Manchester City are chasing league leaders Liverpool while Manchester United are in need of points to reach fifth place in the Premier League. Much is thus at stake when the city rivals face each other in a derby at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Swedish national team captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf then takes a place as left-back in the visitors’ eleven. In City, Norwegian goal machine Erling Braut Haaland plays from the start.
Manchester City came out and set a high tempo in their attacking play, but the hot goal chances did not materialize and instead it was visiting Manchester United who were to get off to a dream start.
Bruno Fernandes teed up Marcus Rashford who tapped in from distance. The Englishman got on a real projectile that whizzed in, via the crossbar, behind a chanceless Ederson and 1-0 was a fact.
– It’s a real gem from Manchester United’s number ten. “When you play City, a lot of things have to go your way and one of those things just did,” said Sky pundit Gary Neville.
After the lead, Manchester City continued to push in attack and André Onana was forced into several qualified saves to keep his clean sheet intact.
– It is a big moment for André Onana. Manchester United’s back line is disorganized. “I can’t understand how much space De Bruyne gets despite having four United midfielders around him,” Neville noted after Onana denied Phil Foden from a free-kick.
City’s dominance continued for the remainder of the first half and as the match ticked towards 45, most at the Etihad Stadium believed Erling Haaland would break Onana’s clean sheet.
The Norwegian was given the nod by Phil Foden. But Haaland, who was responsible for five goals in the meeting with Luton earlier this week, managed to get the finish over the bar from a meter away.
– Oh my God. What is he doing? What doesn’t he do? Pep Guardiola can’t believe his eyes, Gary Neville said after Haaland’s miss.
At the start of the second half, the game evened out, but after ten minutes of play, Manchester City would equalize and it was through a real dream goal.
Phil Foden cut in from his right wing, past Victor Nilsson Lindelöf, and fired with his left. The shot drilled into André Onana’s left cross from just over 20 meters away and it was tied in the Manchester derby.
– Lindelöf is not doing enough. He lets Foden fold in, but doesn’t expect him to pound it into the crossbar. The power and precision is fantastic from Foden’s left foot, Sky Sports’ Gary Neville stated after the equaliser.
The match then remained even, but in the 80th minute of the match the turnaround would be completed.
Man of the match Phil Foden ran through after a road play with Julian Álvarez and the low left finish was out of reach of André Onana’s post root.
– He doesn’t get the praise that Haaland and De Bruyne get, but it has to come soon. A hat trick last year and two this year. It’s an important 15 minutes in this title fight but Phil Foden has delivered, said Gary Neville.
Manchester City would then take the opportunity to extend the lead when the match had reached stoppage time.
Erling Haaland was left alone in the penalty area after a costly ball drop by Sofyan Amrabat and was able to outwit André Onana with a well-placed finish without any major problems.
The goal, which made it 3-1 for the home team, was also the last of the match and Manchester City now overtake Liverpool at the top of the table. Pep Guardiola’s men are now one point up on the league leaders.
Startelvor:
Manchester City: Ederson – Walker, Stones, Dias, Aké – De Bruyne, Rodri, Silva – Foden, Haaland, Doku.
Manchester United: Onana – Dalot, Varane, Evans, Nilsson Lindelöf – Mainoo – Fernandes, McTominay, Garnacho – Rashford.
