For the first time in a while, United will begin the fixture ahead of City, who have had a poor start to the season. In fact, their three points from nine available so far are actually Pep Guardiola's worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
Man City's Premier League form is lamentable
If you looked at City's last 38 games, equivalent to a full Premier League season, their lack of form compared to previous seasons is notable.
They would actually find themselves in fourth position with just 65 points, 19 behind Liverpool, who have statistically been the best team over the past 38 matches.
With Omar Marmoush having sustained a knee injury whilst on international duty, the Catalan's woes have deepened, and it's possible City will have as many as 10 players unavailable for this 'Super Sunday' fixture.
What's more, in the entire time that Guardiola has spent at the Etihad Stadium, it's Man Utd that have inflicted a quarter of his 16 home defeats, including a smash-and-grab last December when Amad Diallo grabbed a late winner.
Away teams more successful in derby over the last decade
Though Pep has only lost 49 of his 345 Premier League matches (W247, D49), 22% of those defeats have been since the start of last November (11).
It's remarkable too that since 2015/16, away teams in this fixture have been the more successful.
The home side have only won six of the 20 English top-flight games (L10, D4), with Crystal Palace vs Liverpool the only game that has more away wins (12) in that same period.
Whilst City lost their only previous league game at home this season, United managed just a draw in their only away game. The visitors also haven't won away in the league since March 16th against Leicester City.
A win on Sunday is therefore imperative for either side, though for totally different reasons, and one thing that will be occupying Ruben Amorim's mind is whether he gives Benjamin Sesko a first start in a red shirt.
Bayindir in
There were question marks surrounding whether he replaced Altay Bayindir with new goalkeeping signing, Senne Lammens, which could also have had an impact on the game for both teams, though the manager confirmed on Friday that the Turkish international would start.
That's despite Bayindir committing an error leading to a goal every 430 minutes (all competitions), which is the most of any English top-flight keeper since August 2023.
As a result, City might think long and hard about whether to pepper his goal from corners.
That's because Bayindir has been known to flap at this type of set piece, and the hosts' xG following corners (8.9) was only bettered by Arsenal and Crystal Palace last season.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is likely to debut in goal for City and had Lammens done so for United, it would've been only the third time in Premier League history where both clubs have given a debut to goalkeepers in the same game.
The two previous occasions that occurred came way back in April 1993 - Nottingham Forest (Andy Marriott) vs Spurs (Kevin Dearden) - and in May 2007 - Charlton Athletic (Darren Randolph) vs Liverpool (Daniele Padelli).
Positives for United
It's worth pointing out that Donnarumma, should he start, could be the busier of the two custodians too, as, despite the jury still being out on Amorim's United, they have had the most shots (58) in the Premier League this season - 14 more than any other side.
Not since 2017/18 have they had more in the opening three games of a league campaign (60).
Amorim may also be keen to use Bryan Mbeumo's ability to get in behind a City defence that have gone walkabout on remarkably regular occasions this season.
Balls over the top have been a real problem for Guardiola's side, and as a result, they have given up more chances (five) than any other team in the division in 2025/26.
United have actually made the most runs (131) in behind the opponent’s defence this season, and it's Mbeumo who has had the most of any player (54), despite not really capitalising on that so far.
Bruno Fernandes is also likely to have a say in the outcome of this one, too.
United's captain has scored in the last three wins over City, including keeping his nerve when taking an 88th-minute penalty at the Etihad last season, whilst he's also created the most chances (12) in the Premier League this season.
Another fascinating encounter is therefore in prospect with no real favourite to choose from.
