Police allow City and United home-match clash

A rare night of football will take place in Manchester next month – with both City and United at home on the same night.

United’s Carling Cup quarter-final tie against Blackburn has been put back 24 hours to Wednesday, December 3 – with City taking on Paris St Germain in the UEFA Cup on the same night.

United and Blackburn were due to play the previous night – but both teams were keen to postpone for 24 hours, even though local police prefer both their major clubs not to play at the same time.

United tackle City at Eastlands on November 30, with Blackburn facing the more geographically challenging trip to Portsmouth on the same day.

However, with United due to play a Champions League tie against Aalborg the following week before flying to Japan for the World Club Cup, there was little opportunity for the Carling Cup tie to be played at a later date as the semi-finals should take place at the beginning on January.

However, following discussions with Greater Manchester Police, the Football League have confirmed the Carling Cup clash at Old Trafford will now take place on December 3.