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It’s time for the first Manchester derby of 2019-20 this weekend, as Manchester City welcome bitter rivals Manchester United to the Etihad for what could be an epic encounter.
Both teams won during the midweek fixtures; Pep Guardiola’s side overwhelmed Burnley at Turf Moor on Tuesday, running out 1-4 winners, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United got one over their former boss Jose Mourinho by beating his Tottenham side 2-1 at Old Trafford.
Reigning Premier League champions City will rightly come into this match as favourites, but as it’s a major local derby, anything is possible. With that in mind, here’s a look at the last three meetings between the two rivals.
Manchester United 0-2 Manchester City
24 April 2019, Premier League
With a second consecutive Premier League title firmly in their sights, Manchester City were able to defeat their rivals in enemy territory last April. That moved them into pole position ahead of their nearest title challengers, Liverpool.
The match remained goalless at half-time, but City turned up the heat on Solskjaer’s Red Devils in the second half, and scored through Bernardo Silva on 54 minutes and Leroy Sane on 66 minutes.
Interestingly enough, United keeper David de Gea – usually one of his side’s most consistent performers – was at fault for both goals. He allowed Silva’s low drive in at his near post, while Sane’s shot went almost directly through him.
Although United were able to hold the Citizens off for the first half, the game largely changed when Sane was brought on to replace the injured Fernandinho. The German forward gave Guardiola’s side a different attacking outlet, and his side scored just one minute after his arrival on the pitch.
Overall, the match highlighted the gulf in class between Manchester’s two sides. United had just one shot on target during the entire match and also gave up 63% possession to their rivals, who looked every bit the champions elect.
Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United
11 November 2018, Premier League
United boss Jose Mourinho found a classic excuse for this loss to their rivals. The Portuguese stated that City were coming off a pair of “friendly” matches – comfortable wins over Southampton and Shakhtar Donetsk – going into the game, whereas his Red Devils had needed to hang tough in order to overcome Bournemouth and Juventus in their corresponding fixtures.
Unfortunately for United fans, regardless of the reasoning, they were simply outclassed in this match. City went one-nil up early on through David Silva after just 12 minutes, and could’ve scored more in the opening half as Mourinho’s side started slowly, suffering from mental fatigue (at least according to their boss).
The Red Devils clung on through the remainder of the half before Sergio Aguero put City two goals ahead early after the break, and it appeared to be game over from there. However, substitute Romelu Lukaku then earned a penalty for United just minutes after entering the fray, giving Mourinho’s men hope.
Anthony Martial duly dispatched the spot-kick, but it was scant consolation for the Red Devils. They were missing key midfielder Paul Pogba and created very little, only managing 1 shot on target off just 6 attempts overall.
In the end German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan sealed the points for Pep Guardiola’s side, finishing off a slick 44-pass move as United’s defenders appeared to be frozen in time. The win put City back on top of the Premier League table – where they would finish the season six months on.
Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United
7 April 2018, Premier League
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.
