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It only seems like the number of subplots equal the number of all-time meetings as the 172nd edition of the Manchester derby is set for Saturday at Old Trafford when United and City put their unblemished records on the line.The teams have spent lavishly, both on players and managers. And the touchline will be watched as closely as the action on the pitch as Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola renew acquaintances, and potentially hostilities as a citys bragging rights are at stake as well as a spot at the top of the Premier League standings.The two have circled each other before, though this time the 4.3 miles separating the two stadia of Manchester makes Saturday a far more intimate affair than the 310 that buffered them between Real Madrid and Barcelona.Mourinho has always worn the black hat in this rivalry ever since 2008 when The Special One was passed over by Barcelonas front office and ownership for Guardiola, the former Catalan defender who was elevated from coaching Barcas B squad. That enmity will carry over into this match since Guardiola has been reunited with many of Barcelonas key personnel at Manchester City (3-0-0).Guardiola has the upper hand in the head-to-head matches between the two that span five teams (Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Chelsea for Mourinho; Barcelona and Bayern Munich for Guardiola), winning seven and drawing six of the 16 all-time matches, highlighted by Barcas clinical 5-0 demolition of Real Madrid in Mourinhos first El Clasico match in 2010.The antagonism between the two intensified in 2011 over four matches in a 17-day stretch during which Mourinho won the Copa del Rey before Guardiola exacted his revenge by bouncing him from the Champions League in a two-legged semifinal. Their matches in Spain took on good against evil overtones, with Guardiolas flowing Barca offence trying to overcome the cynical punishing play of Reals defence and counterattack.The two have succeeded at the highest club levels with their differing philosophies, Mourinho climbing every managerial rung scraping to win titles 90 minutes at a time with a pragmatic approach that varies depending on the opposition. Park the bus, hit on the counter, buy the best stars, the Portuguese manager has always succeeded in the short term as his players fully bought into his us-versus-the-world mentality.Guardiola, on the other hand, believes in the system -- his system -- honed on his relentlessly inquisitive nature and desire for the aesthetically pleasing football his mentor Johan Cryuff espoused while building Barcelona into a global powerhouse. While it did not result in a Champions League trophy in his three seasons at Bayern Munich, it did get them to the semifinals each year. Its also the foundation of success Manchester City desperately sought in their five-year courtship with him before he finally agreed to take over the blue side of the city last Christmas after his run in the Bundesliga.Both teams, in addition to Mourninhos former charges at Chelsea, claimed the maximum nine points in three matches before the international break. Manchester City have scored a league-high nine goals, Manchester United (3-0-0) have conceded a league-best one. Thus, this match has all the makings of the irresistible force trying to break down the immovable object.But the primary person for Manchester City scoring nine goals through three matches will not be available for Guardiola. Sergio Aguero, who has three of those strikes, will serve the first of his retroactive three-match ban for elbowing Winston Reid.Aguero also has eight goals in nine lifetime matches versus United, leaving a huge hole at the top of the attack, but Guardiola does not lack for options. Teenage starlet Kelechi Iheanacho could get his first league start, while Nolito could also be moved from the wing in a bid to add to his two goals thus far. Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling also are candidates to be shifted into a potential false nine position that would mirror Barcelonas attack under Guardiola.A third option would be giving playmaker Leroy Sane his first start since his signing from German side Schalke 04 over the summer. Sane has been dealing with a hamstring injury, but has been practising with the team and available for selection.For United in attack, it will revolve around mercurial striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored three goals in the first two wins and has shown little wear of his 34 years since arriving at Old Trafford on a free transfer this summer. But this is also a personal grudge match for Swedens all-time leading scorer, who has a long history with Guardiola -- and none of it is good.The two had a falling out while at Barcelona, with Ibrahimovic famously labeling Guardiola as a spineless coward in his 2015 autobiography I Am Zlatan with regards to their personal dealings, or lack thereof if you were to believe Ibrahimovic. In a CNN interview last November, Ibrahimovic went one step further, saying, As a coach, he was fantastic. As a person, thats something else. Hes not a man, theres nothing more to say.Additionally, the Swedes affinity for Mourinho -- the two won the Serie A title and Italian SuperCup with Inter Milan in 2009 -- doubles as a fanatical devotion to his manager. And a motivated Ibra is quite the dangerous Ibra.He is a winner and I see myself as a winner, Ibrahimovic said in an interview with the BBC about Mourinho. Wherever he went with different teams, he won. Hes direct with everyone. Hes not a coach who goes behind you and tells you behind your back. He will tell you if you are not good enough.Ibrahimovic has also shown a good link-up chemistry with talisman Wayne Rooney, who has a goal and two assists thus far. He has 11 goals in 27 lifetime clashes with City, including four match-winners.Entering the Old Trafford cauldron for a Manchester derby is a daunting