Manchester United takes on Manchester City at City’s Etihad Stadium on Monday in a match that could well decide this season’s English Premier League title.
United has a three-point lead over second-place City, but City has a 60-54 goal-differential advantage, meaning that if City can win on its home pitch on Monday, the Roberto Mancini-managed club will take the EPL league thanks to the tiebreaker.
Monday's big match will be played under the watchful eyes of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, left, and Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini. (AP Photos)
The match will be televised at 2:55 p.m. ET on ESPN.
In addition to securing its 20th EPL championship, United will be trying to avenge the embarrassing 6-1 loss it was dealt by its cross-town rival in October—it was Man U’s worst home loss since 1955 and the first time the club gave up six goals at home since 1930. That five-goal margin looms large should the title race come down to goal differential.
But Mancini concedes that regardless of Monday’s result, it is United’s championship to lose.
“They have more chance than us because we play the derby on Monday and after we play Newcastle,” Mancini said. “That will be a very tough game and after QPR. United will play against Swansea and Sunderland. I think for them it will be two easy games.
"I think (even) if we win this (derby) game, they are favorite."
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said, “We need a result, It's a derby of amazing proportions. It is probably the most important derby game in my time. We have to go there, make sure we perform in the right way and not give away silly goals.”
United, Ferguson reminds us, was in a similar scenario late last season.
"Last year we were in the same situation with Chelsea,” he said. “Had we lost they would have caught us up with better goal difference but we won. It's a similar situation but this is the derby game of all derby games. They are our nearest rivals and it makes everybody step up a notch in terms of anticipation.”
Mancini, meanwhile, has not ruled out playing Mario Balotelli, the temperamental Italian striker who has not played since being sent off in City’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal on April 8.
"All the players are available," Mancini said. "I have 48 hours to the game. I have time to decide whether he (Balotelli) plays or not."
