Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s been a less than satisfactory season so far for both these clubs, but a trophy would certainly provide a boost to either.
United did earn a surprise 2-1 win the last time the sides met back in December, though they still currently trail City by 13 points in the Premier League.
A win over their bitter rivals would certainly help alleviate some of the criticism that has been aimed at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of late.
You get the feeling a win for Pep Guardiola would be similarly significant. The fact that they sit 14 points behind Liverpool suggests City are unlikely to retain the Premier League title, so coming away from this season with a least one major honour would somewhat soften the blow in that regard.
Confirmation of tonight’s teams…
🗞 Here it is... the #MUFC starting XI to face City in our #CarabaoCup semi-final first leg!
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 7, 2020
Your City line-up for tonight!
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 7, 2020
Bravo, Walker, Otamendi, Fernandinho (C), Mendy, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling
Subs | Ederson, Jesus, Aguero, Silva, Cancelo, Foden, E Garcia
⚽️ @haysworldwide
🔵 #ManCity #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/sR3RYUnWvn
Who do you think will progress?
Poll Results:
We’re underway…
It’s been a pretty uneventful opening, with neither side threatening.
As I type, though, there’s a collector’s item — a City defender booting the ball out of play when under pressure from United’s intense pressing.
Good play from Rashford!
He sprints past Otamendi easily, though Fernandinho is perfectly placed to intercept the young striker’s low cross.
United threaten again!
A long ball is played up to Greenwood, who heads it down for Rashford.
Again though, as the England international sprints towards goal, Fernandinho keeps his cool to make a well-timed challenge.
Giggs, Rooney and Hughes in the stand. How Solskjær would have loved to have them ON the field
— Jan Aage Fjortoft 🏳️🌈 🇳🇴 (@JanAageFjortoft) January 7, 2020
Man City have had 57% so far according to Sky.
They have done very little with the ball, however.
Pep Guardiola, in the pre-match press conference, kept mentioning his team’s poor start the last time the sides met, so it’s understandable that they’d be apprehensive this evening.
MAN UNITED 0-1 MAN CITY (SILVA 17)
Out of nothing, Man City are ahead!
Bernardo Silva is afforded far too much space on the edge of the area, and he curls an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net.
Another moment of danger for City.
Claudio Bravo has to sprint well outside his box, just getting to a loose ball ahead of Greenwood.
City go close to making it two.
A one-two with De Bruyne sets Walker free down the right.
The full-back’s low cross finds Sterling, whose goal-bound attempt is blocked by Wan-Bissaka.
2 - Bernardo Silva is the first Manchester City player to score in consecutive appearances against Manchester United at Old Trafford since Sergio Agüero between 2011-2015 (3 games). Delightful. #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/o6yt7cH6i2
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 7, 2020
A STUNNER FROM SILVA ⭐
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 7, 2020
Manchester City lead against Manchester United in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Watch on Sky Sports Football or follow here: https://t.co/vKpD6NYij8 pic.twitter.com/AWb02ORLtw
MAN UNITED 0-2 MAN CITY (MAHREZ 33)
City double their advantage.
Bernardo Silva plays a glorious defence-splitting through pass, which takes a slight deflection off a sliding Lindelöf, before finding Mahrez.
The Algerian winger then coolly rounds De Gea, before slotting the ball into the empty net.
This could get ugly from a United perspective.
MAN UNITED 0-3 MAN CITY (PEREIRA OWN GOAL)
City break with pace.
De Bruyne takes it past Jones. His subsequent shot is saved by De Gea, but it rebounds off the unfortunate Pereira and goes into the net.
This has been a real masterclass from City, though United have been woeful and are facing humiliation on home turf.
City look like scoring every time they attack.
Mahrez runs down the right menacingly. His low cross finds Sterling, but the attacker mis-hits his finish.
