What are the key battles between players which will decide who wins on Sunday afternoon?
On Sunday the most hotly contested Manchester derby in years comes around, with City’s imperious form starting to crumble just as United’s starts to pick up.
The game could be a turning point for both sides, and here we examine the individual contests that will decide the course of the match.
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5) Wayne Rooney v Radamel Falcao v Robin Van Persie
The first question Louis van Gaal faces is his team selection. United’s results have improved since Rooney’s suspension and the move away from playing all three of his superstar strikers simultaneously.
What will the Dutchman do if all three are fit? Luckily it doesn’t seem likely. Rooney should be available after suspension, although there are rumours that he has picked up another injury. Van Persie should start after scoring the vital goal against Chelsea, but Falcao is unlikely to play, having picked up a knock of his own.
4) Daley Blind v Samir Nasri
Nasri will return from injury against United, with David Silva now ruled out.
The Frenchman must replace Silva’s creativity in the side, and the United man must track him everywhere goes and not give him the yard he needs to make the vital pass.
3) Marouane Fellaini v Yaya Touré
Fellaini has been the surprise catalyst for United’s resurgence of late, while Touré has been poor this season.
This is generally the kind of game in which the Ivorian midfielder raises his level however, so the Red Devils need to ensure that their Belgian wins the physical battle in the middle.
2) Marcos Rojo v Sergio Aguero
The two Argentinians face off with Aguero in red-hot form and Rojo struggling, retaining his place seemingly only through a lack of other options.
In a one-on-one battle there will be only one winner, so United need to ensure they defend as a unit to prevent the striker isolating either of their centre-backs.
1) Angel Di Maria v Vincent Kompany
If they can win all these battles for control of the midfield, United will look to di Maria to make the difference for them going forward.
On the break they can cause City serious problems. When the Citizens attack, Pablo Zabaleta advances far down the right and Kompany drifts to the right to cover him.
The Belgium international’s only real weakness is his own fear of his lack of pace, and he is prone to lunge in on the halfway-line to stop a break.
If United can release di Maria quickly down their left they can isolate him against Kompany, and put the defender in serious trouble.