Manchester City picked up a commanding 3-0 win at Manchester United on Sunday, cementing their status as contenders for the Premier League title yet again and adding to their crosstown rivals' continuing woes this season.
United had a chance in the first few minutes but City quickly began to dominate in just about every statistical category. The go-ahead goal came in the 26th minute after Rasmus Hojlund was called for a foul on Rodri, which allowed Erling Haaland to score on a penalty.
City's dominance continued into the second half, which set up for them to double their lead in the 59th minute. In a demonstration of stellar build-up play, the ball eventually fell to Bernardo Silva on the left wing. He then sent a cross towards Haaland on the far post, who finished easily from close range to give his side a 2-0 lead.
A third came in the 80th minute courtesy of Phil Foden. In another moment of strong buildup play, Rodri took a shot from the edge of the penalty area that was initially stopped by Andre Onana. The ball landed at Haaland's feet, and though he was wide of goal, he saw Foden running towards the goal line and sent it his way. Foden then finished from close range to add to his side's advantage.
The reigning champions sit third in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur, while United occupy eighth spot after the result.
81' In another instance of brilliant build up play, Rodri takes a shot from the edge of the area that Onana is able to save. The ball lands at Haaland's feet, who is wide of the goal but notices Foden running towards the goal line and sends the ball his way. From there, it's a simple finish for Foden to give his side a 3-0 lead.
The lopsided scoreline reflects a just as one-sided performance. City were dominant in just about every category and earned yet another win in the derby. The result just makes a bad season worse for United, who at this point seem unable to put a convincing performance together.
71' United are able to pounce on a City giveaway and earn a couple of corners from it, which marks the first meaningful look at gaol for the hosts since early in the second half. They maintain some pressure and eventually Rashford makes a smart run and is able to outmaneuver Dias, but his shot sails just wide of the goal.
58' Another example of decent build up from City leads to Grealish taking a well-executed shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Onana is there to keep things at bay. City are not taking the foot off the gas any time soon.
50' United may have started the half strongly, but it's City who find the back of the net. Stellar buildup play eventually leads Silva to send a cross to the far post, where Haaland is waiting and finishes withe ease. The visitors are now up 2-0.
49' United again have the first encouraging shot of the half, this time off a corner. Fernandes is the one that eventually takes the shot, but Ederson makes a convincing save to keep his side's lead.
United make one sub at halftime - Mount is coming on for Amrabat, who is on a yellow
United had some encouraging moments on either side of the half, but the first half was truly all City. In addition to having the game's lone goal so far, they are dominating in possession (60.4%) and shots (seven to four), shots on goal (four to two), and expected goals (1.65 to 0.29).
45'+5 Silva's cross finds Haaland in the box, whose header is expertly blocked by Onana just before halftime.
45'+1 United run for goal and McTominay finds himself on the edge of the box with a terrific shot, but Ederson is up for the task and gets a hand on the ball to force it away.
44' It's not a derby without a tiny feud between opposition players, and Amrabat and Foden check that box after a tackle sends them into a not-so-friendly exchange. They are both booked and everyone moves on.
38' City are racking up set pieces with varying levels of success, but Alvarez's freekick on the left side of the penalty area looked like it could have curled into the top left corner. Onana was there to make the save and award City yet another corner kick that United is able to deal with fairly easily.
32' United have their first meaningful look at goal since the opening minutes of the game as Hojlund makes a run and looks to be in on goal. As he runs closer to goal, though, Ederson gets a tiny touch on the ball and sends Hojlund wide, who is able to pass to Fernandes but City's defense has restructured in time to see things out.
26' Haaland takes the penalty and pops the ball into the bottom right corner with relative ease to give his side a 1-0 lead. Right before the goal, Onana picked up a yellow card for gamesmanship.
24' After several minutes of deliberation from the VAR team, referee Paul Tierney heads to the screen and calls a foul on Hojlund for grabbing Rodri in the box. City will have a chance to take the lead.
21' Things have settled down quite a bit since the back-and-forth first half, but the patient play favors City so far, who are controlling the ball and slowly but surely finding ways to test the United defense. Grealish takes a shot from distance off a corner and forces Onana into a save, which means City get another corner but not much comes of it.
8' City have their first major chance of the day through Foden, who thinks he's scored with a header near the goal. Onana makes the save but it falls to Haaland, who looked incredibly likely to score only for Maguire to make a last-gasp clearance to keep things 0-0.
3' United have made a pair of encouraging attacking plays to start this game with the likes of Lindelof and McTominay looking like they could score. The shots have not lived up to the build up's potential thus far, but the hosts have looked bright so far.
United kick things off, and the latest edition of the Manchester derby has officially begun.
The teams are on the field but before kickoff, Manchester United pay tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton in their first Premier League home game since he died last weekend. A handful of Charlton's former teammates are standing in the center circle alongside today's starters for a moment of applause.
United fans also paid their respects with chants and a display in the stands.
Legendary United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel stopped by Morning Footy on Friday to talk the state of his former team heading into today's derby, and though they can take some positives from Tuesday's Champions League win and last eason's victory over their crosstown rivals, the hosts might need more than just recent momentum to carry them through today's match.
Schmeichel says recent performances are not convincing and that the first half against Copenhagen midweek was "probably one of the worst performances I've seen from a Manchester United team in Europe. We talk about these big, big European nights at Old Trafford and it didn't materialize."
Watch his full analysis below.
All the usual suspects are the lineup for both teams, including the heroes of their respective Champions League wins midweek - Onana and Maguire start for United, while Haaland starts for City. Take a look at the lineups below.
Manchester United starting XI: Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Evans, Lindelof, Amrabat, McTominay, Fernandes, Eriksen, Rashford, Hojlund
Manchester City starting XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Stones, Rodri, Foden, Alvarez, Silva, Grealish, Haaland
