Hi, my name is Christian and I will be covering the Premier League clash between Utd and City. The Manchester Derby is one of the biggest games in the season as not only does it give the bragging rights to what colour Manchester is but also effects the upper echelon of the table.
Luke Shaw the ever growing talent at left back for Manchester United will be making a landmark 200th appearance for the Red Devils today as well. Lets see what he can produce in such a big game.
With United’s previous form being anything but promising, by taking only one win against Atalanta in their last five games, they will be looking for the win to really get their season back on track. The blue side of Manchester is seeing a much brighter part of their season with three wins scoring a unbelievable 13 goals in these games. However, the last premier league fixture did not go to plan with a 0 – 2 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Here is how the home side will be lining up today.
And this is what the visiting side will be challenging them with.
GAME KICKS OFF – 12:31
3′ – Bernardo Silva hits a curling left footed shot from inside the box that goes very wide but already in the opening minutes you can see City are up for the fight.
5′ – Gabriel Jesus fouls Cristiano Ronaldo on the left hand side of the pitch, a good position to put in a dangerous ball.
6′ – From the resulting free kick, Shaw puts in a teasing ball that meets the head of the towering Harry Maguire whose attempt goes just wide of the right post. The closest effort of the opening part of the match.
GOAL – Manchester United 0 – 1 Manchester City
7′ – Kyle Walker puts a first time cross in from the right-hand side where Ilkay Gundogan connects with a sliced volley that is cleared by the Utd defence. However the relentless pressure from City means the ball is played back out wide to Joao Cancelo, who puts in a low hard cross from the left resulting in Eric Bailly’s attempted clearance going in his own net. Not the start the Red Devils needed.
After the opening 12 mins Utd have been backing off City and are unable to keep any kind of possession with 72% of the ball going to the Sky Blues.
15′ – Aaron Wan-Bissaka fouls Phil Foden on the edge of the box. Kevin De Bruyne steps up to the free kick and whips the ball in with pace but is cleared and defended well.
20′ – As Man City look to counter with De Bruyne leading the charge, the weather comes in to play as the Belgium has a comedic slip and the chance goes begging.
26′ – More promising for the home side as Shaw puts in a cross towards Ronaldo who hits a left footed volley, slightly off the shin, towards goal forcing a parried save from Ederson. The rebound comes back to Mason Greenwood with pace and his touch is heavy resulting in the ball going behind for a goal kick.
29′ – Foden moves down the left and cuts it back for De Bruyne whose shot is blocked by Shaw and then Jesus’s attempt straight after is saved brilliantly by David De Gea. Desperate defending from United who cant keep the fast-flowing City style away from the goal.
30′ – Following a city corner the ball is worked to the edge of the box where Cancelo hits a left footed long shot that brings out a save from the Utd GK. One for the cameras in truth.
33′ – Foden drills the ball low from the left hand side and Victor Lindelof, unable to sort his feet out, hits the ball towards his own net. But for De Gea we would have seen another own goal as he makes a fast reaction save with his feet.
34′ – De Bruyne with a snap shot that he toe pokes towards the bottom left. Great improvisation to create something out of nothing.
After dominating the last 15 mins Manchester city look soo in control and even Martin Tyler is having his say with “City oozing class”.
GOAL – Manchester United 0 – 2 Manchester City
45′ – After a quiet 10 mins, provider of the first goal Cancelo comes up with a great in swinging ball from the left that evades all Utd players and ,from the narrowest of angles, is prodded in at the near post by Bernardo Silva. Questions may be asked of De Gea but I think the defence can be held accountable as well.
End of the first Half brings out loud boos from the Manchester United fans as the players and Manger make their way down the tunnel. A bad start and even worse end to the first 45.
GAME RESTARTS – Manchester United 0 – 2 Manchester city
45′ – Manchester United substitution – Jadon Sancho replaces Bailly, a tactical change for the home side.
48′ – Cancelo takes down Greenwood and picks up the first yellow card of the match.
55′ – Donny Van De Beek is seen to be warming up – a rare sighting but the ovation from the United fans is very positive.
58′ – Silva takes out Ronaldo after some fast footwork and the city player picks up a yellow card. No hard feelings between the two Portuguese internationals.
66′ – Rodri plays a great switch towards Gundogan who, with a better touch, would surely have made it 0 – 3 with all the time and space the United defence left for him.
67′ – Manchester United substitution – Marcus Rashford replaces Greenwood.
68′ – Shaw is down on the floor and seems to be in a bad way and is holding his head after colliding with Rodri. Shaw eventually makes it back onto his feet and onto the pitch which is good to see.
73′ – Unfortunately only five minutes after going down, Shaw is forced to come off for Alex Telles with the concern over a possible head injury. Although this is never good to see its a good showing for the concussion substitution rule and we hope that Shaw will be ok.
80′ – Manchester United substitution – Van De Beek is on for Fred, following the sub there is a huge cheer but i cant tell weather that was for the arrival of Van De Beek or the departure of Fred.
81′ – With a perfect through ball from De Bruyne into Foden the number 47 takes a good touch out of his feet and fires a left footed shot towards the bottom right just skimming the post. The closest chance of the second half.
86′ – Rodri heads the ball down off a corner and John Stones, on the half-turn, fires just wide of the left post.
90′ – Bruno Fernandes with a frustrated cynical foul on De Bruyne but Ronaldo’s foul moments before was the one that warranted the yellow card from the referee.
The Motm award has been given to Cancelo after his cross for the first goal led to Bailly’s misfortune and his cross for the second was the assist for Silva. Well deserved and a standout player in a great team performance.
Four additional minutes to be added.
FULL TIME at Old Trafford – Manchester United 0 – 2 Manchester City
An absolutely dominating display from City that could have and probably should have resulted in more goals. Watch the full highlights here.
Safe to say Roy Keane is not impressed – hear his post match thoughts as he does not hold back on his own team.
