Key events
46 min Peep peep! Manchester United begin the second half.
“While Utd have defended pretty well, I feel like we’ve see this game before, with Utd trying to hold them at bay but having fewer and fewer attacks, and it only ends one way,” says Mark Gillespie. “I’d be amazed if City don’t win this unless ten Hag can find a tactical answer to getting Utd up the pitch more often.”
Yeah, the second half of the first half was painfully one-sided. Another problem for United is that they don’t have many options on the bench. I’m sure Antony will come on at some stage but he’s not the quickest, and United’s tactics are dependent on runs in behind.
“For all the criticism that Onana has received this season, in the league he’s actually been pretty good,” says David Wall. “Most of his absolute shockers (and there were plenty) seemed to come in the Champions’ League. I think the memory of that overshadows how important he’s becoming for United. He’s pretty high in the list of clean sheets in the Premier League, and is making some crucial saves. Perhaps if they get some defenders who are confident accepting the ball deep then next season they might see some of the distribution that he was so noted for at Inter.”
Apparently he’s very high on the xG table for keepers as well, possibly top. I know xG isn’t gospel but that must say something. I’m still not sure about him, from what I’ve seen, though I agree he has been judged prematurely. He has been better than David de Gea was in his first season at United, and de Gea went on to become United’s best player for a five-year period.
Half-time reading
Half time: Man City 0-1 Man Utd
Pep Guardiola has a slightly weird, smiley, wild-eyed exchange with the fourth official, then Andy Madley blows his whistle to end a thrilling, slightly peculiar half.
United lead through a spectcular goal from Marcus Rashford, who had a couple of opportunities to extend their lead. But City were a threat throughout, never deviating from their gameplan, and had a few chances to equalise before Erling Haaland – the very same – missed an open goal on the stroke of half-time.
45+2 min United are hanging on desperately. De Bruyne wanders over the left, plays a give-and-go with Bernardo Silva and screws a dangerous cross that is poked just wide of the near post by Varane. City have played some gorgeous football in the last 20 minutes.
45 min Three minutes of added time.
45 min: A miss of the season contender from Erling Haaland! Rodri, 18 yards from goal, clips a languid, penetrative pass towards Foden on the other side of the area. He cushions a precious header back across to give Haaland an open goal – and he somehow volleys the ball over the bar from three yards. That’s staggering. That’s a can’t-spake job.
44 min A considered cross from Bernardo Silva just evades the stooping Haaland at the near post. Mainoo then wears a Foden shot right in the kisser and stays down, a little dazed. The City fans boo, thinking he’s timewasting, but that’s not true.
42 min City are increasingly dominant as half-time approaches. Walker’s header back across the harea is only half cleared by the stretching Casemiro. De Bruyne charges onto the bouncing ball, 25 yards from goal, but blooters it into orbit.
Another stat for you. Passes in the final third: Man City 177-22 Man Utd. United haven’t had an attack of note in almost 20 minutes now.
40 min “Speaking for myself and few (many?) other Liverpool (and probably Arsenal) supporters – that Rashford goal represents the first time I actively whooped with delight at something going well for Man Utd…” says Tony Barr. “If only he hadn’t air-kicked the other big chance. 2-0 would be quite the test of nerves for Pep & Co…”
39 min The xG score (Sky Sports version) is Man City 1.59-0.22 Man Utd. I think Erik ten Hag will be frustrated that United haven’t got in more because there is a whole lot of green grass behind that defence.
38 min Haaland, by contrast, has been very quiet so far and is unamused when the referee penalises him for a challenge just outside the United area.
37 min De Bruyne looks right on his game. He beats a man with disdainful ease on the right and shoves a pass into Foden, 12 yards out. He takes a quick touch and drives a shot that is well blocked.
36 min “I’m a bit confused about this game,” says Eagle Brosi. “I think City have played much better but I also think Rashford should have a hat-trick. It’s hard to believe the game is 0-1, it would be science fiction if it were 0-3 yet… I think it should probably be.”
I know what you mean. One of the Sky pundits said recently that Man Utd are the only team in the world who could get battered and win 6-0. They actually remind me a little bit, only a little bit, of that thrilling Romania team at the 1994 World Cup.
35 min De Bruyne drags wide with his left foot from the right side of the area. City are starting to find some eyes in the United needle.
33 min: Good save by Onana! A wicked first-time cross from De Bruyne is hooked away desperately by Varane, facing his own goal six yards out. The ball goes straight to Rodri, who cuts across a volley from 18 yards that is scrambled round the post by a diving Onana.
That was a terrific effort from Rodri because came to him quickly and at an awkward height.
32 min Doku cuts inside from the left, then slips as he tries to cross. The ball loops up and is headed back across his own area by Casemiro. Haaland gets to the ball first but heads over from 10 yards. There was no pace on the ball, and he was stationary, so it wasn’t a great chance.
