Manchester City Triumphs in 197th Derby with Haaland’s Brace and Foden’s Resurgence

Manchester City delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over rivals Manchester United in the 197th Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haaland’s clinical finishing and Phil Foden’s return to form stealing the show.

The result underlined City’s dominance and highlighted United’s ongoing struggles under manager Ruben Amorim.The game burst into life early, with Haaland nearly scoring within the first 20 seconds. Despite United’s efforts to regroup, City’s breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Jérémy Doku’s incisive run and pinpoint cross found Foden, who nodded home with a delicate header.

The duo combined again after halftime, with Foden’s clever touch setting up Doku, who in turn assisted Haaland for City’s second goal. The rout was completed in the 69th minute when Harry Maguire’s error gifted Bernardo Silva possession, allowing Haaland to race clear and slot past United’s goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.City’s new signing.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, marked his debut with a stellar performance, denying Bryan Mbeumo with a world-class save and making two crucial stops in the first half. The Italian goalkeeper, acquired from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day, proved his worth and validated City’s decision to bolster their goalkeeping ranks.

In contrast, United’s choice of Bayindir over debutant Senne Lammens failed to inspire, as the Turkish keeper couldn’t replicate Donnarumma’s heroics.

Foden’s performance was a beacon of hope for City fans. After a dip in form last season, where his goal tally dropped from 27 to 13 across all competitions, the 25-year-old playmaker looked revitalized. His decision to skip England’s June internationals for rest appears to have paid dividends, with his goal and assist signaling a potential return to his 2023-24 Premier League-best form.

“New season, new me,” Foden had declared during the Club World Cup, and his display against United suggests he’s ready to lead City’s charge.

Haaland, meanwhile, continued to prove why manager Pep Guardiola considers him “a little bit above” Liverpool’s new signing Alexander Isak. Fresh off a five-goal haul for Norway, Haaland’s brace took his Premier League tally to five, reinforcing his status as the league’s top scorer. His first goal showcased his finesse, deftly lifting the ball over Bayindir, while his second was a composed finish after outpacing United’s defense.

For United, the match exposed familiar frailties. Amorim’s 3-4-3 system left £73.7m striker Benjamin Sesko isolated, with the Slovenian failing to register a shot before his late substitution.

United’s 73 goals in 47 games under Amorim many in the Europa League, highlight their struggle to create chances in the Premier League.

Luke Shaw, deployed on the left of a back three, was exposed by Doku and Haaland, raising questions about his suitability for the role.

As City look to build on this momentum with Foden and Haaland firing, United face a daunting task to turn their season around. For now, the blue half of Manchester holds bragging rights, and the Etihad remains a fortress.