” Solskjaer said.
Expected Line-up
- 1-David de Gea
- 18-A. Young
- 5-H. Maguire
- 20-Diogo Dalot
- 38-A. Tuanzebe
- 8-J.Mata
- 17-Fred
- 15-Andreas Pereira
- 21-D. James
- 39-S. McTominay
- 10-M. Rashford
