Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that rivals Manchester City have an advantage in the Premier League title race because they are no longer in Europe.

The blue half of Manchester crashed out of the Champions League and failed to qualify for the second-tiered Europa League following their 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

"It gives them a full week to prepare for their League games and obviously they will be playing less games," said Ferguson.

"I think they would rather have European football because any big team wants to play in Europe all the time. From that disappointment though comes a definite advantage."

The two sides go head to head at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.