HALF-TIME: MAN UNITED 0-3 MAN CITY
Absolute tactical masterclass from Guardiola. No centre-forwards on the pitch? #mcfc total domination. Movement of Bernardo and De Bruyne too clever for #mufc. 3-0 now. United defending so naive. Given little protection. City a class apart, sharper in mind & body #ManchesterDerby
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) January 7, 2020
City fans singing: "We want you to stay, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, we want you to stay"
— Paul Hirst (@hirstclass) January 7, 2020
The second half has begun…
United made one change at half-time.
Matic is on in place of Lingard, which suggests the main aim now is to prevent the scoreline getting more embarrassing.
City continue to threaten.
Mendy’s ball across the box finds Mahrez, who has got in behind Williams.
However, the winger’s shot hits the outside of the post from a tight angle.
City are running riot!
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 7, 2020
An own goal has extended their lead to 3-0 before half-time at Old Trafford.
Watch on Sky Sports Football or follow here: https://t.co/vKpD6NYij8 pic.twitter.com/YQFQQNM9BP
United are looking a bit more solid with Matic in the middle now.
You feel with half an hour to go, if they can at least hold City scoreless for a half, there will be some relief.
They are also showing a degree of attacking intent. Rodri has just been booked for a cynical foul that brought Pereira’s purposeful run to a halt.
Another change for United.
Daniel James is replaced by youngster Angel Gomes.
According to Sky, tonight is the first time an away side has scored three goals in the first half at Old Trafford since Middlesbrough did so in 1997.
It’s almost impossible to imagine any way back for them in the tie now. The second leg looks a formality.
MAN UNITED 1-3 MAN CITY (RASHFORD 70)
Man United have been better in this second half and they get their reward.
It starts with a sloppy pass from De Bruyne and ends with Rashford slotting home with a clinical finish.
Prior to scoring, the England international had plenty of work to do, latching on to Greenwood’s through pass and comfortably beating Otamendi.
Just before that, Riyad Mahrez’s effort was well saved by De Gea, after the Algerian had got the better of Williams.
A lifeline for Manchester United! 🔺
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 7, 2020
Marcus Rashford finishes nicely to cut Manchester City's lead to 3-1.
Watch on Sky Sports Football or follow here: https://t.co/vKpD6NYij8 pic.twitter.com/d1M7GVJQXP
Worry scenes for City fans, as De Bruyne is down receiving treatment.
As that happens, an animated, intense-looking Guardiola is shown giving instructions to Rodri on the sideline.
Unsurprisingly, De Bruyne is then replaced, with Gabriel Jesus coming on in his place.
The Belgian international does not look too badly injured as he comes off.
United also make a change, as Greenwood is replaced by Martial.
4 - Marcus Rashford has scored four goals against Manchester City in all competitions - he only has more career goals against Chelsea (five). Hope. #CarabaoCup
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 7, 2020
City make another change.
Mahrez, who has looked impressive this evening, has been replaced by Phil Foden.
Out of nothing, as City’s backline back off, Rashford produces a stinging shot from the edge of the area that Bravo has to parry out for a corner.
It couldn’t get much worse after the first half, but United have restored some pride in this second period.
FULL-TIME: MAN UNITED 1-3 MAN CITY
In @Carabao_Cup history, only twice have a side lost a semi-final 1st leg at home and gone on to reach the final:
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) January 7, 2020
1⃣9⃣8⃣7⃣ - @Arsenal progressed v Tottenham
1⃣9⃣7⃣2⃣ - @stokecity progressed v West Ham pic.twitter.com/WnjU5zICgH
So that’s that. City go into the second leg with a commanding lead.
Though that Rashford goal has given them faint hope, it’s hard to see any way back for United, particularly given that they have to go to the Etihad.
The Red Devils were largely outplayed this evening, with their improved second-half performance creditable, even if it can be partially attributed to City taking their foot off the pedal to a degree.
Solskjaer’s side have already stunned Pep Guardiola’s men once this season, so it would be foolish to completely write them off, but City showed this evening that they are the better footballing team, and if they can play anywhere near as well in the return leg, they will surely advance.
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction to follow and you can read our match report here.
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