The first Manchester derby of the season ended in dominant fashion for Manchester City, who swept aside rivals Manchester United with a commanding 3-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium. The result restored momentum to City’s season after a difficult few weeks in the Premier League.
Match Report
While the first half was relatively balanced, City’s spark came from Jeremy Doku, whose creativity carved open the United defense. His pinpoint cross was met by Phil Foden, whose headed finish gave City the lead.
The second half saw City turn on the style. Erling Haaland netted twice, once with a clinical finish and another after excellent service from Bernardo Silva, sealing a comprehensive derby win and reasserting City’s dominance in Manchester.
Haaland almost struck inside 20 seconds with a thunderous effort that flew across goal, a strike reminiscent of late boxing legend Ricky Hatton, a lifelong City fan who tragically passed away earlier in the day at age 46. Meanwhile, debutant goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a strong first impression, keeping out key efforts from Benjamin Sesko and Mbeumo.
United had their moments but City’s superiority was evident, and the celebrations were already in full flow at the Etihad long before the final whistle.
Player Ratings
Starting XI
- Gianluigi Donnarumma – 8
Calm and composed on his debut, making sharp saves and commanding his area impressively.
- Abdukodir Khusanov – 8
Strong defensively, committed in tackles, and a reliable option at right-back.
- Ruben Dias – 7.5
Contained Sesko well after an early scare, showing leadership at the back.
- Josko Gvardiol – 7
Took time to settle but improved in the second half with solid defensive positioning.
- Nico O’Reilly – 8
Handled Mbeumo superbly, showing defensive maturity beyond his years.
- Rodri – 6.5
Shaky first half but grew into the game, controlling midfield battles later on.
- Tijjani Reijnders – 7
Nervy start but composed himself, nearly scoring with a clever run in behind.
- Phil Foden – 8.5
A derby specialist, scored the opener and was a constant threat to United’s defense.
- Bernardo Silva – 6.5
Struggled with close marking but delivered a crucial assist for City’s third goal.
- Erling Haaland – 9 (POTM)
Led the line superbly, scored twice, linked play, and dominated United’s defense.
- Jeremy Doku – 8.5
Electric performance on both wings, setting up Foden and Haaland with brilliant assists.
Substitutes
- Nico Gonzalez – 6
Limited impact but steady presence late on.
- Savinho – 6
Found it difficult to influence the game in his cameo.
- Nathan Ake – N/A
- Oscar Bobb – N/A
FAQs
- Who scored for Manchester City?
Phil Foden opened the scoring before Erling Haaland added a second-half brace.
- How did Gianluigi Donnarumma perform on his debut?
Donnarumma was assured and made important saves to keep a clean sheet.
- What was the significance of Ricky Hatton’s mention?
City paid tribute to boxing legend Ricky Hatton, a lifelong fan, who sadly passed away at 46.
- How does this result affect City?
The win gives City a morale boost and strengthens their position in the Premier League title race.
Conclusion
This emphatic victory was more than just three points for Manchester City. It was a statement performance in the derby, powered by the brilliance of Foden and Haaland, the creativity of Doku, and a debut clean sheet for Donnarumma. With their rivals brushed aside, City reasserted their authority in Manchester while paying tribute to a fallen hero, Ricky Hatton, in unforgettable style.
