Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that derby matches are 'always dangerous' ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester United.

The Manchester duo will lock horns at the Etihad with both battling for a top-four finish this season, rather than the title.

Pellegrini, however, has played down suggestions that the clash will be less important than previous matches.

"Always a derby is dangerous. It doesn't matter the position of both teams. If it's a derby of the Premier League it is doubly dangerous. Both teams will try to arrive as near the top of the table as they can for the next season," Pellegrini told reporters.

Man City currently sit fourth in the Premier League table, four points above sixth-placed Man United.