Manchester United and Manchester City have enjoyed perfect starts to the new Premier League season, maintaining a 100% record in their opening three matches.
José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola have brought new energies to their respective teams, and as many predicted before the start of the campaign, appear on a collision course in their battle for the top-flight title.
The two men previously crossed paths in Spain at Real Madrid and Barcelona, where they took one La Liga crown apiece in the two seasons when they were rivals in the El Clasico contest.
Now the race for the Premier League title appears to be just as intense between the rival managers and clubs, with their first contest of the term on the horizon after the international break.
Although the season remains in its infancy the clash between United and City at Old Trafford on September 10 will be a statement match for both teams, eager to press their claims for the crown.
The Red Devils are backed in the latest football odds to triumph at 5/4, with Guardiola’s men coming in at 11/5 to defeat their city rivals on enemy territory.
United began the campaign with a routine win over Bournemouth at Dean Court, displaying no signs of a lack of rhythm under a new manager, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic netting a debut goal.
The Swede continued to show the ease of his transition into English football with a match-winning brace against Southampton, ensuring that Mourinho marked his first game at Old Trafford with a victory.
Maintaining their 100% record looked in jeopardy against Hull City, who defied the odds to start the term with back-to-back wins. United probed for 90 minutes without success, but finally found the breakthrough in stoppage time as Marcus Rashford stabbed home from close range.
United haven’t been fluent in the final third as of yet, but the Portuguese will be delighted with the clinical edge they have shown in front of goal – something they lacked sorely under the tenure of Louis van Gaal.
The Citizens struggled to get into gear in their opener against Sunderland despite enjoying the perfect start to the game when Sergio Aguero scored from the spot. They needed a late own goal from Paddy McNair to kickstart the Guardiola era with a win after Jermain Defoe had levelled.
Putting Stoke to the sword proved to be more straightforward as Aguero and Nolito notched braces to deliver an emphatic win. Raheem Sterling returned to form to guide them to their third win on a spin in a 3-1 triumph over West Ham, leaving City with United locked in at the top of the table.
Mourinho will be hopeful that his Red Devils outfit avoid the fate he and Real suffered in his first El Clasico as they were hammered 5-0 by Guardiola’s Barcelona.
Both teams appeared to be well matched, given the potent threat of Aguero and Ibrahimovic as the spearheads of the attack, although the Argentine could be a doubt for the fixture pending any action the FA may choose to make over his elbow on Winston Reid.
Although they are yet to keep a clean sheet under Guardiola, City may hold the edge defensively due to their experience at the back. United have held two shutouts and Eric Bailly has impressed in the middle of the line, but City will present a much tougher test than anyone they have faced thus far.
The contest could be the spectacle of the season and both sides will be determined to make a statement in their push for the crown. The winner at Old Trafford could well be the team that eventually goes on to raise the trophy come the end of the campaign.
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