The first Manchester derby of the season is set to take place on September 10 and this time around the tension is palpable.
With Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola about to square off for the first time under the bright lights of Old Trafford, fans, pundits and neutrals are all licking their lips in anticipation of this tactical master class.
Will Guardiola invert his wing-backs and go with a 4-1-4-1 system and if he does, how will Mourinho counter City’s attacking flow? What if Mourinho floods the middle of the park with players in a bid to shut out City and counter on the break?
The tactical possibilities for both sides are enough to get football fans around the world salivating, but what about those who sense a chance to make a few extra quid during this Manchester derby? What do all these possibilities mean for the pre-game betting markets?
From a general perspective, United are the betting favourites with Sun Bets. 13/10 is the current price on Mourinho’s men to do the business, while 11/5 says City will take three points back across Manchester.
However, with so much potential on the pitch, there’s a lot more value out there then a simple outright bet. In fact, with Paddy Power offering some off-the-wall bets, the canny punter could pick up a pretty penny when the tackles start to fly this Saturday.
So, with this in mind, we’ve cherry picked some of Paddy Power’s more interesting bets you might have missed ahead of the big showdown:
Jose Mourinho to be sent to the stands – 10/1
If there’s anyone with more passion on the touchline than Mr. Mourinho then we’re yet to see him. While the likes of Rooney or Ibrahimovic are more likely to score a caution than Mourinho, he’s never been one for shying away from a tense situation. If the score line is tight and things aren’t going his way, Mourinho could easily find himself watching from the stands which makes 10/1 a price you can’t ignore.
Ibrahimovic and Iheanacho to both score in 90 minutes – 13/2
With United and City both firing on all cylinders this season, goals will certainly be on the cards this Saturday. If that’s the case, then Ibrahimovic and Iheanacho are likely to be in the mix, and that makes 13/2 a hugely attractive proposition. In fact, if you’re looking for slightly more value from this intriguing head-to-head, then one player to outscore the other could also be a solid bet. 2/1 says Ibrahimovic will reign supreme while 4/1 says his counterpart will bang in the most goals. Either way the odds make these wagers worth a punt.
Goal to be scored between the 86th minute and fulltime – 25/1
A Manchester derby at Old Trafford just wouldn’t be the same if there wasn’t some late drama. While the days of the Ferguson 94th minute winner might have gone, there’s no denying that United have a knack of stealing games at the death. Of course, nothing is certain in a game of this magnitude, but given United’s history of late goals there’s no reason this bet couldn’t materialise. Indeed, if you treat it as one of those small stake/high return propositions, then 25/1 is a price you should be more than willing to take.
Whichever way you slice it and however you ante-up, Manchester United vs. Manchester City looks set to be a barnstormer. Whether you take advantage of the bets outlined above or you visit Paddy Power for the latest live odds, there’s plenty of potential this weekend if you’re willing to look for it.
Betfair:
Bet on Henrik Stenson to become the BMW PGA Championship Winner.
Paddypower:
Back Australia to take the Ashes home with them.
Betway:
Back Rafael Nadal to become the Mens French Open Winner.
Coral:
Back One For Arthur to win the Grand National.
Bet365:
Back Mexico to win the Confederations Cup.
