Because of the Premier League's set-up — unlike American sports, teams win based on the accumulation of points over the season, not any culminating tournament — it's rarer to have one game that decides it all. But sometimes, circumstances and schedules coincide, and a match essentially takes on the importance of a championship. Today is one those days.
Manchester City and Manchester United face off today at 3 p.m. EST with City trailing United by three points. A win would put both squads at 83 points, and City's superior goal differential would give them the edge. Both have two games remaining after today, so City would just need to keep pace with United to take the Premier League title.
Two narratives in particular bear watching:
1. After spending the first half of the season on the bench due to disagreements with manager Roberto Mancini, Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez has had an insane resurgence, netting four goals in his last three games. Mancini has already predicted that Tevez will net the winner today.
2. City won the first Manchester derby 6-1 earlier this year. United will want revenge.
They're calling this the biggest Premier League game of all time. That's hyperbole on part with Alabama — LSU "Game of the Century" chatter, but oh well. Watch it anyway.