Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim came face to face just five weeks ago with the Portuguese emerging victorious when his Sporting CP side thrashed Manchester City 4-1 in Lisbon.
That game came in the middle of a five-match losing run that has derailed City’s season and made their task of retaining the Premier League title for a fifth successive time look increasingly difficult.
Guardiola’s squad is still riddled with injury problems and they could have just three fit, senior defenders to choose from on Sunday.
On the plus side, they will face a United team that continues to lack fluidity despite the departure of Erik ten Hag. Amorim would endear himself to the red half of Manchester with a win this afternoon.