The two most successful clubs of the Premier League era didn’t hearken back to their best in a dull 0-0 derby draw between Manchester United and visiting Manchester City on Sunday at Old Trafford.
WATCH – Manchester United v Man City full match replay
A scoreless draw leaves Manchester City fifth on the Premier League table with 52 points, one fewer than Chelsea, while Manchester United’s 38th point is enough for 13th place.
Man United’s organization, press keep City uneasy
As strange as it sounds given what we’ve seen the past few years, the most influential player on the pitch for this game was a 33-year-old who has occasionally looked way past his days of usefulness on the top stage. Casemiro organized Manchester United from the opening kickoff through the final minutes and, petulant playacting aside, was a monster in the middle of the pitch. He keyed an aggressive, physical United side that fouled at will and took advantage of a slow-to-caution performance from referee John Brooks.
Pep Guardiola has met his derby match
It’s apparent that Ruben Amorim doesn’t have the horses to win a ‘treble’ crown, but he’s got a horse that can win a mudder. When executed well, Amorim’s system is a problem for possession-heavy systems like Guardiola’s because they are prepared to attack when winning the ball in any area of the pitch. They are comfortable waiting for it, too. A better-drilled Amorim team beat Guardiola’s City when Amorim was still at Sporting Lisbon, and now United have taken four-of-six points from City in the Premier League. Now it would certainly be different with Rodri and Nico Gonzalez in the midfield, healthy veteran City fullbacks, and Erling Haaland playing alongside or atop Omar Marmoush, but right now Amorim’s got the set-up to flummox this City.
What’s next?
United go to Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday, then visit Newcastle United in the Premier League at 11:30am ET Sunday before Lyon visit on April 17 for the UEL quarterfinal second leg.
Man City will welcome Crystal Palace to the Etihad Stadium at 7:30am Saturday.
How to watch Manchester United vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET Sunday
Venue: Old Trafford — Manchester
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock & NBC.com
Manchester United vs Manchester City final score: 0-0
Manchester United vs Manchester City live updates
City subs
Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis for Nico O’Reilly and Ilkay Gundogan. Both subs were due.
Ugarte fires wide ahead of sub
Manuel Ugarte stings a thigh-high missile just wide of the near post.
He’s now replaced by Mason Mount, while Joshua Zirkzee enters for Hojlund.
0-0, 71'.
Marmoush saved by Onana
A corner is cleared 10 yards past the 18 but Marmoush, who has been lively in the second half, smashes a shot that Onana is happy to parry.
Dalot shown yellow
City have been frustrated but they’ve also been drawing more and more fouls.
That finally produces a caution, as Diogo Dalot sees yellow in the 68th minute.
Subs
One each for the rivals.
Harry Maguire goes off for Victor Lindelof, and Jeremy Doku replaces Phil Foden.
0-0, 58'.
Fortune wasted
O’Reilly finds Marmoush, whose bobbled touch puts Foden toward the six.
Foden can only put a hurried effort wide of the near post.
0-0, 48'.
Halftime score — Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
Given the recent results and seasons of each club, Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will be much happier than his counterpart.
City have to find a way to get Omar Marmoush more involved, and their midfield could use Nico Gonzalez from the bench. O’Reilly may also need to depart at some point, though he’s settled into his game.
Shot attempts are 4-4, and City have held 61% of the ball. It’s there for both teams.
Danger still waiting to arrive in United’s third
The ball is almost exclusively in City’s possession but United’s disciplined ball pressure has largely kept the visitors at bay.
Ilkay Gundogan drags a shot across goal and wide after minutes of build-up, and then United break the other way and Bruno Fernandes is able to pipe one on goal.
City looking for the best chance. United looking for any. Both could probably take a page from the other.
Man Utd certainly showing understanding
It’s apparent that the Red Devils understand more of what Ruben Amorim wants from them, and his system is on show from his players even when there are certainly misfit pieces.
Jeremy Dorgu and Leny Yoro have been lively, and Dorgu might have two goals on another day.
O’Reilly is struggling at left back for City.
0-0, 29'.
Garancho flubs chance
Diogo Dalot gets the ball on the outside edge of the box, and he’s got enough room from O’Reilly to send in a cross.
Garnacho can’t quite decide what to do with it. Perhaps he was unsighted, but the Argentine goes for a stooping header when a volley might’ve done.
0-0, now into the 22nd minute.
City settle into possession
Omar Marmoush saw a blocked shot lead to a corner, and City have had much more of the ball since that early warning sign from their hosts.
The Red Devils do seem to be targeting the flanks with long balls, hoping to test Matheus Nunes and young Nico O’Reilly.
0-0, 19'.
Danger straightaway
United have fired out of the traps and Alejandro Garnacho has won a free kick from just outside the 18 as the Red Devils thought they might’ve had a penalty.
Bruno Fernandes steps over the ball, and smashes the wall to concede a corner. Ruben Dias sees a yellow card.
Underway!
Who will get the bragging rights at Old Trafford? We find out starting now....
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Yoro, Mazraoui, Maguire, Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund
Manchester City lineup
Ederson, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Gundogan, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Marmoush
Manchester United vs Manchester City preview
To add intrigue to the match between Ruben Amorim’s lackluster Red Devils and Pep Guardiola’s substandard Citizens, it’ll be Kevin De Bruyne’s last Manchester derby, as the Belgian announced he’ll leave the club when his contract expires this summer.
Man United languish in 13th place on the Premier League table, seven points outside the top half in a season that would make any Man United manager scowl. Manager Ruben Amorim has his club alive in the Europa League but no other competition, and would be aching for summer were it not for the UEL and this derby.
City are in fifth place, which may be good enough for a Champions League place, and their lone hope of a trophy is the FA Cup. The Citizens, however, are a mere point above sixth-place Newcastle and have put their hopes of a UCL return in real jeopardy. Fourth-place Chelsea are a point above City.
Man City will not have star striker Erling Haaland as the Norwegian recovers from an ankle injury that could keep him sidelined until June’s Club World Cup.
Check back here during the game for live updates and highlights throughout Manchester United vs Manchester City in PST’s live blog coverage below.
Manchester United team news, focus
OUT: Ayden Heaven (leg - MORE), Amad Diallo (ankle - out for season), Luke Shaw (foot), Jonny Evans (lower back), Lisandro Martinez (torn ACL - MORE), Kobbie Mainoo (undisclosed)
Manchester City team news, focus
OUT: Erling Haaland (ankle - MORE) John Stones (thigh), Rodri (torn ACL - MORE), Manuel Akanji (groin), Nathan Ake (ankle)
Manchester United vs Manchester City prediction
Both the venue and the occasion tend to tighten things up, but Man City are still the superior side in just about every facet of the game. United will need magic from Bruno Fernandes or another side as well as splendid games from Andre Onana and their back line. City are missing two of the very best players in the world and three defenders, and United haven’t lost to City over 90 minutes in three-straight matches. Have we done enough to make you think the Red Devils can claim a big win at home? Regardless, we haven’t done enough to convince ourselves. Man United 1-2 Man City.
