Manchester Derby: 3 things we expect to see

#2 Through balls played by City midfielders

Guardiola’s sides are known for their passing football and evidently, his midfielders play a lot of through balls to the advancing forwards. Tomorrow’s match should be no exception and the speed and agility of the United centre-backs would be tested by the City midfielders.

City are spoilt for choice in the midfield as they a have a number of world-class midfielders in David Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Sane, all of whom are quite adept at playing those vital passes.

United’s centre-backs are in good form but Chris Smalling, especially, is not known for being very fast. Moreover, he would also have to deal with the crosses likely to be played by the likes of Sterling and Sane.

Therefore, Victor Lindelof would have to cover more ground to stop the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero from doing the damage from those through balls. Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera, United’s defensive midfielders, should try to block those passes as much as possible.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Shambhu Ajith