task for anyone, but Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will be doing so in his club debut after being signed from Barcelona before the close of the transfer window. Reunited with Guardiola from his days with the Catalan side, the Chile international has replaced the departed Joe Hart, whose ball distribution skills were not conducive to Guardiolas needs.But the two-time Copa America winner stands only six feet tall between the sticks. With Ibrahimovic a towering figure at 6-foot-5, Belgium international Marouane Fellaini at 6-4, powerfully built midfielder Paul Pogba at 6-3 and Eric Bailly 6-2, corner kicks could resemble a forest as United will undoubtedly look to exploit City -- notably central defender John Stones -- through the air.United have won 71 matches and City have claimed 49, with the teams splitting the remaining 51. The Red Devils took four of six points between the teams last season, posting clean sheets in both matches. United won 1-0 at the Etihad in the most recent encounter, with teenager Marcus Rashford scoring just after the quarter-hour. Swell 500ml Bottle . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. sWell Bottle Stockists . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. http://www.swellbottlesnz.com/swell-bottle-wood-nz-sale.html . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. Swell Bottle Nz Liberty . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. SWell Marble Bottle Nz . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. If every match were for a cup trophy, Alan Pardews Crystal Palace side would be in far better shape than they are entering Saturdays contest against Bournemouth in a matchup of the current bottom two teams in the Premier League at Selhurst Park.Pardews Eagles (0-0-2) -- 2016 FA Cup runners-up -- are the only team to have failed to score in their opening two matches and are out of the cellar only due to a slightly better goal difference than the Cherries (0-0-2). The selling of Yannick Bolasie to Everton has contributed to a slow start in league play that Pardew is hoping isnt a hangover of last seasons form from Boxing Day to now.But there is help on the way.Record signing Christian Benteke made his debut in Tuesdays 2-0 League Cup victory over Blackpool as Palace advanced to play at Southampton in the third round next month. After a 45-minute stint, Pardew may hand the ￡32 million man his first Premier League action.Christian Benteke had 45 minutes, I thought he showed flashes of why we spent a club record fee on him, Pardew told the teams official website. He hasnt had a lot of match action and even though we were on the side of a caution with him tonight, he looks really good.I will have a think about tonight; look at whats available before I decide whether he will be in my starting lineup on Saturday.Benteke was out of place in Jurgen Klopps high-pressing Liverpool offence, but Pardew is hedging the Belgium international will find the form that helped him score 42 goals over three seasons at Aston Villa. He also thinks Benteke can form a potent combination with Connor Wickham, who sealed Tuesdays win with a goal early in the second half.He has had a great responsibility being the only striker that we have had available due to injuries and there has been a lot of pressure on him, Pardew said of the 23-year-old Wickham. With Christians arrival he has had a bit of a weight lifted from him, he was fresher, sharper and looked better for it.If this is Pardews first-choice pairing, it makes sense disgruntled winger Wilfried Zaha is looking for an exit plan. Palace reportedly rejected a ￡15 million bid for Zaha by Tottenham Hotspur, who are in need of building depth for Champions League play, on Thursday.The 23-year-old Zaha, who came up through Palaaces academy, had five goals in 43 matches last season.dddddddddddd.After scoring 23 goals in the first 17 matches last season during which Palace accumulated 29 points, they have netted just 16 while going 2-7-14 in their previous 23 starting with a scoreless draw at Bournemouth on Boxing Day. Around those 23 league matches, the Eagles have recorded six cup victories.Like Crystal Palace, Bournemouth are trying to find their way and hoping a League Cup victory serves as an elixir for their struggles. The Cherries advanced to the third round by grinding out a 2-1 win at League Two leaders Morecambe on Wednesday, with Marc Wilson scoring the winner early in the second half.Bournemouth had only one goal in losses to Manchester United and West Ham United, and manager Eddie Howe is eager to use this performance as a springboard to break into the win column.You need to win to get that winning feeling, Howe explained to the teams official website. Moments like this can be the starting point for a season, it has given us a good platform.Fair play to the players for their reaction to the equalizer. They showed great character to get a grip on the game again, we had a few chances (that) werent clinical the way the came.Dating back to last season, the Cherries have just one win in their last 10 league matches (1-1-8), scoring more than one goal just once in that span.Wilson, who was injury-plagued for much of last season with Stoke City before signing on with Bournemouth this summer, is eager to build on his first match after missing seven months with a knee injury that caused him to miss the European Championship for Ireland.When I recovered with my knee I knew it was strong this time, I knew it was right, Wilson said. I was working hard on it and I was gutted I missed the Euros, so I wanted to get it right this time.This is where Im at and Im concentrating on doing well at Bournemouth now.The Cherries took four points from last seasons two matches, including a 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park. Scott Dann and Marc Pugh traded goals seven minutes apart in the first half before Benik Afobe scored just before the hour for Bournemouth. ' ' '