Manchester United vs Manchester City preview: Claudio Bravo expected to make debut

By Ric Turner, Fri 09 September 2016 15:01


Manchester United vs Manchester City preview: Claudio Bravo expected to make debutNew signing Leroy Sane also available, but Kompany and Gundogan unlikely to be risked

Manchester United vs Manchester City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 12.30pm, Saturday 10 September 2016

Venue: Old Trafford, Trafford

Referee: Mark Clattenburg Assistants: J Collin, S Bennett Fourth Official: M Dean

Odds: United 11/8, Draw 9/4, City 5/2

Tickets: Sold out

TV: Sky Sports

Manchester United

Manager: Jose Mourinho

Squad (from): De Gea, Romero, Jones, Rojo, Smalling, Blind, Bailly, Shaw, Valencia, Darmian, Mata, Carrick, Pogba, Young, Herrera, Fellaini, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Lingard, Depay, Mkhitaryan, Martial, Rooney, Rashford, Ibrahimovic

Injured: None

Doubtful: Shaw, Lingard, Mkhitaryan

Suspended: None

Form guide: WWWW

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Bravo, Caballero, Clichy, Kolarov, Kompany, Otamendi, Sagna, Stones, Zabaleta, De Bruyne, Delph, Fernando, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Navas, Nolito, Silva, Sterling, Sane, Toure, Iheanacho

Injured: None

Doubtful: Gundogan, Kompany

Suspended: Aguero

Form guide: WWWWW

Vincent Kompany is unlikely to be risked in the Manchester derby as he continues his rehabilitation following a thigh injury sustained last season. New signings Leroy Sane and Claudio Bravo are both fit, however, and could make their City debuts at Old Trafford. Ilkay Gundogan is close to a return, and could feature on the bench whilst Pep Guardiola must decide who replaces the suspended Sergio Aguero in attack.

Guardiola said at Friday's press conference: “Claudio is OK, he had a little bit of a problem in his leg but he’s trained the last two days. Sane is in terms of his condition, is the best player - Gundogan is much better.

“Bravo is fit and ready - he’s 32, 33 years old - he has experience. No problem with that. He has to save the goals.

“Kompany is training but we are waiting for the blood test to be sure. He’s fit but we don’t want to take too much risk because of what happened last season. We will be sure when he comes back he is 100%.”

City's last away game at Old Trafford ended in a fairly drab 0-0 draw, with neither side really threatening to break the deadlock. Overall City have won 47 of the 160 games played against United, with 48 draws and 65 defeats.

Prediction: United 1 City 1