Man City v Man Utd: Betting Tips

Manchester City v Manchester United

Manchester United go into today’s Community Shield as 7/5 favourites but better value is on City at 11/5 with Stan James.

Mancini has stabilised the side and got them playing ‘serious’ football. Man for man, Mancini’s Man City are more talented than the Man United men. Now try repeating faster and faster.

This could well be City’s year. Man United were distinctly average last season, particularly outside Manchester, emerging as champions only because of Arsenal’s unique ability to lack ability when it matters and Chelsea’s mid-season collapse.

It was City who were steadily consistent, easing past the London pretty boys like a long distance runner up against a sprinter. Despite Ferguson branding his neighbours as noisy it was quiet, controlled performances which got City their highest ever Premiership finish.

Twice they kept clean sheets against United and were it not for a Rooney wonder goal they would have been undefeated against the champions. The games were even affairs which could have swung either way and today’s match will likely be more of the same.

It is arguable how serious either manager will take the meeting but Mancini’s banishment of fun from pre-season compared to United’s hectic schedule of testimonials and soccerball galore looks like much better preparation.

United come in off the back of a series of testimonials so not too much importance can be placed upon them, at the same time City were playing Inter Milan off the park, even Balotelli got in on the (serious) act.

Super Mario tempts at 8/1 to be on target first with Tevez and Aguero both unlikely to start there will be room for the Italian to take up the mantle. As an outsider Kolarov is a decent prospect at 43.0 with Betfair, the Russian has a wicked left foot and in a tight game the sides may be restricted to long range efforts in the early stages. City would do well to test De Gea near the start to see if he can live up to Van der Saar’s legacy.

The bet for these matches, however, is against goals. There were just 4 goals in 3 matches last season between the sides, City also drew 0-0 away to Arsenal and beat Chelsea 1-0 at home. Mancini has a skill at playing conservatively in the big games and neither side will want to show their cards so early in the season. Under 2.5 goals is the way to go at 8/11 with SkyBet.

Added to that, three of the last four Community Shields have gone to penalties, all of which featured United, who also won on pens back in 2003, and I fancy this one to go the same way.

If City win in 90 minutes then PaddyPower will refund your outright stakes, so the draw should be backed at 9/4, leaving exposure only to a United win. A bore 0-0 is never a great interest bet but could be a money spinner at 9/1 with SkyBet, however, Bet365 will refund correct score bets if the match ends goalless so the better option is a repeat of last year’s semi, 1-0 City at 15/2.

Recommended:

• Draw (9/4 Paddy Power)*
• Under 2.5 Goals (8/11 SkyBet)
• Man City 1-0 Man United (15/2 Bet365)**

*stake refunded if City win in 90 mins

**stake refunded if match ends 0-0 after 90 mins

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