Live Commentary: Manchester United vs Manchester City


A beautiful afternoon to football fans the world-over. Welcome to Nigerianeye's live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford.


After a two-week hiatus, the English top flight returns with a bang, as these local rivals - both boasting perfect starts to the season - lock horns for the 172nd time.

This is predicted to be the most watched fixture in league history, with close to a billion tuning in across the globe to see the latest chapter in the ongoing feud between managers Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.

Something has to give at the Theatre of Dreams, but which side - if any - will retain their 100% start under new management. Find out below with our extensive updates.


OFFICIAL LINE-UPS

MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw, Fellaini, Pogba, Mkhitaryan, Rooney, Lingard, Ibrahimovic

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Bravo, Sagna, Otamendi, Stones, Kolarov, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva (C), Sterling, Nolito, Iheanacho








Mark Clattenburg sounds his full-time whistle at Old Trafford, meaning a first defeat in charge of Manchester United for Jose Mourinho. Different emotions entirely for Pepe Guardiola, who saw his Manchester City side show two aspects to their game this afternoon to hold out for all three points. The Citizens almost proved to be their own worst enemies, but they just about have their perfect start to the season intact. Thanks for joining our live coverage of the match.




90+5 min FULL TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 1-2 MANCHESTER CITY


90+4 min Ibrahimovic so nearly creating his own piece of Manchester derby history with a late goal, but the ball ends wide of the target via a deflection. Time is so nearly up for the hosts now, with just 60 seconds or so left to play at Old Trafford.

90+2 min MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Zabaleta is on for Nolito, who smartly positioned himself at the other end of the field to eat up some valuable seconds. All changes now made, we have three minutes of added time left to play in a game that nobody - other than City fans, of course - quite wants to end.

90 min The Citizens now have little intention of pressing forward quite so much. Crosses galore for the hosts, which are coming to little in truth, but the visitors struggling to pounce when pushing forward. We are now into added time at Old Trafford!

88 min We are now 88 minutes into the match and still it is end-to-end! Rooney denied a chance to shoot at one end; Fernandinho seeing a shot blocked up the other end seconds later. Guardiola urging his players to just hold on, seemingly shouting that he wants five at the back.

86 min YELLOW CARD! Bravo is just taking far too long on the ball. Can't blame Rooney for charging in, making a fair attempt to win the ball, but he was a little too zealous on this occasion and earns a booking for lunging in a tad too late.

84 min MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Martial is on for closing stages, taking the place of Luke Shaw. An attacker for a defender - cue shouts of "attack! attack! attack!" from the home fans. Don't think any of the reported one billion people watching this match around the globe want it to finish.

82 min Nolito goes down inside the box following a flowing City move, but Clattenburg - who has been very busy today - quickly waves away the appeals. De Bruyne then felt he was tugged back in the box, but this was a far weaker shout.

80 min United still have hope while the scoreline remains at 2-1, but City the team enjoying the end-to-end game the most as they have created five of six half-chances. De Bruyne sends a free kick over the bat from 25 yards out, meaning a chance for the hosts to regroup.

78 min SHOT! Chances galore for City now on the counter, as De Bruyne and Silva link up for the latter to curl a shot over the bar. Guardiola will be furious if his side fail to see through this match, with a little over 10 minutes to go.


76 min OFF THE POST! This game has been absolutely incredible for the neutral. United attack from the City corner and win a corner of their own. The Red Devils see a third penalty appeal rejected and within seconds Silva is slipping in De Bruyne for the Belgian to hit the post, with the ball rolling across the line and away. What a game!

74 min SAVE! De Gea at his absolute finest here, as he first keeps out a well-struck Fernandinho shot and then gets up to deny Nolito from even closer range. Fernandinho then got his head to a corner, which De Gea was across to keep out in a comfortable manner.

72 min OFFSIDE GOAL! United fans go wild as they think they have levelled things up. Rashford made the most of some slack defending from Sagna and Stones to cut inside and fire a shot that went the way through, but Ibrahimovic - well offside - got a telling touch in front of Bravo.

70 min Sane wiggles his way into the box, only for his cross to deflect into the hands of De Gea. City struggling to make the most of these attacking moves, looking rather hesitant to truly get at their tiring opponents with a quarter of the game to go.

68 min Fernando adding some steel in midfield since coming on for Iheanacho a little earlier. City looking far less likely to score when getting forward as a result, but United also unable to create any real clear-cut openings themselves.

