Manchester City have boosted their Premier League title hopes after they came from behind at half time to beat rivals Manchester United 3-1 in an enthralling derby showdown at the Etihad Stadium.
The 192nd Manchester derby began in sensational fashion as Marcus Rashford fired the Red Devils into an eighth-minute lead with a wonderful 25-yard strike, and Man City entered the break behind despite boasting 74% possession, 18 shots on goal and 12 corners.
However, the Citizens continued to dominate after the break and their persistence in the final third eventually told, with local hero Phil Foden netting a superb brace before Erling Haaland sealed the important win for Pep Guardiola's side in stoppage time.
Victory for Man City, who remain second in the Premier League table, moves them back to within one point of leaders Liverpool, who left it late to beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 on Saturday.
As for Man United, back-to-back league defeats – including last weekend's 2-1 loss to Fulham – leaves Erik ten Hag's men sitting sixth in the table, with their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread as they are 11 points adrift of Aston Villa in fourth with 11 games left to play.
After putting Luton Town to the sword 6-2 in the FA Cup on Tuesday, Guardiola opted to make five changes to his starting lineup for Sunday's clash, with Ederson, Ruben Dias, Rodri, Foden and Jeremy Doku all handed recalls, while Josko Gvardiol made a welcomed return to the matchday squad after missing the last six games with an ankle injury.
As for Man United, Ten Hag made just the two changes to the side that beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the FA Cup on Wednesday, with Kobbie Mainoo and Jonny Evans returning at the expense of Antony and Sofyan Amrabat.
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Man City began on the front foot, and shortly after Foden had the game's first attempt on goal diverted over for a corner, the hosts screamed for a penalty when John Stones burst into the box and hit the deck after colliding with Casemiro, but their appeals were swiftly waved away.
City's early dominance counted for nothing, though, as Man United took the lead in remarkable fashion when Rashford unleashed a rocket from distance that flew past Ederson in off the crossbar.
Andre Onana began the attack when he launched a route-one kick from his own box towards the forward run of Bruno Fernandes, who held up the ball well on the edge of the area before teeing up Rashford to smack an exquisite first-time strike from 25 yards into the top corner – ending his five-game drought without a goal.
Roared on by the Etihad faithful, Man City responded well and came close to a leveller on the 15-minute mark when the ball bounced from left to right into the path of Foden inside the area, but his right-footed effort was saved well by the outstretched boot of Onana.
City were then given a huge let-off at the other end as Dias slipped on the halfway line to allow Fernandes to play Rashford through on goal; the Englishman had plenty of ground to cover but he was unable to get the ball under control and Kyle Walker raced back to regain possession.
Seconds later, Foden found himself bursting through on goal, in acres of space down the right channel, but Onana once again thwarted the effort of City's No.47 as he got down well and made himself big to make a low save.
City, who had over 70% possession and nine corners in the opening half-hour, had United camped in and around their penalty area as they searched for an opener, but the Red Devils backline stood firm as a blocked shot from Rodri, a sliced effort from Doku and a looping header off target from Haaland all failed to threaten Onana's goal.
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The Cameroonian was then called into action to make a superb diving save to his left to keep out a low-struck volley from Rodri, before De Bruyne dragged an effort wide of the near post as frustrations grew among the home supporters inside the Etihad.
Man City's best chance of the first half fell to Haaland, but the Norwegian – who scored five goals in midweek against Luton – somehow diverted the ball over the crossbar from just a few yards out after meeting Foden's inviting header across the box.
Raphael Varane almost turned the ball into his own net as he stuck a leg out to block a low, hard cross form De Bruyne, but Man United managed to ride the countless waves of City attacks to enter half time with a slender lead.
Just like in the first half, Man City controlled the opening exchanges of the second 45, with Onana alert to claw away Doku's deflected strike from a tight angle on the left flank not long after Evans blocked a powerful shot from Foden.
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City's No.47 made no mistake with his next effort on goal, though, as he received the ball in the right channel and cut inside onto his favoured left foot before arrowing a stunning strike from the edge of the area into the top corner, beating the outstretched Onana all ends up; the Etihad faithful erupted as Foden made the net ripple, and it soon became men against boys in City's favour for the final half-hour.
Onana, who was consistently booed for perceived time wasting throughout the contest, gave United a much-needed breather when he went down to receive treatment after collecting an attempted through-ball from De Bruyne; the Red Devils shot-stopper was unsurprisingly fit to continue, though.
With 20 minutes remaining, Ten Hag called upon 19-year-old Willy Kambwala to replace 36-year-old Evans, who put in an impressive shift for Man United at the back; Kambwala – naturally a centre-back – slotted in at right-back as Victor Lindelof moved into central defence, while Diogo Dalot switched to left-back.
A towering Man United wall managed to deal with De Bruyne's dangerous free kick from the edge of the area, shortly before Walker drilled an audacious 30-yard effort straight into the gloves of Onana.
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Tension grew as City's attack continued to camp United's resolute backline into their own penalty box, but the hosts' persistence in the final third eventually paid off as Foden collected a neat pass from substitute Julian Alvarez inside the area before slotting a low strike past Onana and into the far corner on the 80-minute mark.
Man United, whose last shot on goal took place in the 23rd minute, could not escape their own half, and eventually conceded a third when Rodri dispossessed Amrabat on the edge of the box before sending Haaland through to place a composed left-footed finish into the bottom corner, securing three crucial points for the hosts and condemning the Red Devils to their 11th Premier League loss of the campaign.
The Citizens, who have broken a Premier League record with their win over Man United, will look to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 20 matches when they welcome Copenhagen to the Etihad for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, while Ten Hag's side are next in top-flight action on Saturday lunchtime at home to Everton.
Oliver Thomas
