Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City: match report
A confident first half performance was the difference as Pep Guardiola's side took all three points against José Mourinho's new club at Old Trafford.
Manchester bragging rights are sky blue
It was a Manchester derby that had been hyped more than most. Two new, high profile managers made the newspaper editors busy and the money splurged on the teams that took to the field was debated around the world. The game was a pulsating affair - unlike the cagey prospect many were expecting. Zlatan continued his strong start to the season by getting into areas to affect the game (if limited) but the other big signings for Mourinho were quiet - most notably Paul Pogba. The sense of the world record transfer fee paid for him is not going to be judged after this game but, other than a few nice moments of steadiness in the middle of the park, the Frenchman was anonymous.
City dominant
City controlled possession and created the main chances of the first 45 minutes with De Bruyne and Silva pulling many of the strings in the final third. The goals came from the composed Belgian, who finished neatly passed the oncoing De Gea, and young Iheanacho whose reflex finish from less than six yards was thanks to De Bruyne's curling effort off the post. As half-time approached, City could have been excused for thinking this was a much more comfortable outing than imagined but a Bravo flap and tidy Ibrahimovic finish changed all that.
Changed ends, changed feel
The teams came out in the second half and the atmosphere amongst the players was different. United's tails were up and although rarely looking the flowing, joined up team that City had, they carried other threats. Rashford's speed, Zlatan and Fellaini's aerial strength and Rooney's heart were all facets of the second period whereas City's swagger had disappeared. Nervous moments were survived - with Claudio Bravo's performance certainly going to be called into question - and the blues could have won it in the final 20 minutes as United pushed on but neither goal was breached again. There was more than three points at stake in this one but the season is far too young to be drawing too many conclusions. There is more to come from both of these sides.
Here's how it all unfolded:
Full time: Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City
90+5 | Bravo again loses out in a challenge but the ball is cleared. And much to the relief of all connected with City, Mark Clattenburg puts the whistle to his mouth and blows.
90+4 | Chance. United get the ball into the area again, high. Bravo comes and flaps. Questions will be asked after this performance from the stopper in light of what happened with Joe Hart.
90+2 | United are taking every chance possible to lift the ball forward knowing they have a physical presence now. And every time they do, City look nervy.
5 minutes of added time to play. What drama awaits?
89 | Sané released down the right but again is slow to take advantage of the break with a quick cross-field pass to De Bruyne an option. Instead waits, chance goes, and his weak pass is to no one.
86 | Fernandinho has a break away and a chance to shoot from the edge of the area but never gets a hold of it. Some very nervous action around the City box ends with a Silva hoof. 'Av it.
84 | Both teams now going through a short period of giving each other possession by clearing it long. One looking to maintain their advantage with the ball far from goal, the other targeting the heads of Fellaini and Zlatan, and the young speedsters now on the pitch.
82 | Yellow. Rooney again pressures Bravo who was waiting for a pass option but ends up diving in stretched as the ball was released and catches the keeper.
80 | City having more of the attacking play again as José makes his final change. Martial on for Shaw.
As was said after the first ever meeting between West Gorton [City] and Newton Heath [Utd] - the forefathers of these teams - in 1881 can I just say that this "is a very pleasant game".
74 | Chance! Sané again has the ball in the inside right channel, waits for movement, rolls it ahead of De Bruyne who runs past him with a tracking defender and gets a shot away towards the near (right) post. It beats De Gea but hits the woodwork, rolls virtually right along the line passing the left-hand post and out to a big sign of Red Devil relief.
72 | End to end stuff here (tough to keep up at times). Corners at both ends causing nervous moments but all cleared.
68 | Sané is getting plenty of the ball on the right wing and is trying to bring others into play but United keeping compact in the final third. Then Rashford gets released into the space from a defensive clearance (he's fast!), works an opening just inside the box and the ball is in the net. But it took a slight nick off Ibra who's in an offside position. Rightly disallowed but United now much more threatening.