31 min United kill some time in the City half for maybe the first time in the whole match. They’ve done really well so far, and there’s only an hour plus added time to go.
30 min Doku slices wide from 15 yards after a return pass from Bernardo Silva. He was slightly off balance and might have slipped as well.
We’ve finally seen a replay of the Foden chance in the 19th minute. It was a good save from Onana with his left hand; the shot wasn’t straight at his chest.
29 min “Afternoon, Rob,” says Ian Copestake. “I speak to you as I pay homage to Mexico ‘86 as I am following from behind a sofa in Guadalajara. It sounds like the only thing missing from the Rashford goal was something the locals here would rarely see, namely rain spraying off the bar when the ball went in off (of) it.”
Guadalajara you say.
27 min Yep, it’s 9-2 to City on corners. John Stones, incidentally, is spending about 90 per cent of the time in what is a very crowded midfield. Both teams effectivelly have four central midfielders.
26 min One corner leads to another, which is cleared a little uncomfortably by United. I reckon City have already had eight or nine corners.
25 min There’s a brief VAR check for a City penalty when Doku’s cross hits the arm of Dalot. It was by his side so play continues with yet another City corner.
23 min: Another chance for Rashford! Fernandes, on the left, angles a dangerous ball behind the City defence. It’s just in front of McTominay on the edge of the area but reaches Rashford, who fresh-airs a shot when the ball bounces up beyond the far post. The case for the defence is that is that he was slightly off balance, and the ball bounced a little awkwardly. But even so…
23 min De Bruyne wins another corner for City, who are pinning United back in their inimitable style. It’s a fascinating game because United are genuinely dangerous in transition.
21 min “Surely the hardest thing about being a United fan in the 6,000 years since Fergie retired is whereas we always used to be the ones who scored in injury time, now it’s always someone else (Exhibit A: Liverpool yesterday),” says Nick Parish. “I confidently predict we will still be 1-0 up in the 89th minute. And still lose.”
Could be worse. At St Mirren yesterday, Neil Warnock’s Aberdeen were 1-0 up at the end of the four added minutes, and they still lost 2-1.
19 min: Very good save by Onana! This is great entertainment. De Bruyne puts Foden clean through on goal with a simple pass, at least for him. Foden runs to the edge of the area and screws a right-footed shot that is blocked by Onana, arms out in the Schmeichel pose. We haven’t seen a replay but at first glance it looked a good save rather than a poor miss.
17 min: Chance for United! Bernardo Silva’s shot on the turn is blocked by Varane. United break and Fernandes puts Rashford clean through on goal after a slip from Dias – but he leaves the ball behind and Walker is able to clear.
That won’t show up on xG but it was a great chance. It didn’t bounce awkwardly, it was just a lazy header from Rashford. See, he’s too relaxed!
15 min: Good save by Onana! City respond as you’d expect. Bernardo Silva helps the ball across the area to Foden, whose right-foot shot is kicked away by Onana. It wasn’t the easiest chance for Foden as he had to wrap his foot round the ball on the run.
14 min That was such a clean strike from Rashford, hit with beautiful technique. It was like he was showing off in training, seeing who could make the purest contact. The point I’m struggling to make is that it was such a relaxed strike, no tension at all.
12 min Ake gives away a cheap corner, which Ederson punches away a little awkwardly. City are briefly rattled.
GOAL GIVEN! Fernandes, who was close to offside but being played on by Ake on the far side, ran onto a long goalkick from Onana and shielded the ball from Dias on the edge of the area. He turned and laid the ball back to Rashford, who ran onto the ball from deep and rifled a languid first-time shot from 25 yards. It flew past Ederson, hit the underside of the bar and bounced into the net.
I think this might be disallowed for offside…
GOAL! Man City 0-1 Man Utd (Rashford 8)
That is a banger from Marcus Rashford!
8 min After a long spell of City possession, De Bruyne’s cross is headed up in the air by Evans and claimed by Onana.
6 min United get behind City’s high line for the first time. McTominay cushions a pass into the space for Garnacho, who scoots away from Ake in the inside-right channel. Ake does well to get back and deflect Garnacho’s cross into the hands of Ederson.
5 min City have started very well. There is a certain logic in the United formation, especially keeping Rashford and Garnacho wide where it is easier to get them in behind the defence. It’s a brave decision from Erik ten Hag because he’ll get pelters if they lose, even though they are probably going to lose regardless of the formation.
3 min De Bruyne threads a lovely disguised pass into Stones, wandering into the area in open play. He cuts a defender and is about to shoot when Casemiro gets a slight but vital touch on the ball. City appeal for a penalty but there’s nothing in that.
