Manchester United’s match with Manchester City has all the makings of a classic. Already there are big talking points ahead of the showdown, including who will partner Cristiano Ronaldo up top for the Red Devils. So Express Sport will now take a look at four intriguing points ahead of the match at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo to get new partner in crime
Throughout his second spell at United, Ronaldo has often been deployed as a lone centre-forward at the tip of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s attack.
However, for last weekend’s 3-0 win over Tottenham, the Portugal international was unleashed alongside Edinson Cavani.
It was a decision that certainly paid off, with Ronaldo and Cavani sparkling as the Red Devils claimed all three points.
But with the Uruguay international now injured, that means United are likely to give him a new partner in crime when it comes to the Premier League.
The most obvious candidate seems to be Marcus Rashford, who did partner Ronaldo up top for the midweek draw with Atalanta.
Yet Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood are all options, too, in Cavani’s absence.
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Fernandes’ goal issues
Speaking before the match with City, Bruno Fernandes has acknowledged his lack of goals for United in recent weeks.
The Portugal international has scored just once in his side’s last eight games and he’s admitted he’s far from happy.
“I’m never happy with myself,” he said. “I want always to improve and do better. Every season I want to do better numbers than before.
“Playing more games, playing better balls, more assists, more goals.
“I still want to score goals and to score more goals than last season and I will do my best to reach that level.”
Now, there’s certainly no better game for Fernandes to rediscover his scoring touch. City had best beware…
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Pep can see what he missed out on
Back in the summer, Manchester City were interested in signing Ronaldo from Juventus.
However, in the end, they missed out with United bringing the Portugal international back to Old Trafford on deadline day.
Now, Ronaldo can show Pep Guardiola exactly what he missed out on.
With nine goals to his name already for the campaign, the United star has shown exactly why the Red Devils were so determined to win the race for his signature.
Should he haunt City, it will make his Hollywood homecoming even sweeter.
Goalkeeping battles
Both goalkeepers, Ederson and David De Gea, have been outstanding for their respective sides this season.
And it’ll be fascinating to see who outshines who on Saturday afternoon.
Ederson made a big error in this fixture in March 2020, gifting a goal to Scott McTominay that sparked wild scenes at Old Trafford.
But De Gea has suffered in the past, too, including when he shipped six goals in a 6-1 defeat during Sir Alex Ferguson’s spell in charge.
Both players will have to be at their best to keep the fixture’s attacking players at bay. And there are certainly plenty of those.
Solskjaer believes United can win
Speaking ahead of the match with City, Solskjaer has been in a bullish mood.
“Of course I am. We’ve had a good record lately,” he said when asked if he was looking forward to the match.
“As a player, I didn’t have too good a record, but in the last few games [against City] we’ve really shown that we can have good performances and, as I said, the last couple of results have shown that.”
And he admitted the 2-0 win over City in March 2020 was ’special’, adding: “That’s one of the best atmospheres I’ve felt, especially in that moment when Scott [McTominay] scored the 2-0 goal. It was the last time we had a full crowd [for a derby].
“Of course we’ve had a few decent nights after that as well, but that was a special, special day.”
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