The Premier League returns this weekend after the UEFA Nations League-enforced international break, and the English top-flight most definitely returns with a bang.
On Sunday it’s the Manchester derby, with Erik Ten Hag’s revitalised United visiting Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions City at the Etihad Stadium.
The fixture is undoubtedly the jewel in English football’s crown, with billions of eyes expected to be watching closely in addition to the 53,000 fans in attendance at the home of the champions.
In recent years, the fixture has thrown up some surprising results.
If we take last season out of the equation – where Manchester United lost both home and away to their arch-rivals under the hapless Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – United have actually performed quite well at the Etihad.
Prior to last season, The Red Devils have won three consecutive away derbies, and with their recent upturn in form under their new Dutch manager, we wouldn’t be as surprised as most to see them come away with all three points once again.
With anticipation building, let’s take a look through two of the best Manchester derbies in recent memory.
2017/18 – Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United
Back in 2018, Manchester City were comfortably the best team in the country.
Pep Guardiola’s side were well on their way to becoming centurions and by the time Manchester United came to town on 7th April, the hosts knew that victory would be enough to secure the Premier League title with six games to spare.
And it looked like exactly that would happen when a five-minute double salvo from Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan gave the soon-to-be champions a 2-0 halftime lead.
There was one man that they didn’t bank on, however, a man who always loves spoiling a party. Jose Mourinho.
The United boss was no stranger to being the party-pooper, famously leading Chelsea to a 2-0 win at Anfield in 2014 which stopped Liverpool from lifting their first Premier League crown in over two decades.
And in the second half of this tussle, he was up to his old tricks once again. A two-minute double from Paul Pogba shortly after halftime drew the visitors level out of nowhere, and 15 minutes later Chris Smalling completed the turnaround.
The away end was jubilant and celebrated their victory long into the night, but it was City who would have the last laugh, winning the title for the third time in their history, and by some distance.
2011/12 – Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United
It’s crazy to think that it’s been over a decade since Manchester City’s first Premier League title win of the Sheikh Mansour era.
And since that triumph back in 2012, they have added another five top-flight crowns to their trophy cabinet.
Chelsea have since managed to pick up two, United, Liverpool, and Leicester City – who gave us one of football’s most shocking moments in 2016 – all managing one each in that same time frame.
That truly shows how much the Manchester City juggernaut has dominated English football over the past decade, but if they hadn’t won this particular Manchester Derby, that dominance may never have happened.
With six games remaining in the Premier League season, Manchester United were eight points clear of their rivals and the title was seemingly wrapped up.
But defeat away at Wigan Athletic and an epic 4-4 draw at home to Everton opened the door for City.
With three matches remaining, the pair met at the Etihad and City knew that if they won, they would move ahead of their rivals on goal difference with just two games remaining.
The match was a cagey affair from the outset, with neither side’s attacking players operating at their best.
Then, on the brink of halftime – just as he has done so many times – captain Kompany would pop up with the game’s only goal, powering home a header from David Silva’s corner.
United would push for an equaliser in the second half, but it would never come.
City wouldn’t give up their lead in the title race, with Sergio Aguero’s last gasp winner at home to Queen’s Park Rangers securing the title in the most dramatic fashion.
Featured image credit: Cleria De Souza via Flickr under CC BY 2.0 license
