Old Trafford played host the Manchester derby today, where two late goals from Manchester United saw them defeat Manchester City. The late goal from Marcus Rashford ensured that the red side of Manchester came home with all three points, putting a damper on Man City's title hopes. 

A 60th minute header from Jack Grealish opened the scoring for Man City in a game where they looked the less dominant side. The visitors held on for twenty minutes before a controversial goal from Bruno Fernandes levelled the scoring going into the final ten minutes of the game.

Brilliant footwork by 18 year old Alejandro Garnacho allowed Marcus Rashford to score from close range, and put the Red Devils 2-1 up with nine minutes to go, in which the Red Devils held on for a crucial three points.

  • Story of the match

Following the two sides' midweek FA Cup fixtures, both Pep Guardiola and Erik Ten Hag elected field a stronger and more rotated team than the one's they played midweek.

Man United saw 9 changes being made; David De Gea, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphel Varane, Luke Shaw, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial coming into the starting eleven for Ten Hag's side.

Man City saw 8 changes being made; Ederson, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Erling Haaland came into the starting eleven for Guardiola's side.

Both teams came with similar approaches during the first half of the game as they both pressed high up the field, putting pressure on the backline.

The first chance game in the 10th minute of the game as Marcus Rashford capitalised on a poor pass from Nathan Ake, before putting Bruno Fernandes through on goal. Fernandes hit the ball just wide of the mark - a wasted opportunity for Man United.

Man City seemed sloppy in possession during the opening 20 minutes of the game, with wayward passes and slow decision making hurting them defensively. However, a chance opened up in the 24th minute as Erling Haaland picked the ball up on the edge of the box before having his shot blocked by Casemiro.

Man City looked like they were settling into the game and were becoming more accustomed to the pace that Man United were setting, as Riyad Mahrez picked the ball up on the right-hand side of the pitch. Some nice play with Kevin De Bruyne saw Mahrez gain an opening for a cross, which was subsequently blocked by Tyrell Malacia.

A chance emerged for Man United in the 34th minute as Bruno Fernandes picked the ball up in the middle of the pitch, before lobbing a brilliantly weighted ball to Rashford. Rashford took the ball around Ederson, who rushed out of his net to make a challenge, and hit a low shot straight at the feet of Manuel Akanji. The game remained scoreless but it was clear that Man United, and specifially Marcus Rashford, had found the best chances.

Chances were beginning to emerge for both teams, as De Bruyne crossed the ball to Phil Foden at the back post, who couldn't direct it goalwards.

Another chance opened up for Rashford and the hosts as Christian Eriksen played a splitting ball through to the Englishman who couldn't beat Ederson at close range. This game was beginning to become the Marcus Rashford show.

One last opportunity came for Man City before the half closed with Kyle Walker unleashing a strike from 30 yards that didn't trouble David De Gea.

Both teams went into the half goalless with Man United seeming the more dominant side after 45 minutes.

As the second half started, two penalty calls from both the home side and the visitors were waved away by Stuart Atwell. Man City's seemed the more convincing of the two shouts as Joao Cancelo appeared to be shoved to the ground by Casemiro - Guardiola's side were coming alive.

Finally, on the hour mark of the game, a goal came for the visitors. Fantastic play between Mahrez and De Bruyne saw the Belgian in a good position to play the ball across the six yard box. The ball was crossed and Jack Grealish got on the end of it to score his second goal of the season, and Man City lead in the Manchester derby!

Photo by Matt McNulty, GettyImages
Photo by Matt McNulty, GettyImages

 

Man City were 1-0 with half an hour left to play, but despite the time left, showed no intent of scoring another. 

Bruno Fernandes levelled the scoring with just 10 minutes left of the game after some VAR controversy. The ball was played through to Marcus Rashford, who was offside, but VAR ruled that he did not touch the ball and was therefore onside. Man City players were in disbelief at the decision given by VAR.

It didn't take long for Man United to double their scoring and take the lead either! Some great footwork by substitute Alejandro Garnacho saw him beat Nathan Ake before playing it across goal to Rashford, who had an easy tap in! Man United, who were 1-0 down, had brought it back and taken the lead in 2 minutes!

  • Player of the Match 

From creating chances to scoring them, Rashford has been in scintillating form since he was called up to the World Cup, and he will hope to produce these kinds of crucial performances for the rest of the season.

  • 4 takeaways from the game

The things we can takeaway from this game are:

  1. Manchester United are a force to be reckoned with. With the likes of Marcus Rashford, Raphael Varane, Tyrell Malacia and Aaron Wan-Bissaka performing at their best, they seem almost unstoppable.
  2. Something isn't clicking for Pep Guardiola at the moment. Over the last 2 games for Man City, they have had 1 shot on target and looked out of place in both games. Something isn't clicking for Guardiola and the players, and it's up to them to figure it out before Arsenal run away with the title.
  3. Man City are lacking creators. Man City are currently solely relying on Kevin De Bruyne to be their creator as players like Riyad Mahrez are getting closed down at every opportunity. Another creator is needed to allow Haaland, Foden or Alvarez to score.
  4. Man United are going in the right direction. Ten Hag is working very well with Man United right now, and it's showing in their results. Currently 3rd in the league with a Carabao Cup semi-final awaiting them too, they are definitely heading in the right direction.
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