Good afternoon! And welcome along to our live coverage of today’s clash between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad.
As everyone already knows, Pep Guardiola’s men can mathematically secure the Premier League title with a win today — in doing so potentially becoming the quickest side in Premier League history to do so.
Let’s get started with the team news.
Here's the team news, #MUFC fans!
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 7, 2018
This is how we line up for derby day. #MCIMUN pic.twitter.com/xJ5a9r28G9
How we line-up in the 176th Manchester Derby! 🙌
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 7, 2018
City XI | Ederson, Danilo, Kompany (C), Otamendi, Delph, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Bernardo, Silva, Sane, Sterling
Subs | Bravo, Walker, Agüero, Laporte, De Bruyne, Jesus, Yaya Touré
Presented by @HaysWorldwide #cityvutd #mancity pic.twitter.com/8QoJ2CMkWh
So, today’s teams are:
Man City: Ederson; Danilo, Kompany, Otamendi, Delph; Gundogan, Fernandinho, D Silva; B Silva, Sterling, Sane
Subs: Bravo, Walker, Laporte, De Bruyne Y Toure, Aguero, Jesus.
Man United: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Bailly, Young; Herrera, Matic, Pogba; Lingard, Lukaku, Sanchez.
Subs: Pereira, Lindelof, Rojo, Mata, McTominay, Martial, Rashford.
Fans are beginning to flood in to the Etihad ahead of today’s 5.30pm kick-off. Just over 45 minutes to go!
Goals are never just 'goals' against Manchester United! #cityvutd pic.twitter.com/pZolnfHyfo
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 7, 2018
Head over to #MUTV now for all the best build-up, live commentary and reaction to Man City v #MUFC...
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 7, 2018
Watch: https://t.co/ETPbroAcKb pic.twitter.com/C6INiJCheA
Despite the fanfare, Man City enter today’s game wounded animals. Wednesday night’s 3-0 spanking at the hands of Liverpool in their Champions League quarter-final first leg will mean much of their focus is already on Tuesday’s second leg at the Etihad.
A win today will secure the title, however with Pep Guardiola failing to secure a Champions League title in his last seven seasons, he will want to put a major emphasis on turning the tie on its head in three days’ time — as he tries to keep hopes of a potential treble alive against all odds.
Jose Mourinho would be sickened to hand the title to their city rivals today, but is a man who knows how to wreck a party just as well as start one.
When Liverpool looked destined to secure their first ever Premier League title this time four years ago, his Chelsea side wrecked havoc on Brendan Rodgers’ team with a brutal win at Stamford Bridge to scupper the Reds’ dreams.
This will not be an easy win for City should they get over the line. But they have undoubtedly been English football’s elite all season, and will be keen to emphasise that point for all to see today.
The big team news this afternoon sees Kevin de Bruyne rested for Man City.
Kevin De Bruyne starts on the bench for the first time in the Premier League this season.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 7, 2018
He was the only outfield player to start in the first 31 games for Man City. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/1WfUaVOutq
Right, with 15 minutes to go before we get underway how do we see this going? Let us know below!
Poll Results:
There is a moment’s applause right before kick-off in memory of the late Ray Wilkins.
Ray Wilkins remembered 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/ydi0l2veXV
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) April 7, 2018
KICK-OFF: We’re underway at the Etihad!
We’re up and running and already Man City’s forward line is a key point of early discussion here. Bernardo Silva is being deployed as a false nine by Pep Guardiola instead of Raheem Sterling who many anticipated to fill the role.
Early spell of possession for Man City now as United sit back and press in bunches in the middle of the park. David Silva ignites his side’s first attack, veering forward with the ball at his feet. The ball is fed to Leroy Sane, who finds Danilo, however the defender’s shot balloons well wide — the first shot of the afternoon.
Early chance! Raheem Sterling looks destined to take advantage of an Ashley Young slip three yards out from goal to tap in with ease. Young recovers to clear the ball with his… eh… hand. It didn’t seem deliberate, however, and the referee waves play on. City were claiming a penalty but their claims fell on deaf ears.
An entertaining opening eight or nine minutes here. City completely in charge, with Jose Mourinho’s men yet to properly leave their own half with possession, mind. Raheem Sterling has looked very lively thus far and could play a leading role in this game.
Man United with a free-kick in a promising position to the lefthand side of the box. Alexis Sanchez takes charge, but only succeeds in curling the ball directly over every single player’s head inside the box before landing directly into the arms of Ederson.
United really coming into the game over the last ten minutes. Paul Pogba & co in the middle of the park look engaged and constantly on their toes ready to break when the chance comes their way.
City still getting a lot of success down both flanks when Danilo and Delph give support, but look a little vulnerable in central defence when pressed high up the pitch.
A chance comes and goes for the hosts. Pogba is caught with the ball at his feet by Raheem Sterling, who quickly dashes the ball over to David Silva. The playmaker surges towards the edge of the box but his effort flies high and well wide of the target.
CHANCE! Bernardo Silva with the closest chance of the game so far. Again Sterling causes menace on the edge of the box, playing a deft through ball into the penalty area.
