Manchester City host Manchester United at the Etihad on Wednesday with both sides in contention for a place in the EFL Cup finals.
The Citizens won the first leg 1-3 and are in form to reproduce the same feat more especially in front of their home fans. They mauled Championship side 4-0 at the Etihad fuelling expectations that City would achieve the same feat at home against the Red Devils.
However, with these possibility looking likely, we evaluate the key reasons this could be so, as both giants square up against each other on the pitch.
First Leg Advantage
The Manchester City side are in terrific form at the moment and advancement to the EFL Cup final looks very possible. This would be at the expense of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United as the Citizens holds an aggregate advantage over their neighbors, Manchester United.
They beat the Red Devils 1-3 at Old Trafford and take a two goal lead into this month watering clash.
This gives them the upper hand more as we expect them to find the back of the net at home as well. This thus making it tough for the Red Devils to progress in their stead.
City Free Scoring Form
The Citizens are known for their ability to score goals a plenty as we may well see when they play host to Manchester United.
The Red Devils may have scored six times against Tranmere Rovers but City’s scoring form is way superior as goals would be expected from Manchester City’s forward lines in the game.
Players like Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez and Sergio Aguero is expected to be among the goals as much as Raheem Sterling and impressive Bernardo Silva (against the Fulham side with a goal).
That`s why the City side looks to be blazing from all cylinders following their Premier League point difference with leaders Liverpool.
Absence Of United’s Key Figure
Manchester United will be looking for redemption against the Pep Guardiola`s tutored side but the injury to key figures may have damned their chances ahead of this fixture.
This sees the like of Luke Shaw out injured while the superior duo of Paul Pogba and forward Marcus Rashford misses out in this one.
The English star Rashford scored in the first leg to give life to this fixture but his absence gives City a huge advantage prior to this contest.
This is the case as the Citizens line-up with the influx of attacking talents like Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling ready to destroy any defense that stands on their way along in the season.
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