Manchester United go head-to-head with their crosstown rivals Manchester City on Thursday, albeit on the other side of the planet. Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium are separated by just four miles in the northwest of England, though it’s Houston’s NRG Stadium that plays host to their encounter in the first round of the preseason International Champions Cup.
Manchester United vs. Manchester City 2017: Start time, TV channel, live stream for ICC Manchester Derby
The Manchester rivals clash in Houston on Thursday.
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Neither José Mourinho nor Pep Guardiola are likely to be too bothered about the pre-season silverware, but they are certainly going to pay close attention to their sides’ respective performances. For both coaches, this game offers the first real test of their summer progress, and we can expect a competitive contest. It should be well worth tuning into.
Manchester United summer signing to watch: Romelu Lukaku
United’s shiny new striker, Romelu Lukaku, netted the winning goal as the Reds saw off Real Salt Lake in their last preseason friendly earlier in the week. It should be the first of many for the former Everton man, who was snatched by Mourinho from underneath Chelsea’s nose. Filling Zlatan Ibrahimović’s boots is no easy task, but the Belgian’s as likely to achieve it as anyone.
Manchester City summer signing to watch: Bernardo Silva
Perhaps not as headline-grabbing as some of the signings we’ve seen so far this summer, City’s capture of Bernardo Silva from Monaco is nevertheless one of the more intriguing deals to be done. The silky playmaker was outstanding as Monaco made a run to the Champions League semifinals last season and looks the ideal Guardiola player. Still only 22, he could go on to establish himself as one of the world’s best.
Compared to other friendlies, is this worth my time?
Yes. There’s no love lost between Mourinho and Guardiola, even when it comes to friendly matches. Both sides will be looking to show they’ve got the upper hand at this stage of preseason, and we get to see a smattering of new signings. As far as friendly matches go, this is a great one. 8/10.
Match date/time: Thursday, 10:05 p.m. ET, 9:05 p.m. local
Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas.
TV: ESPN (U.S. — English); ESPN Deportes (U.S. — Spanish); TLN (Canada); MUTV (U.K.).
Online: WatchESPN (U.S. — English); ESPN Deportes+ (U.S. — Spanish).
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