Second-half goals from Bernardo Silva and substitute Leroy Sane gave Manchester City a vital 2-0 win away at rivals Manchester United in the derby on Wednesday evening.
Coming into the match, their game in hand, City knew they needed to win to go back ahead of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.
However the champions looked nervous for much of the first-half under the attention of United’s press, and they struggled for any fluency. Despite dominating possession, City were limited to one shot from distance, David De Gea pushing clear Bernardo's venomous drive.
Bernardo Silva of Manchester City celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on April 24, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom
Image credit: Getty Images
Shortly after the break they lost Fernandinho to injury and that forced a tactical re-think with Bernardo dropping deeper and Sane coming on.
The forced change ended up working, with City looking much more threatening and in the 54th-minute Bernardo found space to fire past De Gea at the Spaniard’s near post to open the scoring.
City began to turn the screw and a moment later Sergio Aguero's placed effort cannoned off the post, but the game was finally put beyond the reach of the hosts in the 66th-minute when De Gea was beaten far too easily by Sane's shot on the counter, as City wrapped up a comfortable victory.
Leroy Sane of Manchester City celebrates scoring their second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on April 24, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
Crucially, the win moves Pep Guardiola's side one point ahead of Liverpool with both clubs having played 35 games, whilst United remain sixth and three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
TALKING POINT
Nightmare for De Gea, but City are almost in dreamland
David De Gea has been a man-mountain for Manchester United over the years, winning his team countless points during the club's leanest period in sometime, but in recent weeks he has shown signs that he is suffering from burn-out. With mistakes against Barcelona and Everton fresh in his mind, the Spaniard was arguably at fault for City's first and most definitely to blame for the second.
Premier League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - April 24, 2019 Manchester United's David de Gea reacts
Image credit: Getty Images
In the end, it was a pretty comfortable victory for City, who claimed their 11th consecutive league victory. On paper, United were the most difficult test in their bid for a second successive league title and they must now be clear favourites to pip Liverpool to glory. It would be incredibly harsh on Jurgen Klopp's side if they were to record 97 points and still finish second, but that is the standard this excellent City side have set.
MAN OF THE MATCH
David Silva (Manchester City): City's little magician hasn't been at his best in recent weeks but he was very good tonight. He pulled the strings in their midfield, playing through the United defence with some lovely passes, though he was fortunate not to see red for an uncharacteristic foul on Pereira.
Fred of Manchester United in action with David Silva and Bernardo Silva of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on April 24, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Manchester United: De Gea 4, Lindelof 5, Darmian 5, Smalling 6, Young 5, Shaw 5, Pereira 5, Fred 5, Pogba 6, Lingard 6, Rashford 6. Subs: Sanchez 4, Lukaku 4, Martial N/A.
Manchester City: Ederson 7, Walker 6, Kompany 6, Laporte 6, Zinchenko 6, Fernandinho 7, Gundogan 7, D Silva 8, B Silva 7, Sterling 7, Aguero 6. Subs: Jesus N/A, Danilo N/A, Sane 7.
KEY MOMENTS
19' - SAVE! Bernardo Silva fires a venomous shot at goal but De Gea is equal to it, parrying the ball out and United scramble it clear.
54' - GOAL! Man United 0-1 Man City: Bernardo Silva scores to send the visiting fans wild! Gundogan moves the ball into the Portuguese's path, he's left one-on-one with Shaw, he cuts inside and drills the ball past De Gea at his near post.
56' - OFF THE POST! are really beginning to find their groove now. Aguero is teed up on the edge of the box and his placed shot strikes the outside of the post!
57' - BIG CHANCE! Walker slices his clearance, Rashford crosses for Lingard at the back post and with the goal gaping the England international somehow fails to make connection - it's an air shot! The chance is gone.
66' - GOAL! Man Utd 0-2 Man City: That should settle it! It's a lovely counter-attacking move, led by Sterling. He releases Sane on the left side and although it's a good strike by the Germany international De Gea should do much better. He gets a foot to it but can't keep it out.
remier League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - April 24, 2019 Manchester City's Leroy Sane celebrates scoring their second goal with Bernardo Silva and team mates
Image credit: Reuters
70' - FLASHPOINT! David Silva appears to kick Pereira in the stomach and it goes unnoticed by the referee, otherwise the City playmaker would be shown a red card.
KEY STATS
- Pep Guardiola is the first manager to win three consecutive away Premier League matches at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
- Manchester City have scored 157 goals in all competitions this season, the most by any side in English top-flight history, overtaking their own record from 2013-14.
- Vincent Kompany has received more yellow cards than any other player in the Manchester derby in the Premier League (10).
- Manchester City have only lost one of their last eight league visits to Old Trafford (W6 D1).
- Each of Manchester United’s last four permanent managers has lost their first league meeting with Manchester City in charge of the club (Moyes, van Gaal, Mourinho and now Solskjaer), with Alex Ferguson the last to win his first such contest, 2-0 in March 1987.
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