Manchester City – Manchester United

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0413/mariobalotelli20110311sub_275x155.jpg">

All eyes will be on Mario Balotelli if he is chosen as the replacement for the injured Carlos Tevez. John Brewin previews the <A HREF= http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview/_/id/315329?cc=5739 target=new>big game</A>.

Live comments will appear here from 1700 BST.

The first a derby double-header for you on ESPNsoccernet. Later on, it's El Clasico, but first, Manchester United against Manchester City in an absolutely huge FA Cup semi-final.

Mario Balotelli gets the nod for City in the wake of Carlos Tevez's absence. Can the unpredictable Italian be the Citizen's match-wnner?

The teams are in the tunnel, Wembley is the setting for the biggest Manchester derby in years.

The last time City were at Wembley was for the Division Two play-off final, how times have changed for the Sky Blues.

United's treble credentials come under scrutiny today, they can take a huge step towards a repeat of the 1999 season with a win.

No Hernandez or Rooney, but a front three of Berbatov, Nani and Valencia for United still looks very potent.

<b>KICK OFF</b> United get us started. Hang on to your hats...

ESPNsoccernet Senior Editor John Brewin from Wembley: <i>"A white-hot atmosphere. A fight at the station. The pride of Manchester is being staked. This is massive." </i>

Park looks to be playing at the front of a midfield three for United. Despite the suspensions and exclusions, Ferguson's team looks strong.

Early pressure from Yaya Toure closing down John O'Shea. Expect a frantic pace in the opening exchanges.

Deafening noise from both fans at Wembley. Let's hope this match lives up to it's billing.

Nigel de Jong caught in possession by Nani in midfield, luckily Pablo Zabaleta is there to mop up for City.

Dimitar Berbatov this time catching Joleon Lescott on the ball, luckily for City the Bulgarian does not have the speed to accelerate away.

Patrice Evra looks for Antonio Valencia with a cross-field pass which is over hit. United have plenty of width in their team today.

The first chorus of Blue Moon from the City faithful, it's roundly booed by the opposition fans.

Incidentally, City's last goal away from Eastlands was David Silva's at Old Trafford in their 2-1 defeat in February.

Excellent work from Yaya Toure, who plays a clever pass looking for Mario Balotelli which Edwin Van der Sar sprints out and clears.

ESPNsoccernet Senior Editor John Brewin at Wembley: <i>"A nervy start, City's fans the louder, their voices the more stretched. United's followers have been here before, of course, and their expectations are higher."</i>

Free kick given against Nani, who has gone down clutching his face. The Portuguese winger felled Nigel de Jong, and in the aftermath, a stray boot from the Dutchman catches Nani's face. Nasty, but accidental.

First shot of the match, Adam Johnson cuts in from the right and drills wide from 25-yards out.

First corner to Manchester United...

A confident palm away from Joe Hart under pressure from Nemanja Vidic.

The first prolonged spell of possession from United. Their experience showing as they look to settle the tempo down.

What a save from Joe Hart!!! Lovely interplay from Carrick and Park before Nani releases Berbatov. Six-yards out, the Bulgarian can't fire past Hart, who makes a wonderful save.

Berbatov misses an absolute sitter! Straight after Hart's save, Nani swivels delightfully past Zabaleta. His low cross is perfect, and with the goal gaping, Berbatov fires over from inside the six-yard box! Two huge chances for the Premier League's leading scorer.

ESPNsoccernet Senior Editor John Brewin at Wembley: <i>"That reminded me of Hernandez's goal the other night. This time, the roof of the net did not billow. Berbie looks hurt, and he must be in an emotional sense."</i>

Manchester United have taken control after the opening exchanges. Can City keep with them?

Michael Carrick finds space inside the City box after a throw-in from Evra. He is closed down rapidly and his curling effort is well blocked.

Toure brings down Nani, free kick United which is taken quickly. Carrick's cross is headed behind by Lescott for a corner...

The corner is taken short to Park, his deep cross finds Berbatov whose looping header lands on top of the net.

Evra attempts to make head way down the United right, but in the process he bundles down De Jong.

City have been unable to keep David Silva on the ball, surely the key to unlocking United's defence?

A foul throw given against Nani, who has fallen foul of a law which school children can follow.

Another burst from Valencia earns a throw-in for United. It's one-way traffic as Kolarov heads behind from Nani. Another corner...

Vidic rises highest and glances a header wide of Hart's goal.

