The most recent iteration of the Manchester derby is not going to dwell lengthy within the reminiscence as United and Metropolis performed out an uninspired 0-0 draw.
Whereas either side had the odd moments of high quality, neither did wherever close to sufficient to win the sport, which noticed a complete of simply two huge possibilities created throughout your complete 90 minutes.
How the sport unfolded
Alejandro Garnacho obtained in behind within the first 60 seconds and Outdated Trafford erupted with requires a penalty when he was tripped, however the contact got here marginally outdoors the field and a free kick was awarded as an alternative. Bruno Fernandes despatched his effort straight into the wall.
Phil Foden fizzed huge however United couldn’t imagine they weren’t forward 20 minutes in when Diogo Dalot’s cross went flying throughout the six-yard field. Manuel Ugarte couldn’t attain his header and Garnacho couldn’t management a determined effort on the again publish.
Ugarte was the following to have a sight of the Metropolis aim. Fernandes’ dinked cross despatched the Uruguay worldwide by on the again publish however, but once more, couldn’t management his volley and slashed huge.
There can be no separating the 2 sides within the first half. Metropolis dominated possession, racking up over 60%, nevertheless it was United who had the higher possibilities to start out a derby which is not going to dwell lengthy within the reminiscence.
Metropolis appeared destined to take a lead simply two minutes after the restart. Foden obtained in behind and easily wanted to drag the set off, however took too lengthy and allowed Noussair Mazraoui to skew the hassle huge.
Omar Marmoush’s free kick was comfortably repelled by Andre Onana, who wanted robust wrists to push a ferocious volley from the Metropolis ahead away because the clocked ticked over into the ultimate 20 minutes.
Two United substitutes have been subsequent to fireplace on the Metropolis aim. Ederson did nicely to disclaim Joshua Zirkzee earlier than Mason Mount’s sweetly struck rebound was blocked. It was maybe as shut as United got here to breaking the impasse, however the recreation merely lacked the standard wanted to find out a winner.
The decision on social media was that this might have simply been mistaken for a testimonial for departing Metropolis midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, such was either side’ strategy to the sport.
Clearly poisoned by a need to easily keep away from defeat, reasonably than take a threat in the hunt for victory, neither United nor Metropolis appeared ready to take the sport by the scruff of the neck. Pep Guardiola’s facet had loads of the ball however hardly ever appeared like inflicting issues, whereas United’s superior need was blunted by their continued lack of high quality within the last third.
Each units of gamers appeared glad with the end result after the ultimate whistle, however that sentiment was not shared by supporters.
Days after confirming his upcoming departure, Kevin De Bruyne led the Metropolis facet out for his last Manchester derby. He was vigorous and lively, however hardly ever efficient.
No participant misplaced possession greater than the Belgian within the first half as De Bruyne, alongside everybody in Metropolis blue, performed with lethargy and an absence of concepts which meant United’s again line hardly ever fell sufferer to the Belgian’s typical inventive brilliance.
He didn’t create a single likelihood, didn’t full any of his dribbles or crosses and received simply certainly one of his 9 duels in what was a bitterly disappointing last derby for certainly one of this fixture’s best-ever.
Pep Guardiola targeted his efforts on successful the midfield battle right here. His 4-1-2-1-2 setup was slim, with Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva all enjoying behind De Bruyne in a diamond, however the trio all didn’t dwell as much as the duty.
Their tender strategy to proceedings was countered by United’s highly effective midfield. Casemiro was a dominant, damaging presence, whereas Fernandes repeatedly drifted between the traces and located numerous pockets of area through which to make issues occur.
Casemiro deserves specific reward right here. No participant within the Premier League this season has made greater than his 11 tackles in a single recreation right here, whereas his 13 duels can also be a league-high.
As United fell to Nottingham Forest in midweek, Garnacho attracted loads of criticism from United followers and Ruben Amorim even confessed the Argentine wasn’t precisely in one of the best run of kind. Nonetheless, Garnacho retained sufficient religion to get the nod right here.
He almost stole the headlines inside the primary minute with a strong drive forwards and will have simply netted in a primary half through which he made as a lot of an attacking affect as any participant. The profligacy is an apparent concern however, as those that have performed on the highest stage usually remind followers, the worrying ought to solely begin when Garnacho stops entering into these encouraging positions.
Take a look at the participant scores from Man Utd 0-0 Man Metropolis right here.
READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP
