Manchester Derby: City and United Meet to Decide EPL Title, Sort Of...
By Ty Duffy
City must travel to Newcastle (fighting for a Champions League place) and play QPR at home (fighting to avoid relegation). United faces Swansea at home and Sunderland away. Safe from relegation, neither has reason for exertion.
Man City could take the lead with a win, but that’s no guarantee they will win the race.
Reverse Fixture: Man City crushed Man U 6-1 at Old Trafford in October. The embarrassing defeat hurt United’s pride. It also may end up costing them the title on goal difference.
Form: Man U has has won just one of its last three matches, falling 1-0 away to Wigan on Apr. 11 and drawing 4-4 with Everton at home on Apr. 22. Since losing 1-0 to the Arsenal, Man City has found its form. The club thumped West Brom, Norwich and Wolves in their last three matches by a combined score of 12-1.
Historical Disparity: Manchester United has won 12 of the last 19 EPL titles. Manchester City last won the title in 1968, and last finished second in the top flight in 1977. Last year’s FA Cup Triumph was the club’s first trophy since 1976.
Numbers: Tickets for this match were going online for more than $3,500, around 40 times the asking price. Six hundred and fifty million globally are expected to watch. The match may account for $357 million in increased revenue for Manchester. The latter figures may be a tad exaggerated.
Prediction: 2-1 Manchester City.