A rare forray forward from City. Johnson feeding Silva, who in turn finds Toure. The Ivorian tees up Barry, who looks for Balotelli over the top only for Van der Sar to gather.

ESPNsoccernet Senior Editor John Brewin at Wembley: <i>"City fans gone quiet."</i>

Free kick to United in a dangerous position as Barry clatters Carrick...

Nani goes for goal...it hits the wall and goes for a corner...

Berbatov wins another header, which floats just over the angle of post and bar.

Berbatov is currently off the field receiving treatment for a bloody nose after a collision with Pablo Zabaleta.

The Bulgarian rejoins the fray with some hilarious tissue buds up his nose.

Gareth Barry ripples the net, but it's the side-netting! He twists eight yards from goal and does well to get a shot off which had Van der Sar scrambling.

City are showing a little more now as Johnson looks to get forward. Evra does well to halt his charge.

Mario Balotelli springs into life!!! Turning 25-yards out he stings the palms of Van der Sar. Corner City...

The corner is far too long, Barry collects and is forced to go all the way back to the half-way line.

Excellent work from Johnson, driving into the box and earning another corner. Taken short to Silva, his low cross is put behind by Vidic...

A sight at goal for Lescott, free at the back post he fires a volley over from just outside the six-yard box. He had time to take a touch there.

Kompany into the back of Nani near the half-way line, foul given.

Nani attempts a full volley from outside the penalty area. An admirable attempt, but he drags it wide.

Offside flag up against Berbatov. United not having it all their own way at the moment...

The game has settled again after City's first flurry of blows. Can we get a goal before half-time?

Yaya Toure with a powerful surge beyond Carrick and advancing on Vidic. His shot is deflected wide for a corner...

The corner is taken short to Silva, who tees up Kompany for a sumptuous curler from 25-yards which is narrowly wide.

A further corner for United, Valencia's cut back turned behind...

United take the corner short, but it's a waste. Eventually, Nani looks for Vidic over the top, but it's straight out of play.

<b>HALF TIME</b> It's still goalless at the break, but Dimitar Berbatov will feel he should have given United the lead.

Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter, @ESPNsoccernet. Stick around later as well, we have Real Madrid's clash with Barcelona.

Man City steadied the ship towards the end of the first half, but United should have been in front. Dimitar Berbatov had a nightmare of a first-half.

So, the spectre of extra-time currently looms large over this FA Cup semi-final. That is, unless a winner can be found in the next 45 minutes.

Both teams have options on the bench. Sir Alex can call up Javier Hernandez, or Michael Owen. Roberto Mancini has £27m man Edin Dzeko waiting in the wings.

The teams are out for the second half...

ESPNsoccernet Senior Editor John Brewin at Wembley: <i>"City taking an age to return to the pitch. This must be Mancini's Churchill moment. And we are not talking about giving a dog a phone."</i>

<b>SECOND HALF</b> City with the restart.

Mario Balotelli finds space and bursts forward. Toure is alongside him, but Balotelli's pass is a poor one.

A poor touch from Valencia this time as he allows Park's pass to drift out of play.

Good play from Balotelli, he squeezes the ball into Kolarov who makes for the byline. His cross is dangerous, but Balotelli can only turn it wide at the nearpost.

Yaya Toure closes down Vidic, but fouls him as the ball is rolling out for a City throw. A cheap free kick.

Antonio Valencia is precisely 27 miles offside as Scholes lofts a throughball to the Ecuadorian.

A painful clash of heads between Adam Johnson and Patrice Evra, luckily both men and up and running again.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> <b>Yaya Toure puts City in the lead!!!</b> Michael Carrick is caught in possession by Toure, who then powers beyond the England man, beyond Nemanja Vidic before sliding the ball under Van der Sar!

What a game-changer that is. Surely a matter of time before Javier Hernandez is introduced?

Free kick United at the pace is frantic once more!

City break again and they are full of life now. Toure feeds David Silva, who looks to return the favour but is blocked by Ferdinand. The game is well and truly on.

ESPNsoccernet Senior Editor John Brewin at Wembley: <i>"Michael Carrick's recent improvement thrown out the window by very loose play and City believe. Their fans are the red-hot ones now."</i>

Van der Sar out to clear into touch as Balotelli closes in. United hanging on a little at the moment.

All the noise is coming from the City fans. What has Fergie got up his sleeve now?

Balotelli is much-improved since the break. He shifts along the edge of the box, shaping to shoot before having the ball nicked off the end of his boot lace.

The Italian involved again, this time fouling Ferdinand.