2 min City win a very early corner, which leads to another when Foden’s long-range shot deflects behind. United’s shape is fascinating, basically 4-2-4-0. They tried this under Ralf Rangnicktwo years ago and lost 4-1, although they played quite well in the first half from memory.
Man Utd (4-2-4-0) Onana; Dalot, Varane, Evans, Lindelof; Casemiro, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, McTominay, Rashford.
1 min Peep peep! City kick off from right to left as we watch. United have started with a box midfield, two wingers and no centre-forward.
“Lovely to have that update on the Utd diamond formation,” says Jeremy Boyce. “Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Amber, Jade(on) ? Will it actually make any difference? We all know who’ll be picking up the silverware in May/June. 1-0 Utd then?”
Football is a funny old game. And it’ll need to be for United to win and keep a clean sheet.
A reminder of the teams
Man City (possible 4-1-2-3) Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake; Rodri; De Bruyne, Bernardo; Foden, Haaland, Doku.
Substitutes: Ortega, Gvardiol, Akanji, Lewis, Kovacic, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Alvarez.
Man Utd (possible 4-D-2) Onana; Lindelof, Varane, Evans, Dalot; Casemiro; Fernandes, Mainoo; McTominay; Garnacho, Rashford.
Substitutes: Bayindir, Kambwala, Ogunneye, Amrabat, Eriksen, Forson, Collyer, Diallo, Antony.
Referee Andy Madley.
Erik ten Hag’s pre-match interview
We have a few players with physical problems who have really fought to be part of this game. Jonny Evans is one of them – he wanted to play and this is the strongest back four we have available.
[On his tactics] Sometimes we want to overload the midfield. We know they have a high back line. We have a lot of speed with Garnacho, Rashford, then Scott McTominay from the second line and Diogo Dalot from the third. We have a lot of options there.
Sky Sports, who tend to have more inside information than your humble Guardian, think a) United will play with a diamond and split strikers and b) Diogo Dalot will play at left-back. This is how they have the United formation.
Man Utd (4-D-2) Onana; Dalot, Varane, Evans, Lindelof; Casemiro; Fernandes, Mainoo; McTominay; Rashford, Garnacho.
Substitutes: Bayindir, Kambwala, Ogunneye, Amrabat, Eriksen, Forson, Collyer, Diallo, Antony.
Pep speaks
We know the strengths and qualities they have. [What are they?] The manager, Erik, knows the plan better than me. We’ll try to work it out as soon as possible and use the right doses of energy – not too much, not too little – to try to perform well.
When [Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, who both start] perform at a high leve, it’s an incredible weapon for us. Jeremy [Doku] has been amazing this season, especially for his first season. We need somebody who can dribble in the final third and he has this quality.
Full time: Burnley 0-2 Bournemouth
The early Premier League didn’t go to plan for City legend Vincent Kompany, whose Burnley side were again beaten. John Brewin has more.
Jamie Jackson on Bruno Fernandes
Jonathan Wilson on Erling Haaland
Our survey says…
Team news
Pep Guardiola makes three changes from City’s last league game, a 1-0 win at Bournbemouth eight days ago: Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku replace Manuel Akanji, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes.
Erik ten Hag has made two changes from the league defeat at home to Fulham. Jonny Evans comes in for the injured Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay replaces Omari Forson. That means some form of tactical switch – either a midfield diamond or Bruno Fernandes playing on the wing.
Man City (possible 4-1-2-3) Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake; Rodri; De Bruyne, Bernardo; Foden, Haaland, Doku.
Substitutes: Ortega, Gvardiol, Akanji, Lewis, Kovacic, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Alvarez.
Man Utd (possible 4-1-4-1) Onana; Dalot, Varane, Evans, Lindelof; Casemiro; Fernandes, McTominay, Mainoo, Garnacho; Rashford.
Substitutes: Bayindir, Kambwala, Ogunneye, Amrabat, Eriksen, Forson, Collyer, Diallo, Antony.
Referee Andy Madley.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium. On paper, this is a mouthwatering prospect. City are on a run of 14 wins in 15 games; United have won their last six away from home. In reality, few people of sound mind give United a prayer. Last season they lost 6-3 at City and were flattered, seriously flattered, by the scoreline. The days of regularly winning at the Etihad are long gone; Ole Gunnar Solskjaer isn’t the manager any more.
The only metric (drink!) in which United trump City is, alas, the number of injuries. They are without at least three and arguably six of the side Erik ten Hag would like to play today, which makes things look even bleaker on the slim-to-noneometer.
All logic points to a City win, possibly a whopper. But football doesn’t always do logic, which is why this could yet be the greatest game you’ll see in your entire life. Best keep refreshing the page just in case.
Kick off 3.30pm.