Manchester United’s defensive frailties reared their ugly head once more as they squandered a 1-0 advantage to fall 3-1 to Manchester City in Sunday’s tempestuous derby at the Etihad Stadium.
The visitors looked set to claim their first victory at City’s fortress since 2016 after Marcus Rashford’s brilliant 23rd-minute strike. But a catastrophic 15-minute collapse after the hour mark saw Pep Guardiola’s machine roar into life — three unanswered goals extending their stranglehold over this fixture in ruthless fashion.
Rashford’s Flash of Brilliance
The England forward opened the scoring with vintage pace and precision, ghosting past Josko Gvardiol down the left before curling a sublime right-footer into the top corner. It was the kind of moment that reminded everyone why United handed him that lucrative contract extension.
His celebration in front of the raucous away end told its own story — a player desperate to silence the doubters after managing just four league goals entering Sunday’s clash.
“Marcus showed exactly what he’s capable of today,” Erik ten Hag said afterward, though his tone suggested frustration at what followed. “That’s the quality we know he possesses, but we need that consistency over 90 minutes as a team.”
For 40 minutes, United’s defensive structure held firm against City’s relentless probing. Andre Onana pulled off three spectacular saves in the opening period — twice denying Erling Haaland and producing an acrobatic tip-over to thwart Kevin De Bruyne’s curler just before the break.
City’s Inevitable Surge
The leveler arrived in the 64th minute through Phil Foden — a low drive that took a wicked deflection off Harry Maguire’s desperate lunge. You could see United’s resolve crumble in real time.
Haaland delivered the knockout blow six minutes later, his 15th Premier League strike of the campaign coming after Rashford inexplicably lost possession in midfield. The Norwegian’s muted celebration masked the significance — another dagger through United hearts.
Julian Alvarez twisted the knife in the 78th minute, capitalizing on more woeful defending to slot home with embarrassing ease. By then, the red half of Manchester was already streaming toward the exits.
Ten Hag’s Tactical Gamble Backfires
The defeat leaves United wallowing in eighth place with 15 points from 11 matches — their worst Premier League start since 1989-90. They now trail fourth-placed Arsenal by 11 points, making Champions League qualification look increasingly fanciful.
Ten Hag’s conservative approach backfired spectacularly. His side managed just 31% possession and completed a paltry 287 passes compared to City’s 634. The decision to haul off Bruno Fernandes with 17 minutes remaining — trailing 2-1 — sparked fury from the Portuguese skipper, who threw his arms up in disgust.
“We competed for large parts of the game, but individual errors at crucial moments cost us,” the Dutchman reflected. His post-match demeanor suggested a man running out of answers.
Guardiola’s Masterclass
Sunday’s triumph extended City’s unbeaten streak against their neighbors to seven matches across all competitions. The Citizens have now won five of the last six Manchester derbies, outscoring United 16-6 in that span — a statistical beatdown that tells the story of this rivalry’s current dynamic.
Guardiola’s halftime tactical switch proved the difference. His move to a 3-2-4-1 formation overloaded United’s midfield and created the space his forwards needed to exploit those familiar defensive lapses.
The Catalan’s celebration at full-time was notably restrained — these victories over United have become routine rather than cathartic.
What’s Next for United?
The international break offers United time to lick their wounds, but expect the speculation around Ten Hag’s future to intensify during the hiatus. Club executives will convene with the Glazer family in the coming days, and uncomfortable questions await.
City, sitting pretty three points clear at the summit, travel to Brighton on November 23. United face Everton the same weekend — another potential banana skin for a team that’s forgotten how to handle pressure.
This derby summed up everything wrong with United’s season: flashes of quality undermined by chronic defensive instability. Until that changes, City will continue treating these fixtures like training sessions.
