Match Preview: City vs. United

Monday night Roberto Mancini takes his Manchester City side to Old Trafford in the hope the Champions can cut the gap at the top of the league table to twelve points. The City boss goes into the clash with the leaders Manchester United exactly a year to the day since he seen his side supposedly ruled out of the title race after a Mikel Arteta's strike had all but ended City's chance of a first title in forty four years.

Mario Balotelli's infamous 'Why Always Me' T-Shirt

Twelve months on, not much has changed. The media's mass hatred of Roberto Mancini remains and City look set to be out of the title race, however, a win for the away side will no doubt mean their slim chances become an easier prospect. With neither side having little if any injury doubts, both teams will have no excuses come Monday at 10pm. A win for United will all but guarantee the end of City's tenure on the title, whilst victory for the Champions will leave the door slightly a jar for title retention.

Last season's Derby will be one that will last long in the memories of both City and United fans and neither for same reasons. A thumping and embarrassing defeat 1-6 for United left a sour taste in the mouth of anyone from the red side. City fans and players will be only hopeful of producing the same result that shook the footballing world eighteen months ago.

Both managers have a few selection headaches ahead of the game and both for positive reasons. Roberto Mancini has an almost fully fit squad to choose from bar the exceptions of Jack Rodwell who is still nursing a hamstring injury he suffered at the start of March away to Aston Villa. Micah Richards is nearing full fitness but looks set to miss out on his comeback game on Monday due to lack of match practice. Sir Alex Ferguson's main concern will be the fitness of one Wayne Rooney who supposedly picked up a groin injury whilst on international duty with England away in Montenegro.

Their final games before the derby both ended well in the league after City picked up a four nil home win against Newcastle whilst United had a lucky escape away at Sunderland when a Robin Van Persie strike was deflected into the Sunderland goal much to the thanks of Titus Bramble. Two days later, Ferguson took his side home to London where a spectacular Demba Ba strike secured Chelsea's path to Wembley for the twelfth time in the six years of the stadium's existence.

PREDICTED TEAM:

PREDICTION:

United 1 City 1. A great end to end game, ending level. Goals  from Robin Van Persie to cancel out Sergio Aguero's opener.