Manchester United vs Manchester City Odds and Preview: Premier League Round 12

• Among this weekend’s EPL Matchday 12 fixtures is the season’s first Manchester Derby – Saturday, December 12 at 12:30 pm EST
• As things stand, both Manchester teams are in the unusual position of being outside the top six
• We list the odds, preview the game and offer some best bets here

Matchday 12 of the 2020-21 EPL season brings together the two Manchester giants for the first time this season, with both struggling to make an impact at the top of the division. But nevertheless, all eyes will be on Old Trafford on Saturday, December 12 at 12:30 pm EST as they both look to close the gap between themselves and joint-leaders Tottenham and Liverpool.

We list the odds below, preview the game, and offer the best bet.

Manchester United vs Manchester City Odds

All odds taken Dec 11 at DraftKings

Nightmare for United

It has been a really difficult EPL campaign for both Manchester giants so far and this weekend’s derby is the first for over a decade where neither team starts the game while in the division’s top five.

For United, the season has been a little short of a disaster, with a disappointing run of results in the EPL being compounded in midweek with a 3-2 defeat by RB Leipzig; one that signaled the end of their UEFA Champions League campaign. For a club of United’s stature, the consolation of a place in the Europa League is no consolation. In the EPL, they have won six of their ten games but, crucially, have lost three, including the humiliating 6-1 Old Trafford defeat by Tottenham.

⏳ Two days until the derby 👊#MUFC #MUNMCI pic.twitter.com/dEPhV1IvPl

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 10, 2020

Solskjaer Under Pressure

As a result, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s job is on the line and another defeat, this time by their City rivals, may just be one defeat too far for the United board. In the EPL, City are one point and one place worse off than United but their poor domestic form – by their standards at least – has been overshadowed by an outstanding performance in the group stages of the Champions League.

🗣 Ole: "Any player should be disappointed when they lose a game.

"But we've shown we can handle setbacks, both during games and before the next one." #MUFC #MUNMCI pic.twitter.com/wXt9qXVwhy

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 11, 2020

Pep Guardiola’s side completely dominated Group C and ended it with a record of five wins, one draw, 13 goals scored and just one conceded – a record only matched by the tournament’s current holders, Bayern Munich. With City’s billionaire backer, Sheihk Mansour demanding a Champions League trophy as a return on his investment, it could just be that City will prioritize Europe’s biggest prize this season, and this may offer a chink of light for United.

Manchester Utd vs Manchester City Head-to-Head Stats

Aguero On the Way Back

United, unsurprisingly, have a winning record against City and have won 76 out of the 182 games played between the two, with the Citizens winning 54 times. Also worthy of note is that the last time these two played – also at Old Trafford – it ended in a surprise 2-0 win for United with goals coming from Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay. A repeat this weekend would buy Solskjaer some time and offer him some breathing space.

Derby day delight #OnThisDay back in 2017! 📆👊

🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/Icws9ZHYBq

— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 10, 2020

In terms of team news, United have fitness concerns around Martial and Edinson Cavani, but with Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford impressing away at West Ham last weekend, and both now fully fit, Solskjaer’s best pairing may just have picked itself.

For City, Sergio Aguero made his long-awaited return in the midweek win over Marseille but is not yet match fit and so may have to be content with a place on the bench. Eric Garcia is also carrying a knock and is doubtful, but Guardiola has a generally healthy squad to pick from.

All the best bits as we eased past Marseille 🔽

🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5rehttps://t.co/gEZYgXYmqh

— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 10, 2020

No Inferiority Complex for United

United, while just ahead of City in the table, are generally accepted to be in their neighbor’s shadow but in recent seasons have still been able to find big performances when local pride is at stake, having won five of their last ten meetings. The inferiority complex that some have to overcome when playing City does not apply to United.

So, while City starts as odds-on favorites, it is important to remember the local derby factor. United has more than a chance here and I fancy them to get at least a draw against a City side whose best form has been saved for Europe.

Pick: United and City to draw (+300)