No Manchester United defender is quick to react to the danger, allowing Silva to peel in behind untracked and test David De Gea with a weak effort.
The City striker was off balance when he struck it, meaning De Gea simply had to keep his composure, twist his leg and see the ball rebound back out into play. A good save.
GOAL! MAN CITY 1-0 MAN UNITED (KOMPANY 25)
VINNIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! @VincentKompany
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 7, 2018
🔵 1-0 🔴 #cityvutd #mancity pic.twitter.com/NEw3SQzvcO
We have lift-off! Vincent Kompany scored a famous header against United six years ago en route to Man City’s first ever title and once again the captain has stood up to be counted on the big occasion.
Today’s was actually a similar goal to that 2012 effort — a strong, powerful header which flew past David De Gea. It was the same this time around, as the Belgian leapt like a salmon to meet Leroy Sane’s corner to make it 1-0. The Etihad is electric!
GOAL Man City 1-0 Man Utd (25 mins)
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 7, 2018
The skipper strikes first and the Etihad is rocking! Leroy Sane delivers the corner and Vincent Kompany produces an unstoppable, bullet header#MCIMUN
GOAL! MAN CITY 2-0 MAN UNITED (GUNDOGAN 30)
YEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHH!! @IlkayGuendogan
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 7, 2018
🔵 2-0 🔴 #cityvutd #mancity pic.twitter.com/eE1dMs2xQh
It’s 2-0! Manchester City are on Cloud 9 at the minute and it’s İlkay Gündoğan who doubles their lead.
It’s a stunning, sublime goal full of skill and poise from the German. He receives a pass from Raheem Sterling just inside the box, spins the ball inside with his foot leaving his marker for dead, before toe-poking the ball with his other foot into the far corner beyond David de Gea.
Man United are stunned.
It really should be 3-0 now. Raheem Sterling has the goal at his mercy, played clean through up against De Gea but the England winger skies his shot well over the crossbar. A sitter for a player who has been accused of not being a natural finisher in these sorts of situations.
Time for Pogba to finally have a say when it matters...
— jamie jackson (@JamieJackson___) April 7, 2018
And another dreadful miss for Sterling. The 23-year-old peels away from Eric Bailly completely untracked, however once again with the goal at his beg and mercy blasts over meaning his record of never having scored against Manchester United continues.
Ander Herrera is shown a yellow card for a foul on Fernandinho.
#mufc defence forming a guard of honour for #mcfc already. Through you go. Some unspeakably bad defending by Smalling and the rest. "You're f***ing sh*t" chant the City fans at United. City could easily be 4-0 up. #MCFCvMUFC
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) April 7, 2018
Leader, captain, goalscorer for Man City: Vincent Kompany celebrates making it 1-0 earlier in the game.
A third chance in a row goes amiss for Sterling. Leroy Sane breaks down the left wing, cuts the ball back to just inside the box, but Sterling’s left-footed strike is aimed right at David De Gea.
Shots are reigning down on De Gea’s goal the last while. This time, Bernardo Silva floats into the box unmarked and is picked out with a pinpoint accurate cross. Silva doesn’t get enough power behind his header though, and it’s right at the Spanish goalkeeper yet again. It could easily be 3-0 or 4-0 as we approach the break.
Romelu Lukaku becomes the second Man United player to be booked this afternoon. He leaves a stray leg in while trying to disposes Vincent Kompany, but only succeeds in bringing the defender down. A yellow card for Lukaku with a couple of minutes to go before the interval.
HALF-TIME: MAN CITY 2-0 MAN UNITED
The #PL 🏆 is so close @ManCity can almost touch it...#MCIMUN pic.twitter.com/5tvs5TNicR
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 7, 2018
Oh, Joey.
Got to love Kompany. I know I once tried to headbutt him but to comeback from those injuries and get back to this level. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— Joey Barton (@Joey7Barton) April 7, 2018
SECOND-HALF: We’re back underway!
Half a chance for Manchester United early in this second half. Romelu Lukaku barges down the left wing, he crosses towards the danger zone but sees the ball deflect wide for a corner kick. The ball very nearly flies beyond Ederson from the resulting cross, but the ball eventually flies out of play.
Shot! Another opportunity for United to come back into this game, as Paul Pogba finds a pocket of space just outside the box. 25 yards out from goal he takes the ball onto his left foot, curls an effort on goal but can only watch as Ederson dives early to gather.
CHANCE! Shots are flying in at both ends now, as City pass up another chance to make it 3-0. Once again Sterling dribbles through the box untouched; he lays the ball on a plate for Gündoğan, however the goalscorer blasts over the bar.
Pogba was doing lots of things brilliantly in the early part of this season. Rather than improve the weaknesses, Mourinho has destroyed him. Complete & total mismanagement. Like Salah & De Bruyne he should escape
— Joe Molloy (@MolloyJoe) April 7, 2018
Almost identical from Vincent Kompany.