66 min Stones boots the ball into Row Z when under little pressure. Intriguing to see how the next 25 minutes of this match unravels, as Ibrahimovic drills his third shot of the half over the bar from a smart Fellaini knockdown.

64 min Silva picks up the ball in the hole and has five yards of space either side of him to run into. The Spaniard chooses the wrong option on this occasion, but that shows that United are now throwing everything at their opponents, leaving gaps at the back.

62 min It is still pretty much end-to-end stuff at Old Trafford, but tiredness is now becoming an issue. That was to be expected after the most frenetic of first halves, but there is still plenty of time for one of these teams to find a winner.

60 min MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Guardiola makes his first change, bringing on debutant Leroy Sane for Sterling in a straight swap. That alteration was desperately needed, with City unable to grab a foothold in this second period.

58 min Another United penalty appeal rejected, as a cross from the right is blocked by an arm, but again Clattenburg is having none of it. The Citizens unable to dominate the game like the did in the first half, which may tempt Guardiola into making a change in the next couple of minutes.

56 min PENALTY APPEAL! Bravo is having a stinker. He was brought into the side because of his good footwork, but he overhits the simplest of passes and is forced to lunge in on Rooney. A red card in my opinion, with his studs showing, though referee Clattenburg disagrees.

54 min Mourinho was happy to change tact by telling his players to get at City, rather than waiting to pounce on the counter. The Citizens are back in control on the ball now, so it is difficult to tell exactly who that suits at this stage.

52 min United have started the half as expected, really getting at their opponents in front of their up-for-it supporters. Credit to City, though, because they have started to grow more into things, with Silva's ball around the ball just about cut out.

50 min Ibrahimovic sends another shot over the bar, this time from longer range. A complete reverse of the first half now, as United - buoyed by the momentum Ibrahimovic's goal provided - get right at their opponents in search of a second.

48 min CHANCE! An early chance for the hosts, as Rashford gets in behind just seconds after being brought on. His chipped pass is met by Ibrahimovic six yards from goal, but he can only send his shot over the bar.

46 min RESTART! A double change for United at the break, as Mourinho holds his hands up and admits he made a mistake with his original selection. Rashford and Herrera are on; Mkhitaryan and Lingard making way. Still no place for Mata or Martial.



That was as good a half as football you will see in terms of being gripped. It was also a half of football that, for more than 40 minutes, City completely dominated. De Bruyne and Iheanacho put them into a deserved two-goal lead, but Bravo had a debut moment to forget to make it game on at Old Trafford.



45+4 min MANCHESTER UNITED 1-2 MANCHESTER CITY

45+3 min What is Bravo doing?! He makes an absolute howler for the second time today, failing to collect a simple ball down the middle which allowed Lingard to turn. He has an empty net to shoot into, but cannot quite adjust his feet and the chance goes begging. City now the side holding out.

45+2 min SAVE! United's first chance of their own making, which comes via a right-sided cross toward the back post. Ibrahimovic does what he does best when timing his jump to perfection and nodding the ball on goal, but Bravo this time keeps the ball out. What a half of football this has been!

45+1 min So all of a sudden we have a completely different game on our hands. We have seen just three shots on target this afternoon, with all three ending in the back of the net in a first half that has completely flown by. A real edge-of-the-seats thriller, this.

44 min So many questions in the build-up to this match were asked of debutant Claudio Bravo, and he has just had an absolute howler. It was a simple cross into the box, which the Chilean flapped at to give Ibrahimovic of all players the chance to drill the ball home on the brink of half time. The most undeserved goal you will see all season, but what a huge goal it could be!

43 min GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-2 MANCHESTER CITY (ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC)

41 min I cannot stress just how slow United have been in possession. We will see a breakdown of the stats in a few minutes' time, but seemingly every 50-50 has gone the visitors' way, with near enough the entire game being played out in the Red Devils' half.

39 min Even during the days of Moyes and Van Gaal, I am struggling to remember United being pulled apart quite like this. An incredible first-half display from City, who have been on top throughout and are more than worthy of a two-goal lead - it should probably be more. From their latest fluid attacking move, De Bruyne cuts inside and hits the post, with Iheanacho tucking in the rebound from five yards out. Easy.

38 min GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 0-2 MANCHESTER CITY (KELECHI IHEANACHO)

37 min De Gea is called into action to pluck the ball from Iheanacho's feet in front of goal. United need half time - it is completely and utter domination from the visitors, who are playing like the home side at Old Trafford.

