MANCHESTER — An absolutely massive Manchester derby eventually became one-way traffic as Manchester City beat Manchester United 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
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Erling Haaland scored twice, Jeremy Doku had a pair of assists, and Phil Foden also scored for City, who move into eighth place with six points. Gianluigi Donnarumma was strong in his first start for City as
United wasted some glorious chances but were never really in control of this derby and they sit 14th with four points.
WATCH — Manchester City vs Manchester United full match replay
Man City showcase situational strength
Gigi Donnarumma was strong from Moment No. 1, and how impressive was it to see Man City playing with a goliath in their own box? Here’s the thing, though — most of Man United’s best attacking moments were thwarted before they got to the City keeper. Ruben Dias was strong, Josko Gvardiol was strong. Abdukodir Khusanov was fantastic. And I’m sure the reader’s noted by now that we’ve gone a few sentences without mentioning the attack. Erling Haaland looked like Dortmund’s version on Sunday, using his athleticism to thrill in transition and feasting on the playmaking of Jeremy Doku and a reinvigorated Phil Foden. Their depth will be challenged by the absences of Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush — especially with Napoli and Arsenal next on the fixture list — but City showed Sunday how they can control the game with the ball, without the ball, and when things are opened up a bit. Truly encouraging. (NM)
Man United have to sort out midfield
Ruben Amorim grimaced when asked about his stubbornness when it comes to his formation and what it does to his midfield. We’d phrase the question a different way, asking how he’s selecting the players to fill that midfield role. At the moment it feels like there’s huge pressure to find a fit for Bruno Fernandes at the expense of the rest of the team. Dropping Fernandes into a holding midfield position sacrifices some of your most creative player’s best traits while also demanding a traditional defensive midfielder like Casemiro or Manuel Ugarte fill the role next to him. Kobbie Mainoo then has to sit and wait his turn. What would it take for Amorim to use Fernandes in an attacking midfield role and bring Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, or Bryan Mbeumo off the bench? Or is Fernandes just becoming too square of a round peg slipping cleanly through a square hole? (NM)
What’s next?
Man United have six days to gear up for a reunion with Alejandro Garnacho’s Chelsea, a 12:30pm ET kickoff on Saturday.
It only gets more difficult for City, who host Napoli on Thursday to start a new UEFA Champions League season before visiting Arsenal at 11:30am ET Sunday.
How to watch Manchester City vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET Sunday (September 14)
Venue: Etihad Stadium — Manchester
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
Manchester City vs Manchester United final score: 3-0
Foden 18', Haaland 53', 69'
Manchester City vs Manchester United live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright at Etihad Stadium
City subs
Doku and Rodri exit for Nico Gonzalez and Savinho. Into the 77th minute at the Etihad.
Haaland seals it!
United are caught out at the back on the halfway line with a poor pass and Bernardo Silva plays it up over the top to Haaland. He’s clean through and finishes easily past Bayindir. Cool and calm. Game. Set. Match.
What a save Donnarumma!
WHAT A SAVE! Gianluigi Donnarumma with a superb stop to deny a wonderful volley from Bryan Mbeumo. Brilliant from the Italian goalkeeper on his Premier League debut.
How is it not 3-0!?
United are caught out playing out from the back and Haaland rounds Bayindir, then slides in his finish but the ball hits the inside of the post and comes out. City can’t believe they haven’t scored a third. United are all over the place. Doku is causing so many problems.
Haaland dinks home!
Brilliant finish from the main man Erling Haaland and City are cruising. Doku plays Haaland in and beats Shaw too easily and dinks over the onrushing Bayindir.
It has been all United so far in the second half
The second half has started in a very settled pattern: United having the ball and City defending on the edge of their box. Good start to the second period from United.
Half time: Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United
City lead through Foden’s goal and that is a fair reflection on this first half. City started well, got the goal and should have had another, at least. United are hanging in there and look dangerous on the counter but the Red Devils will be happy they’re only 1-0 down at the break. Still all to play for in the rain on derby day.
🚨 Manchester City deservedly lead Manchester United 1-0 in the derby, but City need a second fast as United look a threat on the break.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) September 14, 2025
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Half time thoughts on #MCFC v #MUFC ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/bK3nOOMsWg
Sesko almost gets in over the top
A long ball finds Sesko, who timed his run superbly, and he chests it down but Donnarumma is there to make the save. Positive signs for United and Sesko. That was very easy to get in-behind City.
City can’t make the most of a promising counter
It is attack after attack from City and the ball is played wide on the counter, but it can’t find Haaland and United scramble clear. It is one-way traffic at the moment and in boxing terms City have United on the ropes. City have to make the most of this dominance and score another before the break.
Almost 2-0 to City!
Great play down the left from Doku, again, and his cross to Reijnders sees the Dutch midfielder get an effort on goal but it’s straight at Bayindir who saves, then gathers the rebound.
Foden heads home!
Jeremy Doku is in down the right after a great move to get past Luke SHaw, and his cross finds Phil Foden who times his run perfectly and guides the header home. City lead in the derby! The local lad with the goal. On the day the world pays its respects to Stockport’s own Ricky Hatton, another hero from Stockport in Phil Foden gets the goal to put City ahead.
