City dismantle pathetic United at Old Trafford

A pathetic and embarrassing Manchester United performance, which was capped by some humiliating acts of ill-discipline and childish tantrums, allowed Manchester City to showcase almighty superiority as they hammered their local rivals by three goals to nil at Old Trafford.

LINEUPS

MUN XI: Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Evans, Lindelof; Eriksen, Amrabat; Fernandes*, McTominay, Rashford; Hojlund

MUN SUBS: Bayindir, Varane, Reguilon, Mainoo, Mejbri, Mount, Garnacho, Antony, Martial

MCI XI: Ederson; Walker*, Dias, Stones, Gvardiol; Rodri, Silva; Foden, Alvarez, Grealish; Haaland

MCI SUBS: Ortega, Ake, Lewis, Gomez, Phillips, Kovacic, Nunes, Bobb, Doku

Action: After a bright opening five minutes to the match, Manchester United soon to succumbed to a period of Manchester City dominance with the visitors comfortably dictating the play.

Early on, they could and should have opened the scoring when Rodri clipped a ball to the back post where a smart Kyle Walker angled his header back to Phil Foden. The Stockport-born attacking midfielder then directed his header at goal but Andre Onana saved well before Harry Maguire managed to scramble the ball off the line as Erling Braut Haaland failed to sort his finish out.

City continued to play the most football in the game and Onana was forced into another smart save when Jack Grealish drove a low effort across his goal with the Cameroon international pushing behind for a corner.

From a free-kick inside the United half, Rodri appealed to the referee for a pull on his shirt. After Paul Tierney went to the VAR screen, he saw Rasmus Hojlund prevent the Spaniard from making his run and a penalty was awarded. Haaland, with United fans behind the goal in the Stretford End, stepped up and sent Onana the wrong way.

Moments later, Manchester United had an opportunity to equalise when Rasmus Hojlund burst through and ran at Ederson, just about keeping his feet. He went round the ‘keeper before having to set up Bruno Fernandes but the captain’s snapshot was blasted over.

Prior to half-time, Manchester City nearly doubled their lead with an excellent move leading to a Haaland header which was outstandingly saved by Onana. However, just a few minutes into the second-half, an almost carbon copy chance occurred when Jack Grealish released Bernardo Silva and his cross stood up to the back-post was headed home by the Norwegian striker. 

"Erling Haaland MASSIVE everywhere he goes"

Man City take a 2-0 lead! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/zvIGo3qknR

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 29, 2023

City continued to pressure in the early stages of the second-half with Grealish continuing to cause problems and Julian Alvarez having a wild strike high and wide.

United very nearly pulled a goal back when Marcus Rashford ran off a switched off Kyle Walker to get onto the end of an excellent, floated Christian Eriksen pass. The Englishman brought the ball down and then dragged the shot wide.

A second Manchester derby hat-trick beckoned for Erling Haaland when an excellent and clever Grealish pass but the Premier League top scorer shot straight at Onana.

As the second-half went on, it became fairly embarrassing as Manchester City simply dictated everything in the game. Eventually, Rodri to try and drive at goal with Onana’s save falling to Haaland. Rather than lashing at goal, he slotted across to Phil Foden who had the simple task to finish and extend City’s handsome lead.

Bar Manchester United players showing really pathetic shows of ill-discipline and tantrums, Manchester City cruised the rest of the match to complete a heavy win.

The big picture: Manchester City have hammered their local rivals, one again, to keep themselves sitting just two points off unbeaten Tottenham Hotspur at the top-of-the-table. United remain outside of the top seven and the European spots.

Man of the match: Jack Grealish. No goals or assists for the City winger but he tormented Diogo Dalot throughout the match and was instrumental in City’s dictation of play

Expected goals: Manchester United (1.18) 0-3 (4.13) Manchester City

EVENTS

Kick-off

’26 | GOAL: Haaland [pen] (0-1)

Half-time

’50 | GOAL: Haaland (0-2)

’80 | GOAL: Foden (0-3)

Full-time