Toure is bossing the game and he slides Balotelli in. His first touch is poor and United recover to concede a corner...

Corner taken short, Johnson works his way into the box and Van der Sar squeezes the ball behind. Toure found from the second corner, Ferdinand puts it behind for another corner!

Jolen Lescott could have doubled City's lead! David Silva's cross was perfect and Lescott can only guide his header wide!

ESPNsoccernet Senior Editor at Wembley: <i>"City dominant and totally deserving of their lead." </i>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Pablo Zabaleta</b> carded for a desperate lunge on Park 20-yards from goal. What a chance this is...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Javier Hernandez on for Antonio Valencia</b>

Nani rattles the crossbar with a splendid dipping effort! A fantastic save from Hart to divert the shot onto the woodwork.

So Hernandez is introduced. Can the man with 7 goals in his last 8 games make the difference?

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Mario Balotelli</b> picks up his customary yellow card for a late tackle on Michael Carrick.

A waste from Aleksandar Kolarov does well to break forward, but he fails to notice Silva up with him on the far side. Instead, he fires a shot high and wide at the nearpost.

Twenty minutes between City and the FA Cup final, and perhaps more importantly, a victory over their neighbours.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/red_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Paul Scholes</b> with a reckless, studs up challenge into the thigh of Pablo Zabaleta. He has left his team with an absolute mountain to climb now...

Just what was Paul Scholes thinking? A truly terrible and unnecessary challenge which has come pretty close to ending United's treble charge.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Anderson on for Dimitar Berbatov</b>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Nigel de Jong</b> clatters Anderson immediately. Free kick to United...

Gareth Barry heads clear and City survive comfortably.

Kompany heads clear a raking ball for Carrick aimed towards Hernandez. From the throw, Hernandez earns a corner...

The corner reaches Ferdinand at the back post. He tees up Carrick, who evades Silva before curling an effort straight at Hart.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Shaun Wright-Phillips on for Adam Johnson</b>

Slick play from Hernandez, he slid beyond Lescott and attempted to fire on goal from inside the area, but he shot was snuffed out.

10 minutes left for City to hang on...

Wright-Phillips skips beyond Evra and crosses for Toure, Van der Sar comes and collects.

Fabio waiting on the touchline for Manchester United...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Vincent Kompany</b> in the book for a crude block on Park.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Fabio on for John O'Shea</b>

Evra with a run forward, he has a shot which he drags well wide of Hart's goal.

The offside flag is up against Fabio as he gets beyond Lescott. He was miles off.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Patrick Vieira on for David Silva</b>

Into the last five minutes and Manchester United look a beaten team. But we know better than to presume that...

Again Evra into the box, with four teammates waiting inside the area, he attempts a shot from an impossible angle and wastes the opening.

The game is very, very scrappy but City won't mind. Manchester United haven't been able to break down the City defence since the interval.

Pandemonium in the United penalty area. Barry looks to release Toure, who is scrabbling on his back with Van der Sar as both desperately try to get the ball. In the end, the goalkeeper comes out on top.

<b>FIVE MINUTES ADDED TIME</b>

A lovely ball from Park looking for Anderson. The Brazilian is beaten to the ball by Lescott and then fouls the England man.

What a waste from Wright-Phillips!!! He slipped beyond Vidic and simply had to role a pass to Toure for tap in, but his cross is gathered by Van der Sar.

Two minutes of added time remaining...

Balotelli punished for a shove on United. A chance to pump the ball forward, but it drifts through to Joe Hart...

Last minute, is there a final twist in the tale...

<b>FULL TIME</b> A famous win for Manchester City and United's treble dreams are in tatters. The Citizens deserved their victory on the strength of their second-half performance, but Dimitar Berbatov should have scored for the Reds in the first half.

A scuffle at the final whistle, Mario Balotelli, as ever, making friends. Rio Ferdinand looks furious with the Italian and tells City assistant manager David Platt exactly how he feels about it.

The City fans are jubliant, the United fans non-existant as their end of the ground empties rapidly.

Part one of this huge day is over, don't forget to join me later on for possibly the biggest club match in the world. El Clasico- Real Madrid v Barcelona.

Final word from ESPNsoccernet Senior Editor John Brewin at Wembley: <i>"City fans in excelsis. Some attempting to wind up United fans in the neutral area. Perhaps they would better enjoy the occasion if they cheered on their own team, who deserve the plaudits and the win."</i>

So it will be Manchester City back at Wembley in four weeks time to contest the final against Stoke City or Bolton Wanderers.