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The Manchester Derby at Old Trafford on Sunday marks the 182nd meeting between the two Premier League giants. Historically, Manchester United have been the top dogs in this match-up, however, recent years have seen Manchester City overpower their cross-town rivals.
The game on Sunday is a must-win for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as he looks to steer his side into the top-four to attain automatic Champions League qualification for next season. Meanwhile, City are an incredible 22 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool but they could potentially cement themselves in second place with a victory at United.
The Manchester Derby, which is one of the most-watched games in the world, has a reputation of being a tense, passionate and dramatic affair. The match, consequently, has produced some of the most iconic goals in Premier League history, five of which we will discuss in this section.
#5. Michael Owen in 2009
In what is considered by many as the craziest Manchester Derby in Premier League history, United forward Michael Owen scored deep into stoppage time to hand Alex Ferguson’s side a thrilling 4-3 win on the day. Wayne Rooney opened proceedings early on before Gareth Barry capitalised on a Ben Foster mistake to restore balance.
Darren Fletcher and Craig Bellamy both scored braces before the 2001 Ballon d’Or winner, who came on as a substitute, finished from close range to send Old Trafford into a frenzy.
The Premier League 20 Seasons Awards, which marked the culmination of the first two decades of the restructured English top-flight, honoured the 153rd Manchester Derby as its ‘Best Match’.
Throughout history, United were always a much more dominant force than their cross-town rivals, whether it was historically, commercially or in terms of success. However, with the 2008 Abu Dhabi Group takeover, there was a renaissance at City as they became potential suitors to many high-profile players.
Interestingly, that derby in September of 2009 marked the return of Carlos Tevez to the red half of Manchester after his move to City in the summer. Tevez, although, could not get himself on the scoresheet in what was a Man of the Match performance by teammate Bellamy.
However, Owen stole all the headlines with his pulsating winner. The Englishman did not live up to his standards during the early part of his United career, but his all-important winner against Manchester City was another turning point in his career.
#4. Paul Scholes in 2010
Perhaps, Paul Scholes’ dramatic 93rd-minute winner at the Etihad in 2010 is not remembered as much as what followed it is. The Manchester United icon led his team to the Etihad to keep their title-charge alive and with a mere 17 seconds remaining on the clock, rose highest to bury Patrice Evra’s cross in the back of the City net.
Sir Alex Ferguson was in search of his fourth consecutive Premier League title and the 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium would increase the pressure on leaders Chelsea. Having already scored two stoppage-time winners against City earlier in the season, Scholes’ heroics at the end of the game stung Roberto Mancini, who claimed that the was ‘angry and disappointed because they didn’t deserve to lose’.
However, it was Gary Neville who stole all the headlines the next week as he celebrated the goal with his English compatriot in the most bizarre manner. The right-back planted a kiss on Scholes’ lips much to the fans’ surprise. Reacting to the incident, he said, “A kiss on the lips from Nev is worth it any time after a winner against City”.
However, former United defender claimed that Neville was trying to make City fans angrier by his public display of love after his team handed them another late heartbreak.
#3. Vincent Kompany in 2012
Manchester City’s maiden Premier League triumph in 2011/12 is often only remembered for Sergio Aguero’s rip-roaring winner on the last day of the season against Queens Park Rangers. However, that season consisted of some of the most iconic Manchester Derby goals, one of which was Vincent Kompany’s clutch header in their must-win game at the Etihad in April.
City were trailing the reigning champions and league leaders by eight points only three weeks ago but United’s blips against Wigan Athletic and Everton meant that a win over their bitter rivals would put the Blues on top of the pile. It was then labelled as the most important game in the club’s 120-year history with the stakes higher than ever.
A man for the big occasion, captain Vincent Kompany made his trademark scuffle in the box when he leapt and scored a bullet header from a David Silva corner in first-half stoppage time. The Etihad erupted as their Belgian skipper wildly celebrated the goal which set Manchester City on their quest to the title.
That momentous goal from Kompany single-handedly turned the tide in Manchester as City announced themselves on the footballing map by prevailing over their Mancunian rivals. City’s captain went onto score many more iconic goals in the club’s history, most notably on the last day of the 2013/14 title-winning campaign, in the 2017/18 League Cup final and against Leicester City on the penultimate match-day of the 2018/19 season.
#2. Mario Balotelli in 2011
During his three-year stint at Manchester City, Mario Balotelli made a habit of grabbing all the headlines on a weekly basis. Whether they were for his on-the-pitch exploits or his off-the-pitch shenanigans is another day’s story, but the Italian forward was no doubt one of the most talked-about subjects in England.
Balotelli’s arrogance was justified with his world-class potential, however, his controversial antics marred his career growth. City fans, nonetheless, will always remember him as one of the club’s most iconic players because of his many defining moments in a blue shirt, the top-most being the goal against Manchester United in the 2011/12 title-winning season.
Having won the FA Cup the previous year, Manchester City fans were desperate for their team to challenge their arch-rivals for the title that season. The Blues travelled to Old Trafford in October having started the season superbly but fans were not at their optimistic best because of their past failures at the home of the Reds.
Balotelli, however, had other ideas. The forward was a livewire in attack and went onto score two goals in an unimaginable 6-1 routing by the visitors. When James Milner squared the ball to the Italian midway through the first half, who was stationed outside the box, he opened his body and neatly slotted the ball past David de Gea.
The striker turned around and lifted his shirt which yelled ‘Why always me?’, days after he reportedly set his hotel room ablaze and became hot news in the media.
Balotelli added a second in the second half from another Milner cross as he opened the floodgates for Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and David Silva to cap a momentous day for Manchester City football club.
#1. Wayne Rooney in 2011
A no-brainer really, Wayne Rooney’s bicycle kick has to be the most iconic goal ever scored in the Manchester Derby’s 139-year history. The Englishman is Manchester United’s record scorer with an incredible 253 goals in all competitions over a 13-year period but he has described the match-winner against Manchester City in the 2010/11 season as the ‘best of his career’.
Roberto Mancini’s men travelled to Old Trafford with a renewed spirit amidst the camp after beating them in the FA Cup semi-final the previous year. City were desperate to emerge from their neighbours’ shadow and beating them at their own park would be a statement result.
However, it wasn’t meant to be that season. Nani fired United into the lead before David Silva levelled things up in the second half. With the game labouring towards a draw, the Portuguese winger bombed forward on the right-wing before pinging a hopeful ball into the box which deflected off Pablo Zabaleta.
Rooney, to everyone’s surprise, quickly reacted to the ball which was destined to drop behind him by leaping into the air and acrobatically finishing past Joe Hart.
Ask any professional footballer and they will tell you that the overhead kick is the most difficult technique to perform. The timing, contact and precision should all work in perfect tandem to even have a chance for the player to produce an effort on goal, let alone score.
Rooney’s goal not only won Manchester United the match on that day but also widened the points gap between them and City who were mounting a significant title challenge. The strike was also voted as the best goal in Premier League history in a 2012 poll by fans.
