Premier League: City wins the Manchester derby and comes within two points of leader Tottenham

The Théâtre des Rêves hosted a dream meeting for fans of English football. Manchester United hosted its neighbor and sworn enemy, City, this Sunday afternoon for the 10th day of the Premier League. Relegated to fifth place after good results at the top of the table, the Skyblues had to win in the red to come back to within two points of the leader, Tottenham. For their part, the Red Devils, who remained on three victories in a row in all competitions, were six points behind their evening opponent and had the mission to improve their record in this derby (only 1 victory in the last 5 direct confrontations ).

The start of the match was quickly dominated by Pep Guardiola’s flock, who called upon André Onana from the eighth minute of play, with Phil Foden’s helmet hit cleared on his line by a reflex save from the Indomitable Lions international ( 35 selections). However, the latter bowed to the inevitable Erling Braut Haaland, who took him on the wrong foot on the penalty obtained by Rodri, after viewing the VAR (1-0, 26th). However, the locals offered themselves a few opportunities to come back to the score, in particular thanks to the breakthrough of Rasmus Hojlund, who focused on Ederson’s exit before finding Bruno Fernandes, too imprecise on his recovery (31st). Brilliant with Scotland, Scott McTominay was also dangerous in front of goal, but fell on a last feline Brazilian rampart on his right hand parade (45+1).

Haaland, him again

His Cameroonian counterpart also distinguished himself in his goals, on a powerful header from Haaland at close range, deflected at the last minute (45+1). Returning from the locker room, the men in sky blue finally found the fault to make the break: on a beautiful collective movement between Jack Grealish – author of a beautiful deflected shot (57th) – and Bernardo Silva, the Portuguese found the Norwegian Cyborg, header again, and it hit the mark (2-0, 49th). And if Haaland, author of 11 PL goals in just 10 games, was very close to a hat-trick, he finally turned into a decisive passer in the last quarter of an hour. Indeed, after a missed dive ball against Onana, the former Borussia Dortmund striker followed Rodri’s action well to recover the ball and find Phil Foden in ambush in front of the goal (80th).

The locals, mistreated in the game and on the scoreboard, tried to reduce the gap somewhat and give themselves hope to come back, just like Marcus Rashford, close to scoring the 2-1 goal. However, the strike from United number 10 was too cross to worry the opposing defense (69th). Faced with Cityzens who were less intense in the game, Erik ten Hag’s foals seemed more dominant but were unable to shake up their rearguard. With this great victory (3-0), Manchester City takes the last step of the podium and returns to two points behind leader Tottenham, winner at Crystal Palace on Friday evening. For its part, Manchester United is unable to revive in the league and remains stuck in eighth place, seven points behind the European leader, Aston Villa.