PREVIEW : MANCHESTER CITY V UNITED
Scene-setter : The 171st Manchester derby could be ideal for eliciting a positive reaction from the Reds after being knocked out of the Europa League in midweek. A win for United would reduce the gap between the sides to just a single point, so the outcome at the Etihad Stadium could go a long way to determining the final league positions for both sides this season.
Form guide : Louis van Gaal's side are without a win in three games; Thursday's costly 1-1 draw against Liverpool followed the same scoreline at home to West Ham in the Emirates FA Cup and a 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion in United's last league outing. Prior to that slip-up, there had been encouraging back-to-back victories over Arsenal (3-2) and Watford (1-0) at Old Trafford. Manchester City, meanwhile, have had mixed fortunes since winning the Capital One Cup at the end of February. A comprehensive 4-0 win against bottom side Aston Villa was sandwiched between a heavy 3-0 defeat against Liverpool and a disappointing goalless draw at Norwich, but another 0-0 result at home to Dynamo Kiev was positive in that it secured City a quarter-final place in the UEFA Champions League.
Latest team news : Ander Herrera missed the Liverpool match with a tight groin but Bastian Schweinsteiger and Antonio Valencia both came off the bench and may be fit enough to start on Sunday, while Ashley Young and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson returned to training earlier in the week and could also be considered. Juan Mata's domestic ban - imposed after the midfielder's red card against West Brom - has now ended, meaning he is available for selection. Wayne Rooney, Luke Shaw, Phil Jones and Will Keane are all still absent.
View from the dressing room : "We're going to want to make sure we go into the international break on a high and the only way we can close the gap on the top four is by beating somebody who's already in there. It's our time to step up. There's still a lot to play for. -" Chris Smalling.
Opposition manager : City boss Manuel Pellegrini was quick to play down the importance of this weekend's clash at the start of the month, and believes both sides are still in with a chance of winning the title. “I said before that when you have the mathematical option to win the title, a club like Manchester United will always have that option. Nothing is finished this season."
Danger man : Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero is unquestionably still City's biggest goal threat, and remains in the hunt for the Premier League Golden Boot award with 16 strikes to his name this season. The diminutive forward relishes this fixture and has found the net eight times in as many derby appearances; the absent Rooney has scored 11 goals in 24 all-Manchester meetings.
Sub-plots : The reverse fixture at Old Trafford back in October produced only the third goalless derby in the Premier League era. Joe Hart and David De Gea have similarly impressive records this season - the City keeper has only conceded 26 goals in 27 league appearances, compared to the United man's 25 in 25.
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