In a recent match, Manchester United faced a humiliating defeat at their home ground, while their arch-rivals, Manchester City, secured a thrilling victory in the 191st Manchester derby. The match was highly anticipated, marking the first derby since Pep Guardiola’s team replicated their 1999 triple crown achievement. The final score of 3-0 in favor of City did not fully reflect the extent of their dominance in the game, with Erling Haaland playing a pivotal role by scoring twice and setting up Phil Foden for the third goal.
Manchester United, led by Erik ten Hag, had been struggling in the Premier League, losing five of their ten starting games prior to the derby. Their recent three-match winning streak in all competitions came to an abrupt end. Haaland opened the scoring for City midway through the first half with a penalty awarded by VAR, as it appeared that Rasmus Hojlund had fouled Rodri. Haaland would later capitalize on some questionable defending to secure his second goal, sealing City’s lopsided victory. It could have been an even more one-sided affair if not for some crucial saves by United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana. The defeat was a bitter way to end a week in which United had paid tribute to the late Sir Bobby Charlton.
The atmosphere at Old Trafford was subdued as City took control of the game from the start. Foden’s strong header, which Onana managed to block, provided a brief respite for United, preventing Haaland from scoring a third goal. City continued to press for another goal, and they were eventually awarded a penalty after a foul on Jack Grealish. The referee, Michael Oliver, consulted VAR and pointed to the spot, allowing Haaland to confidently convert the penalty in front of the disgruntled home crowd.
United had a couple of significant chances to equalize during the first half. Hojlund set up Bruno Fernandes, but the Portuguese midfielder’s shot went over the crossbar. Marcus Rashford also had a late opportunity to level the score, but Ederson made a crucial save. Despite these moments of hope, City’s dominance was evident, and Onana had to make an impressive save to deny Haaland’s close-range header.
City continued to exploit United’s defensive vulnerabilities, and Haaland completed his brace when Bernardo Silva delivered a cross to him, and he found the net at the far post. City supporters taunted their rivals with chants of “Mind the gap, Man United” as Grealish attempted to extend their lead but was denied by Onana.
Rashford and United tried to mount a comeback, but City’s defense held firm. Onana thwarted Haaland’s attempt to complete his hat-trick, and United fans voiced their displeasure when Garnacho replaced Hojlund. Grealish’s deflected shot narrowly missed the target, and in the 80th minute, Foden capitalized on Onana’s deflection to score City’s third goal, sealing their victory. Some disappointed United supporters started leaving the stadium early, as their team’s lackluster performance left them with little to hope for.
In the end, Manchester City’s dominant performance in the 191st Manchester derby was a stark contrast to Manchester United’s struggles, and the result highlighted the growing gap between the two clubs.