Manchester City dominated Manchester United in a 3-0 derby victory, with Erling Haaland scoring twice and Phil Foden adding another. The win showcased City’s title credentials and increased pressure on United’s manager, Ruben Amorim. City climbed to eighth place, while United are in 14th.
Manchester City delivered a resounding statement of intent, dismantling Manchester United 3-0 in a dominant derby display fueled by Erling Haaland's brace and Phil Foden's precision. The victory, a much-needed boost after a slightly underwhelming start to the season, served as a stark reminder of City's title-winning pedigree and intensified the scrutiny on United manager Ruben Amorim.
The match began with City eager to close the gap on early pace-setters Liverpool, who had earlier secured a narrow win against Burnley. From the outset, Pep Guardiola's tactical masterclass was evident, as City's fluid movement and incisive passing overwhelmed their rivals. United, in contrast, appeared disjointed and lacking in both creativity and defensive solidity.
Phil Foden, making his first start of the season, justified his inclusion with an 18th-minute opener. The young Englishman displayed excellent anticipation and technique, nodding home Jeremy Doku's pinpoint cross beyond the reach of United's goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir. The goal was a product of City's relentless pressure and intricate build-up play, showcasing their attacking prowess.
United struggled to mount any meaningful response in the first half, their sole attempt on goal a tame effort from Benjamin Sesko that was easily gathered by City's debutant goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian shot-stopper, a summer acquisition, enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon, a testament to City's control of the game.
The second half saw City further tighten their grip on proceedings, with Haaland emerging as the central figure in their attacking masterclass. In the 53rd minute, a mesmerizing move involving Nico O'Reilly, Foden, and Doku culminated in Haaland delicately chipping the ball over Bayindir, doubling City's advantage. The Norwegian's exquisite finish highlighted his exceptional technique and composure in front of goal.
Haaland was unlucky not to complete his hat-trick shortly after, agonizingly hitting the post after rounding Bayindir. However, he wasn't to be denied his second goal, latching onto a through ball from Bernardo Silva in the 68th minute and slotting home with clinical precision.
50 – Erling Haaland has scored his 50th goal in his 50th home Premier League game for Manchester City. In the competition’s history, only Alan Shearer required fewer home appearances to hit 50 goals (47). Bullseye. pic.twitter.com/pQQtouU8YO
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 14, 2025
Late in the game, Tijjani Reijnders squandered a golden opportunity to extend City's lead further, while Casemiro missed a glaring chance at the other end for United. Donnarumma was called into action to deny Bryan Mbeumo with a smart save, preserving City's clean sheet.
The victory propelled City to eighth in the Premier League table, while United languished in 14th, intensifying the pressure on Amorim. The statistics painted a grim picture for United, highlighting their struggles in recent derbies.
United fans are weary of Foden and Haaland. Foden's goal took him to seven goals in Manchester derbies in the Premier League, with only Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney having more, with eight goals. Haaland moved level with those Manchester icons after his brace.
Remarkably, 15 of City's last 17 league goals against United have been scored by either Haaland (eight) or Foden (seven), underscoring their dominance in this fixture. The win was Guardiola's 600th top-flight game as a manager, with his teams scoring a staggering 1,501 goals in those matches.
10 – Today was Man City boss Pep Guardiola’s 10th Premier League Manchester derby win, making him only the third manager for either City or United to win 10+ league derbies, after Alex Ferguson (20) and Matt Busby (15). Tide. pic.twitter.com/WGQUKBKKFj
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 14, 2025
Amorim, meanwhile, is struggling with a Premier League win rate of just 26%, highlighting the challenges he faces in turning United's fortunes around. Only Alfred Albut (20%) and Scott Duncan (24%) have a lower win ratio than Amorim.