Decent start for United
Okay, Haaland almost scored right away and that Bayindir slip was almost costly, but United have been okay aside from that. Mbeumo, Diallo and Sesko are linking up well and City are looking a little shaky out wide defensively. However, Donnarumma looks rock solid.
Bayindir slips and City are almost in
The rain is pouring down here and almost a nightmare for United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. The ball is played back to him but he slips as he’s about to clear and under pressure. He somehow gets the ball back but that was a dodgy moment for the young goalkeeper. The TV cameras instantly pan to new United goalkeeper Senne Lammens on the bench...
Erling Haaland almost scores right away!
Wow. What a start that would have been. Erling Haaland is played in on the left side of the box and flashes a great efort across goal but just wide of the far post. Almost a goal for City inside the opening 30 seconds.
🚨Welcome to the Etihad! Manchester Derby time as Manchester City host Manchester United.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) September 14, 2025
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Here’s 3 things I’m looking forward to in #MCFC v #MUFC ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/w7pqNUyPPu
Wonderful tribute to Ricky Hatton
The death of legendary British boxer Ricky Hatton was announced earlier today and the Manchester lad, and devoted Manchester City fan, was an icon of this city. Hatton is given a wonderful round of applause by everyone in the stadium, as fans sing “there’s only Ricky Hatton” and a tribute to the ‘Hitman’ is read out on the pitch.
On Manchester Derby Day, fans pay tribute to former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton.
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 14, 2025
Hatton, a passionate Man City fan, was found dead this morning at his home in Greater Manchester. pic.twitter.com/bk1edwf7Ld
Welcome to soggy Manchester!
Perfect weather for a Manchester derby here, as the rain gently falls and the skies are deep grey. The team news is in and Foden and Gvardiol are fit and start, which is a big boost, while Khusanov appears to be at right back. New signing Gianluigi Donnarumma comes straight in to start for City. United make a few surprise selections as Sesko starts up top with Diallo starting further forward and Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte are in midfield with Noussair Mazraoui coming in at right wing-back.
Manchester City lineup
Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Rodri, Silva; Foden, Reijnders, Doku; Haaland
Manchester United lineup
Bayindir; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Diallo, Mbeumo; Sesko
Manchester City team news, focus
This huge list of injuries is obviously a problem and two key creative sparks in Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki are now out. Phil Foden, John Stones, and Josko Gvardiol have all been struggling with injuries too and City need their experience. Defensively Guardiola has to find some kind of solid foundation to build from as City have looked all over the place positionally and have now lost Rayan Ait-Nouri to injury too. Erling Haaland had a superb international break as he scored five goals against Moldova and the winner against Finland as Norway are on the brink of World Cup qualification. New goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma could come straight in to make his debut after his arrival from PSG.
OUT: Omar Marmoush (knee), Rayan Cherki (thigh), Rayan Ait-Nouri (ankle), Kalvin Phillips (achilles), Marcus Bettinelli (knock) | QUESTIONABLE: John Stones (undisclosed)
Manchester United team news, focus
There are a couple of injury concerns for Amorim to contend with, the main one being Matheus Cunha. The new star signing went down against Burnley before the break and Amorim has confirmed he is out with a hamstring issue, while Diogo Dalot is also injured. That means Amad Diallo should start at right wing-back with Patrick Dorgu at left wing-back. In attack Mason Mount is out, so Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo will likely play as No. 10’s and Benjamin Sesko will be chucked in to start up top. With Cunha out, Amorim has no other option than to start the Slovenian striker in the derby despite his slow start to life as a Red Devil. Altay Bayindir continues in goal despite his struggles but it will be intriguing to see if new goalkeeper Senne Lemmens becomes the starter in the coming weeks.
OUT: Matheus Cunha (muscular — MORE), Mason Mount (undisclosed), Diogo Dalot (muscular), Lisandro Martinez (knee)
Manchester City vs Manchester United prediction
These games are always so hard to call and United have won a fair few times at City with smash-and-grab displays in recent years. Given City’s lack of confidence and injuries, it feels like a United win on the counter is going to happen again. Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United.
Manchester City vs Manchester United preview
City have lost two in a row and Pep Guardiola’s side were ahead and cruising at Brighton before the international break, then imploded in the final 30 minutes to lose 2-1. City have looked exceptionally vulnerable defensively to counter attacks and everything looks clunky, which should be expected given how many changes they’ve made over the summer and so many new players still settling in to Guardiola’s very specific style of play. Add to all of that a huge list of injury issues and City are heading into this derby with plenty of trepidation.
United won late on against Burnley before the international break to ease some of the pressure on Ruben Amorim. For now. A 97th-minute penalty kick from Bruno Fernandes sealed the 3-2 win at Old Trafford but the recent embarrassing League Cup exit at fourth-tier Grimsby Town won’t be forgotten about anytime soon. United have looked solid in their opening three games of the Premier League season and four points is a decent return. Amorim now needs a marquee display, and win, to really prove United are heading in the right direction.
