Man City 0-2 Man United
Hello, and welcome to this afternoon’s liveblog.
Man City go into this game on the back of an incredible 21-match winning run, with 55 goals scored and eight conceded during that period.
If anyone can halt this run though, it’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
While City have picked up much more silverware in recent years, United actually have a decent record against their rivals of late, beating them in three of their last four meetings in all competitions.
But while City look likely to secure the title, United go into this match in indifferent form, dropping points in seven of their last 10 matches, with their top-four spot suddenly looking less than certain.
Nonetheless, the Red Devils have not lost an away Premier League match all season, so City will likely have their work cut out to maintain their winning run today.
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
Confirmation of today’s teams…
The 185th Manchester derby: coming 🔜
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 7, 2021
In the red corner... 🔴#MUFC #MCIMUN
Your derby day line-up! 💙
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 7, 2021
XI | Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus
SUBS | Steffen, Walker, Aguero, Laporte, Bernardo, Torres, Mendy, Fernandinho, Foden
⚽️ @HaysWorldwide
🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/WoCMpCLUdu
We’re underway…
PENALTY TO MAN UNITED!
Straight, Martial dribbles in the box.
Jesus clumsily trips him and gives away the penalty!
MAN UNITED 1-0 MAN CITY (FERNANDES 2)
Ederson gets a hand to Fernandes’ penalty but can only help it into the net.
Brilliant start for United.
United go close again!
Cancelo loses it inside the area, but Shaw’s subsequent strike from the edge of the area is too close to Ederson.
The visitors really look up for it today.
City have improved in recent minutes.
After a few quick passes, Gundogan produces a shot from the edge of the area, but it fails to trouble Henderson unduly.
City look well below their best so far, making some basic errors on the ball that they don’t usually commit.
As I type, Rashford tests Ederson with a long-distance strike, after De Bruyne concedes possession with a sloppy pass.
Interestingly, United are playing with a very high line, and they done a good job combatting the hosts’ formidable attack in these early stages.
According to Sky, City have had 65% possession in the last 10 minutes.
That stat highlights how the momentum has shifted, after United’s flying start.
As I type, Sterling goes down in the area after a mazy run, but referee Anthony Taylor waves play on.
Henderson parries away an attempt by Zinchenko.
City are starting to up the pressure now.
That aforementioned decision to not award the penalty looks the correct one judging by the replay. Sterling went down quite easily under the challenge from Fred.
Mahrez evades the challenge of Shaw , before his goal-bound attempt is blocked on the line.
It seems a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ City equalise the way this game is going at the moment.
92 – Bruno Fernandes’ penalty was the 92nd taken in the @premierleague this season, equalling the same number from the entirety of last season. Interpretation. pic.twitter.com/k9jYbWbE1H
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 7, 2021
City attack, but then Sterling overhits a pass towards Gundogan, epitomising his side’s ineptitude in the final third so far.
Moments before that, Maguire was booked for a rash challenge on Jesus.
Mahrez makes a purposeful forward run, before Gundogan takes it off him.
However, the German international can’t muster a shot powerful enough to trouble Henderson.
City continue to look threatening, with United largely on the backfoot since they scored.
Maguire gets a vital touch to prevent Jesus from converting De Bruyne’s dangerous cross.
It’s one-way traffic at the moment.
De Bruyne’s free kick from far out is tipped over the bar by Henderson.
City continue to probe, but United have defended really well so far to keep them at bay.
De Bruyne plays it to Mahrez in a great position.
The Algerian’s shot goes just wide, with Jesus sliding in and close to getting on the end of it.
That’s probably City’s best chance yet.
HALF-TIME: MAN CITY 0-1 MAN UNITED
It seems strange to say it in a game featuring Harry Maguire, who has played 106,000 minutes in the PL this season, but defining impression of Man City in the first half hour is that they look notably leggy.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) March 7, 2021
So half-time and it’s been an interesting game.
