Celle Varazze vs Derthona - Serie D - Girone A

A fascinating Serie D - Girone A chapter awaits on September 6, 2026 when Celle Varazze take on Derthona at the home ground — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. Anderson was pointing out that City had held the whip hand in this fixture "for as long as I've known", which isn't exactly inaccurate but will also fan the flames ahead of Sunday's Old Trafford showdown.

Form and standings can only tell part of the story when Celle Varazze and Derthona cross paths in the Serie D - Girone A, and pride alone should guarantee a contest. The hosts are desperate for a lift, with LLL in their last five and a win rate of 0% that underscores the size of the task facing them. When a team wins 75% of their matches and posts WW in their last five, as Derthona have, even the longest trips hold no fear. Their respective approaches this season have differed noticeably, and the tactical contrast could prove telling. In terms of net spend, Liverpool topped the table with £219.4m, followed by Ipswich (£190.7m), Spurs (£176m) and Hull (£160.5m).

Pressing intensity will define the contest. Celle Varazze will seek to win the ball high up the pitch and suffocate Derthona's build-up, while the visitors will aim to play through the pressure and exploit the spaces it leaves behind. That radar allows City to retain control, momentum and possession in games, pinning opponents back in the tempered style Guardiola favoured.

Game-changers are scattered across both line-ups, and the contest may well be decided by which side's match-winners deliver on the day. Discipline at the back and sharpness in front of goal will likely tilt the balance one way or the other. The Inter Miami forward is expected to continue playing at club level, but whether he extends his international career for another two years remains one of the biggest questions facing Argentina.

With the sides closely matched, the outcome may well hinge on which team takes its chances on the day. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 2-2 draw feels like a fitting result. With positions in the Serie D - Girone A table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. It is likely City adopt a more proactive pressing system higher up the pitch in order to exert territorial control on opponents.