Manchester United beating Manchester City doesn't happen often. However, for Manchester United to beat Manchester City outside of Old Trafford is relatively uncommon. However, how did Manchester City lose to Manchester United last weekend? That's incredibly rare. Man United being the resilient one to earn a come-from-behind win over their longtime crosstown rivals? That's huge for the Red Devils, considering they're off to their worst Premier League start in history.
A struggling Man United team is no surprise because that's been the case for over ten years. Man City has been experiencing a downfall this season. Injuries, inconsistency, and an inability to play effectively and sublimely have taken a massive toll on the citizens. Man City has only won one in their last eleven matches in all competitions, and they're off to their worst Premier League start in nearly 15 years. It appears that the Citizens will need more time to win their fifth straight Premier League title.
The game's first 30 minutes were back-and-forth. Both teams were looking for opportunities to score, with Man City wasting no time in inflicting pressure on the opposition. Man United already knew that they had their work cut out for them, as Man City had been frustrated lately and was looking to take it out on their crosstown rivals.
Joško Gvardiol gave the Citizens the lead in the 36th minute. Man United supposedly had a brilliant chance to score in the first half, but had Amad Diallo found the back of the net, the goal would have been disallowed because he was offside on that play. Man City would have a 2-0 lead if Phil Foden had been able to capitalize.
Shortly before the first half ended, Man United striker Rasmus Højlund confronted Man City defender and Captain Kyle Walker. This happened after Walker tripped Højlund, resulting in Man United being awarded a free kick that nearly resulted in Man United scoring an equalizer. During the confrontation, Walker embarrassed himself by falling to the ground, pretending to have been headbutted by Højlund. This resulted in a brief clash between the two teams. In the end, Walker and Højlund both received a yellow card. And in the closing seconds of the first half, Foden again came up short on a brilliant scoring opportunity. Man City's 1-0 half-time lead could have been 3-0. Had that been the case, it'd have been game over for Man United.
Man United almost equalized in the 62nd minute when the Man City goalie saved Diallo's header. A few minutes later, Man City's Kevin De Bruyne's shot went too high, only for Erling Haaland to fail to make contact with the ball a few minutes later on another scoring chance. In the 73rd minute, Man United Captain Bruno Fernandes wasted a perfect opportunity to put his team on the board. Haaland's shot was blocked two minutes later, resulting in another failed scoring attempt for Man City.
In the 85th minute, Man United was awarded a penalty after Diallo was fouled in the box. Fernandes would successfully convert the penalty, thus finally giving Man United a much-needed equalizer and avenging his wasted scoring opportunity earlier. With a 1-1 score late in the game, it seemed like it would end in a stalemate. Still, about two minutes later, Diallo would cut right through the Man City defense, catch the Man City goalie entirely off guard, and score in a unique fashion. Diallo took a massive gamble on that play afterward, and it paid off. Diallo finally had his moment after he drew the penalty a few minutes prior. Man United held on and won the game. Resiliency was key for the Red Devils.
Before the Manchester Derby, Man City had suffered a 2-0 loss to Juventus in a Champions League match. Man United picked a win over FC Viktoria Plzeň in a Europa League match. On the 22nd of January, Man City will play their next Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain in the French Capital. Until then, they'll compete in a series of Premier League matches before playing an FA Cup match on the 11th of January.
Man United will play Tottenham this Thursday in an EFL quarterfinal. After that, they'll play four Premier League matches before taking on Arsenal in an FA Cup match. Man United's next Europa League match will be against Rangers on the 23rd of January.
Liverpool is on top of the English Premier League Table, with Chelsea knocking on the door. Arsenal sits in third, while Nottingham Forest is back in the top four with a current fourth-place spot. Man City is in fifth place, while Man United is in 13th. Man City is not living up to expectations thus far, but Chelsea is doing better than anybody could have anticipated. But there's plenty of Premier League football left to play.
Main Image via
Comments