RismadarVoice Reporters
September 13, 2026
Manchester United will host Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday in the first Manchester derby for City manager Enzo Maresca, with both sides facing an important early-season test in the Premier League.
The match, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. BST, is the 199th meeting between the Manchester rivals and comes as City seek to maintain their perfect start to the league campaign under Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola during the summer.
City have won all three of their Premier League matches so far and sit among the early leaders, while United have collected four points from their opening three fixtures. United lost to newly promoted Hull City, defeated Ipswich Town 5-2 and drew 2-2 with Everton.
United, however, enter the derby with renewed confidence after a 4-0 Champions League victory over Sabah in midweek. Manager Michael Carrick, who was appointed permanently after a successful interim spell last season, will be seeking another strong performance at Old Trafford against City’s new-look side.
For Maresca, the fixture represents his first competitive Manchester derby since taking over at City. The Italian manager has said he understands the significance of the occasion to supporters and the club but insists his primary focus is on maintaining City’s identity and securing another victory.
The City manager also arrives at Old Trafford after a midweek Champions League victory over Porto, where Erling Haaland scored twice in a 2-0 win. Haaland’s form has been one of the major positives of City’s early campaign as Maresca continues to integrate new players into his squad.
Maresca has confirmed that Nico O’Reilly is available for selection after recovering from a back problem, while winger Jérémy Doku remains unavailable because of a calf injury.
Carrick, meanwhile, will look to exploit United’s home advantage and build on the club’s strong record under his management. He guided United to a third-place finish last season after taking charge midway through the campaign and subsequently earned the permanent position.
The fixture also carries recent significance for United. City had been unbeaten in the derby for an extended period before United defeated them at Old Trafford in January, with Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu scoring in a 2-0 victory.
Beyond the rivalry, Sunday’s encounter provides an early indication of the two clubs’ ambitions under new managerial regimes. City are attempting to maintain their position at the top end of the table following Guardiola’s departure, while United are seeking greater consistency after an uneven opening to Carrick’s first full season as permanent manager.
With City carrying a perfect league record and United relying on home advantage and renewed momentum from Europe, the Old Trafford clash is expected to provide one of the first major tests of both teams’ credentials in the 2026/27 Premier League season.
