You BetDraw would be no surprise in Manchester derby
While the title is virtually United's, their leaky defence does give other teams a chance
This weekend's English Premier League programme builds to a crescendo on Monday for the Manchester derby, although what should have been a firecracker may turn out to be little more than a damp squib.
The weekend starts with a couple of relegation clashes today - Reading v Southampton and Stoke v Aston Villa - and continues with another tomorrow when QPR host Wigan. Attention is also focused on the race for European places when Tottenham host Everton before Monday's top-two clash between the Manchester clubs.
United's 15-point lead with eight games to play means the title is virtually theirs already and City have more to play for in terms of fending off any challenge for second place and regaining the psychological edge over their biggest rivals.
Before their last meeting, on December 9, only three points separated United and City. United's 3-2 win at the Etihad opened up the first significant gap in the title race and they have pressed home their advantage ever since by taking 38 points out of a possible 42.
City haven't done badly in the period between the two games with United - nine wins, two draws and three defeats for a total of 29 points out of a possible 42 - but their title challenge has gradually wilted under the pressure.
Following the United game, City had a run of five matches against teams from the current bottom eight and they won four out of five (the exception was a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland). Against teams in the top 12, however, their recent record is won three, drawn one and lost two, with the two defeats coming in their most recent away games in that category.