Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim occupy contrasting points on the managerial timeline but have already met in high-profile fixtures that define a growing rivalry.

Amorim began his rise at Sporting CP before being appointed the Manchester United head coach. Their first notable encounter came in the 2021–22 Champions League last 16. Manchester City produced a one-sided first leg, taking a four-goal lead by half time thanks to a Bernardo Silva brace and strikes from Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden. Raheem Sterling added a further goal after the break, leaving City with a five-goal advantage that effectively decided the tie.

The return leg at the Etihad Stadium was a goalless draw. Sporting kept their pride intact, frustrating City on a night of little consequence for the hosts, who progressed to the quarter-final despite failing to find their usual attacking fluency.

The pair met again in the league phase of the 2024–25 Champions League, this time with Sporting delivering a decisive response in Lisbon. Phil Foden gave City an early lead in the fourth minute, Viktor Gyökeres levelled before the interval and then converted two penalties after the restart. Maxi Araújo also scored as Sporting ran out 4-1 winners. The result marked a third successive defeat for Manchester City during a difficult spell and served as a memorable send-off from Amorim to the Sporting supporters shortly before his move to Old Trafford.

A little over a month later Amorim returned to the Etihad as Manchester United head coach. Joško Gvardiol opened the scoring for City in the first half, but United completed a late turnaround: an 88th-minute penalty from Bruno Fernandes and a 90th-minute strike from Amad Diallo secured a dramatic victory for the visitors and gave Amorim a dream Manchester derby debut.

There have not been dozens of meetings between the two men, yet each encounter has produced decisive moments that shape their head-to-head story.

Manchester City begin the Manchester derby carrying a sizeable injury list and a series of tentative return dates. Several first-team options are certain to miss the Red Devils visit, while others remain doubts after the September international break.

Joško Gvardiol has missed all three of City’s Premier League matches this season. He returned to light training in August and the Croatian posted on social media that he was back on the pitch, but he has not played since City’s FIFA Club World Cup exit at the beginning of July and it seems unlikely he would be thrust straight into the starting XI for the derby.

John Stones has started several matches this term and earned an England call-up but withdrew from the September internationals with a muscle issue. City declared that his withdrawal was a “precautionary measure” and that does not necessarily mean he will be available for the Manchester derby.

Khusanov was a surprise start against Brighton & Hove Albion and was withdrawn late in that defeat with a calf injury. Uzbekistan’s football association confirmed he would be missing for approximately two weeks, meaning the centre back could return for Sunday’s game.

Rico Lewis withdrew from England’s Under-21 squad with an unspecified injury. City are cautious with international call-ups, so that withdrawal seems unlikely to be serious. Nico O’Reilly also pulled out of England’s U21s with an unspecified knock; he has made only cameos this season but Guardiola suggested he could be available.

Rayan Aït-Nouri withdrew from Algeria duty after an injury suffered in the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. He returned against Brighton but is a doubt with Guardiola saying he has not fully recovered from an ankle injury.

Mateo Kovačić is a confirmed absence after undergoing Achilles surgery in June; he missed the Club World Cup and the start of the Premier League term and is expected to return after the October international break, eased back into action.

Rayan Cherki faces roughly two months out, meaning a late October return if plans hold. Phil Foden has missed Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton and made only a cameo against Spurs; he could miss the derby though the break may have aided his recovery. Savinho has missed the season to date with a knock but has returned to training. Omar Marmoush suffered an injury on international duty and is also unavailable.

Manchester United face the Manchester City derby this weekend with a string of injury concerns that could shape team selection. United arrived at the international break having secured their first victory of the season courtesy of a last‑gasp winner from Bruno Fernandes against Burnley, but earlier losses to Arsenal and Grimsby Town offered unwelcome reminders of the club’s fragile start.

Lisandro Martínez remains the only confirmed absentee, still sidelined after an ACL tear sustained in February. The Argentine has been on the grass at Carrington as he edges closer to a return, but no official date has been set for his first-team comeback.

Diogo Dalot is the latest concern after withdrawing from the Portugal squad for the September internationals against Armenia and Hungary. The Portuguese football association reported Dalot experienced some “muscle discomfort” during national team training. United’s head coach confirmed in his pre-match press conference that participation in the derby is out of the question for Dalot.

Mason Mount has returned to the treatment room following the narrow win over Burnley. He was withdrawn at half time in the 3–2 victory with an unspecified knock and the head coach said Mount had “played 30 minutes with an injury”. The precise extent of the problem remains unclear, though Mount has made an encouraging start to the season and the club will hope for a swift recovery.

Matheus Cunha was also forced off early in the Burnley game, lasting around half an hour before being substituted with a muscle problem. He subsequently withdrew from Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia.

Travelling supporters will be watching pre-match updates closely. With Martínez not yet available and Dalot, Mount and Cunha carrying doubts, selection choices for the derby could be heavily influenced by the medical assessments carried out in the days leading up to the fixture.