Manchester City vs Manchester United: Last 3 meetings

Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United

7 April 2018, Premier League

Chris Smalling scored a stunning winner in United's last victory over their rivals

This was an all-time classic derby, and was also the last meeting of the Manchester sides that didn’t end in one-sided fashion in favour of the blue half. Guardiola’s City needed a win over their rivals to be crowned Premier League champions, and early on it looked like they would manage it with relative ease.

Captain Vincent Kompany gave the home side the lead with a thumping header on 25 minutes, and 5 minutes later Ilkay Gundogan doubled the lead with a nice finish after a quick turn in the box.

It looked like the match would turn into a rout from there but City couldn’t add to their tally, with Raheem Sterling fluffing two big chances and Gundogan missing a gilt-edged header.

Guardiola’s men would pay for their profligacy as the Red Devils somehow fought back in the second half. Star midfielder Paul Pogba pulled a goal back with a quick finish on 53 minutes, and then equalized with a header just two minutes later.

Less than 15 minutes after the equalizer United found themselves ahead, and from an unlikely source. Chris Smalling – who had been at fault for Kompany’s opener – found himself unmarked in the box to head home an Alexis Sanchez free-kick.

City’s defence appeared to be paper-thin, with Nicolas Otamendi in particular appearing to struggle. They had somehow conceded 3 goals in just 16 minutes.

The game then headed into a frantic ending. Ashley Young somehow got away with what appeared to be a late hack at Sergio Aguero in the penalty area, while David de Gea made a world-class, one-handed save to deny the Argentine striker a late equaliser.

In the end it was Jose Mourinho’s side that surprisingly came out on top, in arguably one of his crowning moments in the United hot-seat.