Erling Haaland returned to his best form with a brilliant brace as Manchester City defeated Manchester United in a dominant Manchester derby performance at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Both sides entered the clash under pressure after sluggish starts to the new Premier League campaign. Pep Guardiola’s side had suffered back-to-back defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton, while Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United had managed just one win in their first four matches across all competitions.
City, however, delivered the perfect response to critics questioning their title credentials. Haaland’s double—combined with a classy finish from Phil Foden which ensured the reigning champions cruised to a statement victory over their fiercest rivals.
United showed moments of promise in the first half but ultimately crumbled after the break, once again highlighting the gulf in quality between the two sides.
For Guardiola, it was a derby win that restores momentum in City’s title charge, while for United, the result underlines the growing challenges they face in keeping pace with the Premier League’s elite.