65 | Pep is on the sidelines giving instructions as he looks to get control back but the game is very much in the balance at present. Luke Shaw then plays it long from his left-back berth, flicked on by Fellaini and hit way too high towards goal by Ibra. Could that combination become more common as the game moves on?
63 | Rooney takes a pot shot drive from outside the area but it goes harmlessly wide of the left post.
59 | City sub: Sané on for Sterling
57 | More United pressure as valencia goes down the right and his cross hits the nearest defender just inside the area. Huge claims for handball. Are we looking at another clichéd game of two halves?
55 | Bravo error again. The new Cityzen nearly cost his side by trying to play as a cultured defender in his own 6-yard box. As he does, he's then forced into a 50:50 challenge with the onrushing Rooney...and although winning the ball, there's an argument for at least a yellow card. Certainly could be defined as a dangerous play. Rooney was down for a short while but seems fine - if disappointed not to get the decision.
54 | The game influence has definitely taken on more of a shade of red with City looking a little edgy. Some miscontrol from the visitors who seemed so much more composed prior to the Zlatan strike.
52 | Yellow. Fellaini sees a card as City ready their first change of the game.
50 | Yellow. Zlatan into the book for what at first seemed a poorly timed challenge on Otamendi after a good striker/defender tussle, but may have been a bit naughtier upon second viewing.
48 | Another chance, half-chance anyway, for United. And it's Zlatan again who spins and swings his right boot from just outside the City area. High and forgotten.
46 | Chance. Rashford immediately involved. The youngster gets free down the left and centres the ball which breaks to Ibra who, under pressure from Kolarov, can get a clean shot at goal.
45 | Two changes for United as José looks to get more control and added threat to their attacks. Herrera and Rashford on for Mkhitaryan and Lingard
Whistle blows. The second half is underway.
First half review:
When Guardiola took over at Barça he said: "I won’t tell you off if you misplace a pass, or miss a header that costs us a goal, as long as I know you are giving 100 per cent." His City players may have been given a similar message after dominating the first half at Old Trafford.
in saying that, United are far from out of this. That goal gave such a lift to the fans and players and, as we've seen so often, moments like that can change the whole tone of the occasion. We'd love to be a fly-on-the-wall in both changing rooms but maybe we can see the effects of the team talks in the opening minutes of the second half.
Half-time. United 1-2 City
45 | Yellow. Bailley stops the impressive Silva as he ltried to skip down the left wing.
Pep will be livid at what just happened. City had almost complete control of the game and, with the half-time whistle approaching, his new keeper may have changed the tone of this battle. Tidy, controlled finish from the big Swede.
41 | Goooooaaaal!!! United get it back to 1-2 after Zlatan takes advantage of a Bravo mistake.
38 | Yellow. Silva slides in with a clumsy tackle near the technical areas. Mixed reactions from the nearby managers.
36 | Goal!!!! It's a second for City. After poor control from Iheanacho in the middle of the United area the ball breaks to De Bruyne on the right side, a few yards inside. It didn't look on but his passed shot, beats De Gea, hits the far post and bounces straight back to the youngster, Iheanacho, six yards out who strokes it home first time.
34 | Another half chance for the Blues as Silva cuts the call back from the right byline but De Gea does well and smothers.
32 | City again knocking it around neatly. Silva, Nolito, De Bruyne all involved. Sterling on the right wing coming in is giving them a regular outlet but the final shot is not coming.
28 | Penal....no! Mkhitaryan tried to take the long ball over his head on his toe but instead knocks it past Bravo and, with the momentum allowing him to reach the ball first - giving a chance to score - the keeper puts a hand on him and he goes down. Screams for a pen but he was offside so we can all calm down again. As if.
26 | Clattenburg having a quiet word with Rooney as he goes in full-blooded to the tackle. Although it's not going their way so far, he's certainly leading as an example for desire.
23 | Rooney and Pep clash on the sidelines as the United captain goes to collect the ball. Initial faces suggested it could get ugly, but they both deal with it well. Tensions are only going to raise in this match.
21 | The Sky Blues are playing some very tidy football in the middle of the park. Confidence not an issues it would seem, even at the most vociferous of opponents for them.