35 min The Citizens looking so fluid in attack, but unable to create clear-cut chances of any note. We have still seen just the one opportunity, which led to the opening goal, though it has been far from a boring game of football so far.

33 min City's pressing has been superb high up the field, meaning that Fellaini and Mkhitaryan are so often looking at blue shirts charging them down. Up the other end of the pitch, United are again far too predictable when countering and lose the ball 20 yards from goal.

31 min City still in control, as Guardiola teams often are, but we have seen this so many times down the years. One side on top for large parts, before one lapse in concentration changes things completely. Far too early for a Mourinho change, but do not be surprised to see alterations at the break.

29 min Fellaini and Shaw constantly being caught on the ball, which is making supporters audibly extremely nervous. Groans galore at Old Trafford, with a second City goal looking more likely than a United opener. Mkhitaryan thought he was in behind, but the offside flag went up.

27 min Rooney with two rash challenges in quick succession, as he lets his frustration get the better of him. Still only the one shot on target this afternoon, but there is no question who will be the happier of the two managers - Guardiola's City still sitting comfortably on this one-goal lead.

25 min The tempo of the match has not really dropped so far, with more than a quarter of the game now played. United depending purely on counter-attacks now, failing to register a single attempt on target against a dominant City side.

23 min First flash point of the game, as Guardiola refuses to give the ball back to Rooney on the sidelines when the ball went out of play. The situation quickly diffused, though, and when play resumed City were straight back into their groove as Sterling so nearly found space inside the box.

21 min Better from United over the past few minutes, as they finally wrestle back some control of the game. Mourinho would have liked to counter, but his side now needs to attack the opposition - not only to find a route back into the game but to also win back the support of those in the stands.

19 min Groans galore around Old Trafford at the moment, as City break straight for United's kickoff before Lingard again fails to control a fairly simple pass. To say the Red Devils have failed to get going thus far would be an understatement - it has been pretty much all City, who deservedly lead through the finest of De Bruyne finishes.

17 min Man City take a deserved lead in the match through the game's best player so far. It was as simple as you like for the visitors, as Iheanacho got a slight touch to flick the ball towards De Bruyne, who made Blind look rather silly by knocking the ball past him and tucking superbly past De Gea when clean through on goal.

16 min GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY (KEVIN DE BRUYNE)

17 minFellaini, Rooney and Lingard all make unnecessary errors on the ball in quick succession. The hosts are still desperately trying to get into this match, while their opponents are looking a little more composed and seemingly the more likely to make a breakthrough.

15 min It is the turn of United to get bodies forward and ask question of the City backline, but Mkhitaryan loses the ball a little too easily. The Red Devils' only attacking moments so far have come from counter-attacks; City looking the better side overall.

13 min Sixty-four per-cent possession for City in the opening 13 minutes of the match, which is pretty much what was to be expected this afternoon. Mourinho will be concerned by the amount of space City are finding themselves in around 25 yards from goal, with the right side of defence particularly struggling.

11 min City still picking up the ball in dangerous positions in the final third; De Bruyne the latest to draw a challenge from Bailly which Clattenburg deems a foul. It is a good shooting position for City to take on the free kick, but Kolarov fails to make the most of it and sends his shot well over the target.

9 min SHOT! First sign of United's counter-attacking ability as Rooney powers past Fernandinho and just about picks out Mkhitaryan, who in turn lays the ball off for Pogba who is high up the pitch. The Frenchman bends his shot a yard or so over the bar from range.

7 min Shaw has started this game very slowly, with City getting in behind on a few occasions already in these first seven minutes or so. Sterling and Silva, as well as De Bruyne a little earlier, unable to make the most of the gaps at the back.

5 min A superb defence-cutting ball sees De Bruyne find himself between left-back and central-defender, and his teasing ball is so nearly met by Iheanacho inside the box with De Gea unable to reach it. United get away with it, though that was a real scare at the back so early into the match.

3 min United's ploy already clear to see, as Valencia looks to burst down the flank with three or four red shirts made available inside the box. The cross does not arrive, but City's defensive players - and indeed Claudio Bravo - will have a real task on their hands to keep out those balls from wide.

1 min KICKOFF! Manchester City get us under way at Old Trafford, bringing an end to all the drawn-out preamble for what should be an entertaining game of football. It will be interesting to see how exactly Manchester United set themselves out, as Mourinho's side perhaps looks to soak up the pressure before springing attacks.

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