Manchester United secured the bragging rights in the Manchester Derby after coming from behind to defeat Manchester City 2-1 on Sunday evening.
Premier League
Result: Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United
Date: 15 December 2024
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Man City recalled Phil Foden and Matheus Nunes, who both joined Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland in attack, as two changes from the defeat against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League.Man United made four changes following their win over Viktoria Plzen in the UEFA Europa League, as Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte were brought back.
The Red Devils' plans were affected early on after Mount picked up an injury and he had to be replaced Kobbie Mainoo.
In a tightly contested game, Foden had the first threatening shot for The Citizens midway into the second stanza that missed slightly wide.
Pep Guardiola's charges gained momentum, as eight minutes before the interval Josko Gvardiol broke the deadlock with a free header in the box after he was picked out by a cross by De Bruyne.
Man City remained on the front foot and Foden had a chance to double their lead on the stroke of half-time with a strike from the edge of the box that was deflected just wide by a block from Maguire.
Ruben Amorim's men needed to improve their attacking game, as they did not test goalkeeper Ederson, heading to the interval with a 1-0 deficit.
It took an hour for The Red Devils to finally have an attempt on target after Amad Diallo's header from a cross by Bruno Fernandes, was kept out by Ederson.
With United on top of the game, Guardiola made a tactical change on 68 minutes to try wrestle back control, as Mateo Kovacic replaced De Bruyne.
However, The Red Devils still had spaces to exploit as Fernandes should have made it 1-1 with 13 minutes remaining after he beat Fernandes in a one-on-one but his shot missed the gaping net agonizingly wide.
The visitors had a lifeline in the dying minutes after Fernandes redeemed himself and eventually levelled matters from the penalty spot after Nunes kicked down Diallo in the box.
With the game on the edge, Diallo was the hero for Man United in the last minute after he netted the winner with a strike over the goal-line guarded by a few Man City players, after he rounded Ederson from a long ball into the box.
Amorim's men ended a two-game losing streak in the league while The Citizens fell nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
