Whatever the state of the England football team, there can be no argument that the Premier League is the most popular domestic competition on the planet.
Some analyists are claiming that more than 600 million people across the globe watched City beat United 1-0 in tonight’s Manchester derby, making it arguably the biggest audience in English Premier League history.
And the good news is that the drama is almost certain to continue to the final match of the season, with both teams now level on points with two games to go.
The penultimate weekend is all set for another blockbuster installment on Sunday when City, who now lead the title race on goal difference, go to Newcastle for a lunchtime kick-off.
What makes it all the more fascinating is that United play second and will probably be chasing a 9-nil win in their 4pm match against Swansea in their bid to close the gap in goal difference – unless of course City fail to win at the home of the Geordies, who are still chasing a Champions League place.
It looks like one of the most exciting seasons in the 20 year history of the Pemier League will be decided on the final day on May 13 when United travel to Sunderland and City play hosts to QPR, the team manager by their former manager and ex-United player Mark Hughes.
Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded City are now the favourites “because they only have two win two games to win the title”. Roberto Mancini insists that he disagrees. But this was a night when the rival bosses disagreed on everything. Heated words and gestures were exchanged pitchside after Fergie, objecting to a foul by Nigel de Jong on Danny Welbeck, remonstrated with Mancini and officials had to separate the managers.
The odds now are that it will go down to the final minutes of the final match before their teams are separated in a title race unfolding in front of a global television audience that can’t get enough of the Premier League.
