Tonight marks the 166th match between Manchester United and Manchester City, and we cannot wait for the match! We’re talking Davina McCall-esque levels of excitement here. Like a kid in a Mancunian candy shop. Enough metaphors? Good.
For years, the pattern for United of these games was simple: play match, score goals, win game. That dynamic changed in the late summer of 2008, when City were taken over by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and co. Since then, there has been a power shift of sorts, but the results have still been relatively even.
For United fans, the recent low points in the rivalry with City all seemed to come in the 2011-12 season. First, a 6-1 home defeat in October 2011 suggested an imminent shift in the balance of power, with City looking set to go on to dominate the fixture for years to come. Months later, after United had ground out a significant lead in the title race - which City would eat into - a crunch match in was settled by Vincent Kompany’s header, a goal which ultimately sealed the title for City.
But that wasn’t even the worst bit for United fans. Going into the final day, City needed only to beat the hitherto useless QPR to claim a first league title in 317 years (it may not have been that long). Many United fans were probably wanting City to win 5-0, to let the agony end there. But unfortunately for them, hope had to intervene. It is said that hope will set you free. On that sunny day in May, hope sent United to despair.
With minutes remaining, QPR were leading 2-1, leaving United on the brink of glory. Just as hope turned to expectation, City snatched the title. The famous ‘AGUEROOOOO’ scream of commentators around the land, a moment of joy for so many, is a sound which still has United fans waking up in the small hours, punching their pillows and crying rivers of tears. It is that day which is seen as the embodiment of the change in dynamic of the rivalry between these two massive clubs.
However, any fears that United would spend decades on the back foot, like City had for so long, proved unfounded as the Red Devils cruised to last season’s title, helped by a late, late Robin van Persie free-kick at the Etihad Stadium. However, a potentially fatal blow would be struck with the news that Sir Alex Ferguson – so often the scourge of City – would retire when the season ended.
Things haven’t been great for them since. A season of setbacks, including a 4-1 humbling against City in September, has seen United go into tonight’s game well off the pace in the league and, in domestic terms at least, playing for pride only. That’s not to say that pride is not something to fight for. It’s just a bit like ‘it’s the taking part the counts’. It’s true, but it doesn’t make it any less depressing.
For City, the match represents a chance to strike a crucial blow in their quest to regain the Premier League title, as they play the first of their 17 (three) games in hand on league-leaders Chelsea. For United, with Europa League qualification (the football equivalent of Rugby’s ‘wooden spoon’) the only realistic goal, they can relax a little. This may be to their advantage, after a season where tension and nerves have undermined attempts at progress under new manager David Moyes.
On balance, the match should be a cracker, and it’s not to predict! However, the injury to Robin van Persie may actually prove advantageous to United. With rumours the Dutchman will leave in the summer, United seem a little stronger as a team without him. For the visitors, Sergio Aguero, the match- winner in this fixture last season, could be a big miss, but they have David Silva and Yaya Toure to compensate, and they’re pretty decent.
Past matches between these two have given us ‘that’ Michael Owen goal, Rooney’s overhead kick, ‘the 6-1’ match and much more. This match could be the latest in a list of recent classics, but can it live up to the hype? You can find out tonight, with the help of the NOW TV Sky Sports Day Pass.
Keep these facts handy for any banter later on…
See you there!
