All eyes turn to Old Trafford for key Manchester derby

Reuters: The eyes of the footballing world will be focused on Manchester on Sunday when English champions Manchester United play league leaders Manchester City in one of the most eagerly-awaited derbies between the two for years.

According to recent figures from the Premier League, 1.4 billion viewers regularly tune in to watch their matches everywhere from Australia to Zanzibar and Sunday’s game will be one of the biggest attractions of the season.

The players of both teams have been talking up their chances and, although one match never truly defines a season, victory in a derby usually assumes particular importance for the fans of the winning side.Those who worship at Old Trafford have had many of their prayers answered for years with United securing trophy after trophy under Alex Ferguson and Manchester United’s Portuguese winger Nani has told local media that United will be far too strong at their Old Trafford fortress for their neighbours.

City’s Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong says City will be going to Old Trafford for the 1230 GMT kickoff as the top-ranked team in the country -- and they intend leaving that way too.United have won 24 of their last 25 league matches at Old Trafford, and all of the last 19, and have not been beaten there since Chelsea won in April 2010.

Nani, while recognising the threat City pose, is optimistic about another win that would take United back to the top after they slipped to second last week.