Rodri starts as City make three changes for United clash | OneFootball

Rodri has been named in the starting XI for the Manchester derby.

Our Ballon d’Or winner has been making steady progress in recent weeks and will start against the Reds, though Nico’s absence has likely accelerated his return.

Also coming in are Gianluigi Donnarumma and Rico Lewis, with James Trafford, Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly all making way.

Nunes, so consistent all season, is reportedly out with illness and is yet another defensive blow for Pep Guardiola.

Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, John Stones, Savinho and Oscar Bobb all remain sidelined with injury.

Omar Marmoush is also absent as he is still involved with Egypt at the 2026 AFCON.

TEAMS

CITY: Donnarumma, Lewis, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake, Rodrigo, Bernardo (C), Semenyo, Foden, Doku, Haaland

SUBS: Trafford, Bettinelli, Reijnders, Cherki, Ait-Nouri, O’Reilly, McAidoo, Mukasa, Mfuni

MANCHESTER UNITED: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Dorgu, Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes (C), Amad, Mbeumo

SUBS: Bayindir, Malacia, Heaven, Yoro, J. Fletcher, Mount, Ugarte, Cunha, Sesko

Formation and tactics

With Donnarumma back in goal, Rico Lewis returns at right-back in Nunes’ absence, with Nathan Ake at left-back.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Max Alleyne continue their run in central defence, with Rodri guarding the back four.

Bernardo and Phil Foden complete the midfield trio, with the exciting wing duo Antoine Semenyo and Jeremy Doku hopefully supplying opportunities for Erling Haaland.

City have gamechangers on the bench in Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders, with Rayan Ait-Nouri and Nico O’Reilly also likely to be called upon.

attack  key for blues

It’s impossible to know which Manchester United will turn up today, such has been their unpredictability this season.

City’s relatively inexperienced defence will have their hands full today, so getting the ball up field as quickly as possible to our forwards will be crucial, with Doku and Semenyo capable of wreaking havoc.

United have named a strong, attack-minded starting XI with Amad and Mbeumo both back after AFCON duty - it looks likely to be a game with goals in it with the Reds certain to have a spring in their step due to Michael Carrick’s interim appointment.

The Reds will undoubtedly look to get at our new-look back four and Donnarumma, Ake, Bernardo and Rodri’s experience - in particular - will be crucial throughout.

Stats and facts

Manchester United lost the reverse fixture against City 3-0 in September. They last failed to score in both league meetings with the Blues in 1the 973-74, a campaign that saw them relegated from the top-flight.

City have won more Premier League away games against Man Utd than any other visiting side (9), while only Liverpool (41) have scored more goals at Old Trafford than the Citizens (37).

Manchester United have failed to score in four of their last five Premier League home games against Manchester City, including the last two in a row. They’ve not gone 3+ home league games without a goal against the Blues since a run of four between December 1911 and September 1914.

Manchester United have drawn each of their last three Premier League games, last having a longer run of consecutive draws in September/October 1992 (5).

City have drawn each of their last three Premier League games, last having a longer run of consecutive draws in October/November 2009 (7). This will be the first meeting between two sides both on a run of 3+ consecutive Premier League draws since February 2001.

Only Bournemouth (16), West Ham United (15) and Chelsea (15) have dropped more points from winning positions in the Premier League this season than Manchester United (14), while Manchester City have dropped four points in their last two games, just one fewer than in their first 19 matches of 2025-26 (5).

This will be Michael Carrick’s second stint as manager at Manchester United, following his three-game spell in November/December 2021 (W2 D1). As a player, Carrick only recorded more wins in the Premier League against Sunderland (16) than he did City (P24 W13 D3 L8).

Erling Haaland has been involved in more Premier League goals against Man Utd than any other City player (11 – 8 goals, 3 assists), having a hand in all three goals on his last appearance at Old Trafford in October 2023 (2 goals, 1 assist in a 3-0 win).

Only against Brighton (8) has City’s Phil Foden scored more Premier League goals than he has against United (7), though just one of his seven strikes against the Red Devils has come at Old Trafford.

Only Erling Haaland (12) and Igor Thiago (11) have been involved in more Premier League goals since the start of November than Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (10 – 3 goals, 7 assists). Fernandes leads the competition overall for chances created following line-breaking passes (17) and line-breaking passes leading to shots (30) this term.

City v Newcastle Second leg tickets available!

See the conclusion of what promises to be a thrilling final four tie at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 4 February.

Newcastle are the holders of the Carabao Cup and will be determined to hold on to their crown, while City are seeking a ninth success in League Cup history.

Tickets start from £20 for adults and £10 for concessions, while a wide range of hospitality packages are also on offer to make it a special occasion!

*On sale to Season Ticket Members and existing Cityzens Matchday and Junior Members (as of Tue 16 Dec 2025) who have purchased 1+ home fixtures at the Etihad Stadium. 4 tickets per person.

Get your tickets here!