18 | Pogba brings the ball through midfield and lays it off ahead of Zlatan but City have two defenders covering who steer it for a corner. Rooney's delivery drifts to the back of the 6-yard area and is cleared relatively easily by City.
15 | Goal!! City take a deserved lead. De Bruyne nips ahead of the defence after a long pass from Kolarov - flicked on by Iheanacho. Yes, you read that right. Route one! But a cool finish from the Belgian.
11 | Iheanacho fed through the middle, running into the United box, but is sandwiched between the more imposing defenders in red who clear. City certainly looking to pop the ball about quickly in midfield then slip neat passes into the various runners. City with 70% possession so far - who's their manager again?
9 | Free-kick to City around 26 yards out in front of left side of United area. De Bruyne runs over it then Kolarov disappoints the away fans.
7 | United get there first attempt at goal. Mr transfer record, Pogba with a very decent long-range effort. Just over the bar.
5 | It's the visitors that are applying the early pressure with Nolito then Silva feeding the ball into the United danger zones.
3 | Chance: De Bruyne released down the left-hand channel and whips the ball across goal between keeper and returning defenders. Cleared just as Sterling approached the 6-yard area.
2 | City get a throw from a Zlatan challenge - which is cheered - then aim to keep the ball for a bit. United then get some of the play as both sides look to settle.
Peeeep | Mark Clattenburg gets us underway.
Cuddles between the managers.
10 minutes till KO. Final stretches together on the pitch. With Aguero missing Guardiola has gone for Iheanacho up top rather than a false 9 that had been rumoured. It's a player the manager has "a lot of faith in".
30 minutes until kick off
As you’ve been reading all week, we have a huge match-up this lunchtime in Manchester as José hosts Pep. Wait a minute, what’s this? There are some players warming up on the field. Are they also taking part?
Team news:
Man Utd XI: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw, Fellaini, Pogba, Mkhitaryan, Rooney, Lingard, Ibrahimovic
Man City XI: Bravo, Sagna, Otamendi, Stones, Kolarov, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva (C), Sterling, Nolito, Iheanacho
Manchester United - Manchester City preview
Saturday’s game (Old Trafford, 12:30 BST, 13.30 CEST) has been marked as the start of a new era in Manchester footballing history with two of the world’s most high-profile managers, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, set to resume their infamous and bitter rivalry in the Premier League after a summer of record transfer spending.
Manchester derby likely to be a charged affair
Though too soon to be anything other than an early indicator of big-game temperament and title aspirations, Manchester City’s visit to Old Trafford will undoubtedly be a charged, albeit tactically-cautious affair.
Guardiola told the press on Friday that the reported animosity between the two has been overblown by the media and that he’d be happy to go for a drink with Mourinho after the game. But few could deny the emotional importance of facing the man who AS journalist and Pep biographer Guillem Balagué says ‘emotionally destabilized him’ while in Spain. If that wasn’t enough, Guardiola will also come face-to-face with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the man with whom he fell out so publicly with at Barcelona and who now refers to him ironically as ‘the philosopher.’
Utd and City both with 100% records
Between them the Manchester clubs have won 7 of the last 10 Premier League titles and both have started the new season with 100% records. United have the stronger historical record in the derby having come out on top in 71 of the 171 matches to date. City have won 49, while 51 have ended in draws.
Manchester United - Manchester City team news
Manchester United
New signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Luke Shaw, Marouane Fellaini and Antonio Valencia all returned from international duty with knocks but are likely to play. Jesse Lingard remains out injured after picking up a foot injury during last month’s Community Shield win over Leicester.
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola will be hoping to continue his strong record against Mourinho, having won 8 of their 16 meetings to date. The absence of Sergio Agüero won’t make things easy, with the striker starting a three-match ban for elbowing West Ham defender Winston Reid during City’s 3-1 win at the Etihad two weeks ago, but new signings Leroy Sané, Ilkay Gündoğan and Claudio Bravo are all in line to make their City debuts.