United started superbly, catching a sluggish City off guard and scoring early.
Since then, Solskjaer’s side have primarily sat back and invited pressure.
And a combination of good United defending and some uncharacteristically lax play from City’s attackers has ensured the Red Devils have maintained their lead going in at the break.
The second half has begun…
Close again for City!
They work it well, Jesus lays it off to Rodri on the edge of the area, and the midfielder’s first-time shot comes back off the woodwork.
The second half has continued the pattern of much of the first, with City in the ascendancy in terms of possession and territory.
MAN CITY 0-2 MAN UNITED (SHAW 50)
Out of nothing, United double their lead.
Shaw plays a one-two with Rashford, before his low shot from the edge of the area hits the far corner of the net.
The visitors have been really efficient on the rare occasions that they have attackeed.
United break through Martial, before James’ shot is deflected out for a corner.
City continue to look vulnerable to United’s pace on the counter-attack.
Fernandes’ cross deflects into the path of Martial, but the French star can’t get the required power on his header, and it’s an easy save for Ederson.
City seem a little rattled from the concession of that second goal and appear short of ideas at the moment.
2 - Manchester City trail by more than one goal in a Premier League home game for the first time since September 2020 (2-5 v Leicester), while they've conceded as many goals in this game as in their previous eight league games at the Etihad combined. Stung. pic.twitter.com/YXwYtaZ5Qg
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 7, 2021
Great driving run from De Bruyne.
He plays it to Jesus, who goes down under a sliding challenge, but the referee waves play on.
Moments later, Jesus is involved again, as his low cross can’t pick out anyone.
City then make a change, with Cancelo, who’s had a difficult afternoon, replaced by Kyle Walker.
McTominay slips it through to Martial.
Ederson gets down well to save the French attacker’s shot and keep City’s slim chances alive.
City make another change.
Foden has replaced Jesus.
Foden nearly makes an immediate impact.
De Bruyne crosses it to him, but the youngster slices his finish from the edge of the area.
With 15 minutes remaining, it looks like it’s not going to be City’s day.
City go close again!
It’s a great cross from Walker, but Sterling can’t quite connect with it.
It’s been an off day for the winger, summed up by that bad miss.
Foden controls the ball deep inside the area, but Greenwood is on hand to nick it off him.
United have defended superbly today.
City have had 79% possession in the last 10 minutes according to Sky.
De Bruyne finds Sterling with a brilliant cross, but the City attacker can’t steer his header on target.
The hosts have created chances today, but in stark contrast to United, have been nowhere near clinical enough when presented with them.
As I type, De Bruyne’s corner is flicked on by Gundogan, but no one gets on the end of it at the far post.
United make a defensive change.
Matic has replaced Martial, who has led the line excellently for United today and most crucially, won that early penalty.
Martial has just deservedly been named man of the match by Sky.
Gary Neville also gives an honourable mention to goalscorer Luke Shaw.
There will be five minutes of stoppage time…
Another change for United.
Brandon Williams replaces Bruno Fernandes.
FULL-TIME: MAN CITY 0-2 MAN UNITED
What a performance from @ManUtd and once again Luke Shaw immense. Outstanding team performance. Tactically spot on as well and brave with the high pressing.
— Danny Higginbotham (@Higginbotham05) March 7, 2021
So that’s that.
City have had a great run, and they will be bitterly disappointed to see it come to an end, particularly against their biggest rivals.
Solskjaer seems to have the Indian sign over Guardiola judging by recent history, particularly at the Etihad.
The United coach set his side up perfectly today. They were brilliant defensively and made the most of their occasional chances down the other end, with the likes of Martial and Rashford among the players putting in impressive shifts.
City didn’t play too badly, but they were punished for a sloppy start, and missed a few chances that they would have taken at their best.
They will still almost certainly win the title, but today was a reminder that they can’t afford to get overly complacent.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our match report here and we’ll have more reaction to follow.
