Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Manchester United. With City holding a 3-1 advantage, United have it all to do at the Etihad Stadium, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side did win at this ground in the Premier League as recently as December 7.

As the two teams make their way out onto the pitch, let's see who features in each starting lineup...

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Bravo; Walker, Rodri, Otamendi, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Gundogan, Bernardo; Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Ederson, Stones, Garcia, Zinchenko, D.Silva, Foden, Jesus

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Matic; Greenwood, Lingard, Williams; Martial

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Romero, Bailly, Jones, Dalot, Pereira, Mata, James

KICKOFF:  United get us underway!

As far as the formations are concerned, it looks as though City are playing with a back three of Walker, Otamendi and Cancelo. United are also playing with three at the back, with Shaw at left-sided centre-back and Williams at left wing-back.

The first few minutes have passed by without incident with City seeing the majority of the ball. United are attempting to press their hosts without taking any risks in defence.

Territoriality, City have made progress, but United are still making it difficult for their opponents to get a show away. With both teams seemingly using 3-1-4-2 formations, it is making for an interesting dynamic.

CHANCE!  The first opportunity inevitably goes to City as a pass over the top of the defence finds Aguero, whose header is superbly diverted away from goal by De Gea.

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CHANCE!  Moments later, Mahrez cuts inside onto his left foot before seeing a deflected effort again turned away by De Gea. This is becoming very one-sided.

PENALTY APPEAL!  City have a shout for a penalty when Maguire barges into the back of Sterling by the penalty spot. However, the United man is saved by the fact that he slipped before making contact with the winger.

Solskjaer has been bold with his two-man attack but they have not had a sniff of the ball yet. This could be a long night for the visitors.

Much better from United, who play through City's press and break through Wan-Bissaka. However, despite getting past two players, the right-back's final pass does not find its intended target.

That brief flurry has led to City taking stock of things and being more conservative with their passing. They want to ensure that they do not let this two-goal advantage slip.

CHANCE!  Yet another outstanding save from De Gea, who claws Aguero's rising shot away from the top corner after the Argentine had worked his way around a couple of defenders.

On the rare occasion that United have the ball, they are being immediately pressurised by City. It's ensuring that the game is being played at a frantic pace.

Slowly but surely, United are having more success with the ball, as well as with pressing City back towards their own goal. No chances to speak of yet, but they are making progress.

We are having a slight lull in the action, orchestrated by City who want to slow the pace of the game down to deal with United's growing threat.

Mahrez superbly controls a floated pass over the top of the defence before looking to pick out Aguero. The Algerian's cross has too much power on it, but it needs to be diverted behind for a corner.

PENALTY APPEAL!  United win a free kick, which is sent towards the far post. Matic looks to be bundled towards the ground, but the referee insists that it was just a coming together. Debatable.

What a tackle this. De Bruyne sends a through-ball into the path of Sterling, who is a yard ahead of Maguire. However, the United centre-back gets back to make an important challenge.

A collision between De Gea, Williams and Otamendi has left the United duo on the floor requiring treatment. It is a fairly lengthy stoppage, but both players eventually get back to their feet.

I had high hopes for this game after the opening exchanges, but it has descended into a scrappy affair. Providing that they can reach half time without conceding, it suits United for the time being.

GOAL!  MANCHESTER CITY 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (NEMANJA MATIC)

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GOAL!  Game on! A free kick from the left is only half cleared into the path of Matic, who sends a brilliant first-time volley inside the bottom corner via the woodwork. What a finish.

City or Guardiola were not expecting that. I'm not sure Solskjaer would have been either. Tension is building at the Etihad Stadium.

The home side are trying to step on the gas in the final third, but United continue to look resilient. The addition of Shaw in the centre is currently working wonders.

Bernardo does well down the right-hand side of the penalty area before sending a low ball across the box. It's a threatening pass, but no-one can get on the end of it.

DISALLOWED GOAL!  Sterling has the ball in the back of the net after meeting a low cross from De Bruyne, but the winger was a yard offside.

For contrasting reasons, the half-time whistle is coming at the right time for both clubs. United have been largely second best, but they are very much in this game.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

HALF TIME:  Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United

The half-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and United lead courtesy of Matic's excellent volley in the 35th minute. City have been far and away the better side, but De Gea kept United in this tie before Matic struck at the other end. With no extra-time or away goals, this is anyone's tie.

