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On Wednesday, Manchester United take on Manchester City at Old Trafford, in what could be the deciding game in the Premier League title race.
City are still in pole position as far as the race for the title is concerned. Although they currently sit in second place, two points behind Liverpool, Pep Guardiola’s side do have a game in hand, and that comes on Wednesday against their city rivals.
The Citizens have recovered from a tough December, which saw them lose three times in four Premier League games, and hand the initiative over to Liverpool. They have won each of their last ten league games, and now have only the Premier League to worry about until the FA Cup Final after being knocked out of the Champions League by Tottenham last week.
As for United, they are going through a tough period at the moment, having lost six of their last eight games in all competitions. They were embarrassed away at Everton on Sunday, losing 4-0, their biggest defeat to a side outside the big six since 1996.
A potential Champions League place is now out of their hands, and they will have to hope that other results are to go their way if they are to finish in the top four.
The derby is one of the most important of recent seasons, and the hope will be that it lives up to expectation. Here are five memorable derby matches of recent years.
#1 Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City (2009)
This is one is certainly a classic derby fixture, with United netting a late winner to snatch the three points. The Red Devils took the lead early on through Wayne Rooney, before City levelled when Carlos Tevez, appearing for the first time since leaving United, set up Gareth Barry to score. United scored early again after the restart thanks to Darren Fletcher, though Craig Bellamy made it 2-2 just three minutes later.
Fletcher popped up again to make it 3-2 with just ten minutes left, but yet again Bellamy hit back, this time rounding ‘keeper Ben Foster before bringing City level in the 90thminute. There was still time for United to score the most dramatic of late winners however, as Ryan Giggs set up Michael Owen to score his first goal for the club, and seal victory. The goal caused anger in the City camp, with manager Mark Hughes furious that play had continued into a sixth minute after the 90, despite just four being added.
#2 Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City (2011)
There were very few humiliations suffered by United during Sir Alex Ferguson’s time in charge of the club, but this was certainly one of them. This was the first time the pair met during the Premier League years while both of them were fighting it out for the league title. Mario Balotelli struck to give City the lead midway through the first half, before lifting up his shirt to reveal a shirt reading “Why always me”, just days after accidentally setting his house ablaze with fireworks.
Jonny Evans’ red card minutes into the second half gave United a mountain to climb, before Balotelli doubled City’s lead. Sergio Aguero made it 3-0 moments later, before Darren Fletcher pulled one back with ten minutes going. Edin Dzeko completed the humiliation with a double in injury time, with David Silva scoring in between the Bosnian’s two strikes. City would go on to win the title in the most incredible fashion against QPR on the final day of the season.
#3 Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United (2012)
Just over a year after that 6-1 humiliation, United took revenge in another memorable derby at the Etihad Stadium. United made a fast start at the home of their rivals, with Wayne Rooney striking twice inside the first half hour to put United well on their way to securing the three points. This was a fiery derby, with seven yellow cards shown, and a number of flash points.
City fought back in the second half, with Yaya Toure pulling a goal back on the hour. They thought they had done enough to earn the home side a point as Pablo Zabaleta fired home from inside the box. But it was Robin van Persie, playing in his first Manchester derby, who had the final say, as his 92nd minute free kick took a nick off Samir Nasri in the wall, before nestling in the far corner, sparking wild celebrations amongst the United fans.
#4 Manchester United 4-2 Manchester City (2015)
Not many United fans remember their former manager Louis van Gaal too fondly, but this was one of the Dutch manager’s finest moments in charge of the Red Devils. With Chelsea running away with the Premier League title, both City and United were in a fight for a Champions League spot. Sergio Aguero continued his excellent record in derbies, giving City a lead inside the first ten minutes, his 100thin a City shirt in all competitions.
But Untied came back strong, and were ahead by half time thanks to goals from Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini. United kept up their dominance after half time, with Juan Mata and Chris Smalling adding goals. Aguero got his second in the closing minutes, but it was too late to deny United the victory. Despite the result, both sides finished in the top four and qualified for the Champions League.
#5 Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United (2018)
This was the game that could have decided the Premier League title, as a win for City would have made them champions for the third time. It looked for all the world like they would have the title in their hands at full time, as City ran the show in the first half, with Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan providing the goals as they went in 2-0 up at the break, and United were lucky it was only two.
But United came out in the second half a totally different team, with Paul Pogba scoring twice to bring them level. The completed the incredible comeback with 20 minutes left, when Chris Smalling volleyed home from Alexis Sanchez’s free kick. City were denied what seemed a clear penalty late on when Ashley Young brought down Sergio Aguero in the area, and United were able to come away with the three points. It was just delaying the inevitable though, and City were confirmed as champions a week later, when United were beaten at home by West Brom.
