Manchester City vs Manchester United EFL Cup Semifinals Leg 2 Odds & Pick
- Guardiola’s team lead 3-1 from first leg stroll at Old Trafford
- Solskjaer under pressure after poor EPL form and Rashford injury
- Blues seek fifth triumph in seven seasons in competition
Manchester United face a daunting uphill battle to recover against rivals Manchester City in the second leg of their semifinal in England’s EFL Cup on Wednesday.
City hold a 3-1 lead after humbling United at Old Trafford in the first meeting.
EFL Cup Semifinal Second Leg Man City vs Man Utd Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | -1, -1½ -150 | -312 | Ov3 -120 |
| Manchester United | +1, +1½ +130 | +560 | Un3 +100 |
| Draw | N/A | +420 | N/A |
Odds taken Jan. 27
Pep Guardiola’s City team are rated as -312 favorites to win on the night and advance to the final at Wembley on March 1.
United are priced at a wide +560 with the draw on the night – at full-time – rated at +420 odds on January 29, Etihad Stadium, Manchester, at 2:45 pm EST.
If the aggregate scores are level at the end of normal time, there will be a penalty shoot-out to decide which side advances. At +420, a normal time draw on the night looks the best value.
City are the holders of the trophy which they won as part of their unprecedented English domestic treble of last season.
Pep’s Stunning Treble
They won the Premier League title, the FA Cup and the EFL Cup – also known as the Carabao Cup or simply the League Cup.
City have, in fact, won the competition in four of the past six seasons.
The Guardian are reporting that Manchester United and Sporting are prepared to reach a compromise over Bruno Fernandes 😱
Starting to feel a little like groundhog day 😂🇾🇪 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/cfnA4PaU1r
— Stretford Paddock FC (@SPaddockFC) January 27, 2020
Progress to the final would be more valuable to United in this particular campaign with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in need of a lift amid a season of growing criticism of the club and the way it is run by its American owners, the Glazer family.
Solskjaer’s side have suffered two successive and significant defeats in the EPL which has led to protests among supporters.
United earned themselves a small boost on Sunday when they defeated Tranmere Rovers of the EFL’s League One by 6-0 in an FA Cup fourth round tie.
However, Solskjaer’s side have suffered two successive and significant defeats in the EPL which has led to protests among supporters.
They slumped to a 2-0 defeat by rivals – and runaway EPL leaders – Liverpool on January 19 followed by a humiliating 2-0 defeat by Burnley at Old Trafford four days later. They are currently placed fifth in the EPL.
In the first leg of the semifinal at home, United were over-run and were three goals down by half-time as City stormed ahead thanks to goals from Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and an own goal by Andreas Perreira.
Marcus Rashford pulled one back after half-time.
United had begun their campaign in Round 2 with a troubling home 1-1 draw against Rochdale of League One although they went through 5-3 on penalties.
Gabriel Jesus has scored 56 goals and provided 17 assists in 78 starts for Manchester City.
Read that again. That is ridiculous. 😳 pic.twitter.com/dkQBt6gaTe
— Goal (@goal) January 26, 2020
Mass Discontent at Old Trafford
The nature of the defeat added to the mood of discontent among United’s fans with the subsequent defeat by Burnley witnessing a mass early exit of supporters complaining about the club’s lack of action in the current transfer window.
They have also now lost star striker Rashford for two months with a serious back injury.
EFL Cup Man City vs Man Utd Statistics
| 4 | Wins | 2 |
| 0 | Losses | 1 |
| 0 | Draws | 1 |
| 12 | Goals | 7 |
| 3 | Goals Against | 5 |
| 6 | Competition Wins | 5 |
| 1 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 7 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
In contrast with the unsettled mood around United, City are enjoying a productive spell even though they trail Liverpool in the EPL table by 16 points.
In the EPL, City have re-claimed second place from Leicester City after a run of five unbeaten games in which they have taken 13 points from the last possible 15.
They beat Fulham of the EFL Championship 4-0 at home in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
In the EPL, City have re-claimed second place from Leicester City after a run of five unbeaten games in which they have taken 13 points from the last possible 15.
This followed a surprise 3-2 defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 27 which highlighted the fact that City have lacked a little consistency this season.
Their main target now is surely the Champions League in which they face Real Madrid in the last 16.
Man United WILL consider sacking Ole Gunnar Solskajer if results do not improve… and Gareth Southgate is leading contender to replace him https://t.co/E9fqGbmcPK #mufc
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) January 25, 2020
Cross-Town Rivalry at Stake
But they will be keen to inflict more misery on United in the EFL Cup meeting on Wednesday.
United actually pulled off a surprise 2-1 win away against City in the EPL on December 7.
But now Solskjaer will lack the absent Rashford who was one of the goalscorers in that victory and also lack the services of Scott McTominay who was influential on that occasion.
Pick: Draw +420
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