A quick reminder of the two benches...

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Ederson, Stones, Garcia, Zinchenko, D.Silva, Foden, Jesus

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Romero, Bailly, Jones, Dalot, Pereira, Mata, James

I suspect that both managers will hold fire with their substitutions for now. Guardiola will probably feel that his side will create chances once United begin to commit more men forward in search of another goal.

I was wrong. United winger James has been introduced for the ineffective Greenwood.

KICKOFF:  City get us back underway.

James's first contribution is to draw a foul out of Cancelo as both men attempted to get onto the end of a ball played down the right. Chance here for United.

CHANCE!  It was a chance as well. Fred's inswinging delivery finds Maguire, who comfortably gets above Cancelo. However, the centre-back powers a header over the crossbar from eight yards out.

YELLOW CARD!  Matic is the first man into the book this evening for a late challenge on Mahrez. He has no complaints.

The Serbia international makes a second late challenge in a matter of minutes. There's not a lot in this one, but the referee calls in Maguire to presumably tell him that his teammate is only one foul away from a red card.

SHOT!  Fred plays a neat pass inside for Martial, who only has eyes on shooting from 25 yards. It's a weak effort, however, with the ball easily being claimed by Bravo.

YELLOW CARD!  Rodri is booked for a cynical pull of Lingard's shoulder, preventing United from launching a counter.

CHANCE!  United are pushing men forward and City are waiting to break. They do just that here with Sterling breaking through on goal but the winger fires over the crossbar having rounded De Gea and a number of players getting back onto the line.

There are surely more goals in this one. Both teams are looking increasingly open at the back. City have no intention of trying to see this game out.

City take some time out of the contest by playing the ball around sharply at the back, but it only leads to Cancelo giving possession back to the visitors.

I think United have been grateful for City taking a bit of a breather. It has given them the chance to regroup after going close to conceding an equaliser, a goal which would see City reopen a two-goal advantage.

SUBSTITUTION! United make a second alteration, introducing Pereira for Lingard.

SUBSTITUTION! It is City's turn for a change as David Silva comes on for Mahrez.

Slowly but surely, City are beginning to turn the screw again, and United can do nothing but retreat. If City can get their final pass right, they can end this tie as a contest.

SHOT!  After a corner is only half-cleared to Walker, the right-back decides to try his luck from 30 yards, forcing a good save out of De Gea with a well-struck swerving strike.

CHANCE!  A mistake from Maguire leads to the ball going to David Silva inside the area, but the midfielder over-plays it instead of taking a shot. Moments later, Aguero got down the left before firing an effort into the side-netting.

RED CARD!  Massive blow to United. Matic runs across Gundogan when City were attempting to break, and the referee has no option but to dish out a second yellow card.

Naturally, this is a really tough ask for United now. Solskjaer will push men forward but City are ready and waiting to strike.

SUBSTITUTION! United's final switch sees Mata introduced for Shaw.

Walker only has eyes for the ball, but the right-back ends up heading Otamendi's body. There is a brief stoppage, but the Englishman is fine to continue.

There are still seven minutes plus added-on time remaining, but this game is now being played at half the pace it was 10 minutes ago. City are happy enough to keep the ball and make United chase it.

DISALLOWED GOAL!  City think they have equalised when Aguero latches onto a Gundogan pass to flick the ball past De Gea, but he is inches offside.

YELLOW CARD!  What an unnecessary challenge from Otamendi, who goes right through Maguire on the edge of the area. Seriously, it is madness! Big chance for United.

Fred takes it ahead of Pereira and his shot hits the wall. That looked more suited for Pereira.

SUBSTITUTION! City make another switch as Stones comes on for De Bruyne. There will be four minutes of added-on time.

United are still trying to work one final opportunity, but City are sitting a little deeper with more men at the back. It has to go long.

SUBSTITUTION! Yet another City change. This time, it is Jesus for Aguero.

YELLOW CARD!  Wan-Bissaka is booked for a late challenge on Jesus. There are probably 60 seconds to go.

FULL TIME:  Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United

The full-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and City hold on to reach their third successive EFL Cup final. They had to ride their luck at times against United, who deserve credit for their performance on Wednesday night, but the home side were deserved victors. They will now face Aston Villa in the final at the start of March.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.

If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.