2012 💙 2018 pic.twitter.com/wlBbOwjD7Y
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 7, 2018
GOAL! MAN CITY 2-1 MAN UNITED (POGBA 53)
53' - GOAL! City 2 #MUFC 1. @PaulPogba pulls one back! #MCIMUN pic.twitter.com/QDwU1qSnxX
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 7, 2018
What a finish! Manchester United have a found a way back into this game and it’s a great strike from Paul Pogba. The move is excellent and the finish is only made possible thanks to Ander Herrera, who chests the ball down into the path of the midfielder.
He caresses the ball past Ederson and it’s 2-1!
GOAL! MAN CITY 2-2 MAN UNITED (POGBA 54)
WE’RE LEVEL! This game has been turned on its head and it’s all down to that man Paul Pogba, who has his second goal in the space of three minutes. Can you believe it?
The French international steers a superb header into the bottom corner, beating Nicolas Otamendi in the air, with his effort evading the fingertips of Ederson. Pep Guardiola and the entire Etihad is simply stunned.
Chance! Manchester City are all over the place at the moment and being made to look very ordinary. Alexis Sanchez cuts inside on the left and offloads possession to Jesse Lingard, who fires a snapshot flying towards the far post — missing the target by a matter of inches.
I don’t think many were expecting that turnaround. Man United are on top, as City begin to take a breath and gather themselves to go again. They easily could have been 4-0 or 5-0 ahead at some stages so far, but now have to do it all over again after completely relinquishing their lead. A delightful double for Pogba, who has stood up to be counted.
Gündoğan with a free-kick from outside the box. The strike curls up and over the wall with a lot guile but doesn’t have enough time to come back down — flying over the bar so like so many of his side’s chances this evening.
GOAL! MAN CITY 2-3 MAN UNITED (SMALLING 69)
69' - GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!! City 2 #MUFC 3. YES @ChrisSmalling!!! pic.twitter.com/YrJRYFdrou
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 7, 2018
Manchester United are ahead! For the first time this afternoon Jose Mourinho’s men are ahead and it’s redemption for Chris Smalling who gets the goal.
The centre back was at fault for letting Vincent Kompany in to break the deadlock in the first half, but this time Smalling is first to the ball to side-foot the ball emphatically past Ederson to make it 3-2!
He had oceans of space inside the box following Alexis Sanchez’s cross, but he did so well to meet the ball and make a good connection. What a response from United in this second period.
25' ⚽️ Man City 1-0 Man Utd
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) April 7, 2018
30' ⚽️ Man City 2-0 Man Utd
53' ⚽️ Man City 2-1 Man Utd
55' ⚽️ Man City 2-2 Man Utd
69' ⚽️ Man City 2-3 Man Utd
What a game. 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/voFyp72759
A couple of switches for Man City.
CITY SUBS | 🔵 2-3 🔴 #cityvutd #mancity@BernardoCSilva and @21LVA make way fo @DeBruyneKev and @gabrieljesus33 pic.twitter.com/VHe3rOQQwm
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 7, 2018
Substitution for Man City: Sergio Aguero replaces İlkay Gündoğan. The Argentine knows how to win a league title for sure.
Penalty claim! Man City break via a tremendous counter-attack and at the very end of it Sergio Aguero goes down inside the United penalty area.
He had the ball laid off to him in order to have a shot at goal 10 yards out, but when he went to pull the trigger went down under the challenge of Ashley Young who slid in dangerously.
Regardless, Martin Atkinson waves play on.
Both Sergio Aguero and Ferandindo are booked. The former for complaining and the latter for a rash challenge on Jesse Lingard. After that, Paul Pogba is also given a yellow card for a sliding challenge at the other end of the pitch. A proper derby feel to this game at the moment.
Substitution for Man United: Marcus Rashford replaces Alexis Sanchez.
82' - Time for an #MUFC substitution - @MarcusRashford is on for @Alexis_Sanchez. #MCIMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 7, 2018
The game is slowly getting away from Manchester City here. Time is running out as the match slowly peters out. The intensity which dominated this second half is dying out with five minutes to go. Will they turn this around?
Man City are now camped outside their opponents box, trying any way possible to find an angle or an opening. The latest attack sees Fabian Delph curl a harmless cross into the arms of David De Gea.
SAVE! David De Gea with an outstanding stop to deny Sergio Aguero. The Argentine gets power, spin and direction on his header and nine times out of ten it crackles the back of the net — however the Spaniard rises high and tips the ball over the bar with supreme athleticism.
Raheem Sterling so very nearly draws the scores level but his strike is hoofed clear off the line dramatically. The hosts simply can’t buy a goal at the moment, as the announcement comes that there will be five minutes of stoppage time.
Yellow cards galore at the moment: Danilo, Vincent Kompany and Gabriel Jesus are all shown yellow cards in the last few minutes as frustration grows and grows for Man City. It’s just not their day.
FULL-TIME: MAN CITY 2-3 MAN UNITED
A #PL classic that will never be forgotten.@ManCity have to wait for the title, as neighbours @ManUtd ruin the party with a sensational comeback#MCIMUN pic.twitter.com/Wm9U8tyu5N
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 7, 2018
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