Phil Foden set Manchester City on their way before Erling Haaland struck twice in the second half, making amends for a glaring miss as Pep Guardiola’s side returned to winning ways after back-to-back league defeats.
United came into the derby above City in the table for the first time in five years, though more due to City’s shaky start than any real progress under Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils have just four points from their opening four matches and were recently knocked out of the League Cup by fourth-tier Grimsby.
The afternoon also marked a debut to remember for Gianluigi Donnarumma, who produced a superb save from Bryan Mbeumo at 2-0 to prevent United from staging a fightback.
City are still six points behind leaders Liverpool, but this victory provides a major lift heading into a tough run of fixtures against Napoli in the Champions League and Arsenal in the league.
Before kick-off, both sets of supporters united in a tribute to boxing icon Ricky Hatton, a lifelong City fan who passed away on Sunday at 46. His face appeared on the stadium screens during an emotional minute’s applause.
For Foden, also a boyhood City supporter, the occasion carried extra weight. After fitness problems left him without a start this season, the 2023/24 Premier League Player of the Year needed only 18 minutes to make an impact, heading home a Jeremy Doku cross after United’s defence failed to track him.
Doku was the supplier again for City’s second just after halftime, when Haaland burst through and lifted the ball past Altay Bayindir. The Norwegian then inexplicably hit the post with the goal at his mercy, but quickly redeemed himself after United errors gifted City further openings.
First, Donnarumma’s reflex stop from Mbeumo kept the scoreline intact. Moments later, Harry Maguire’s mistake handed Bernardo Silva possession, who released Haaland to score his second — taking his tally to eight goals in nine Manchester derbies.
City could have added more, with Tijjani Reijnders wasting a clear chance, while the home fans mocked Amorim with chants suggesting he could soon lose his job.
Amorim may not be under immediate threat, but his record now stands at just eight wins from 31 league matches, a run that will do little to ease pressure on the United boss.
