Manchester City 4-1 Manchester United: Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez settle derby

Manchester City outclassed Manchester United to maintain control of the Premier League title race with an outstanding display at Etihad Stadium.

City remain six points clear of Liverpool having played one game more after a victory that was arguably even more convincing than the scoreline suggests.

Ralf Rangnick's side were without injured Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani, as well as Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw, who have Covid-19, and found themselves overwhelmed by the quality and intensity of the reigning champions.

Kevin de Bruyne was at the heart of it all. He put City ahead with a crisp early finish then restored their lead before half-time after Jadon Sancho put United level with precise low strike, the Belgian's second hammered home in a goalmouth scramble.

City turned up the tempo after the break and got the goal their vast superiority deserved after 68 minutes when Riyad Mahrez met De Bruyne's corner on the half-volley to beat United keeper David de Gea. The goal came via a deflection off United captain Harry Maguire, who endured a nightmare afternoon.

It got even better for City in the closing moments when Mahrez raced clear to beat De Gea, the goal being given after a lengthy VAR check for offside.

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Man City respond to pressure

Manchester City felt Liverpool at their back after Jurgen Klopp's side moved to within three points following their win against West Ham United but the champions could not have responded more impressively.

Kevin de Bruyne is the first player to be involved in three goals in the Manchester derby in the Premier League since Ashley Young in 2015

From the first whistle, City imposed themselves on Manchester United and Sancho's fine equaliser proved to be only a minor inconvenience as the gap between Guardiola's team and their arch-rivals was brutally exposed.

De Bruyne was the mastermind, scoring twice and creating City's third, the shining star in a galaxy on display at Etihad Stadium as they showed they are in no mood to relinquish their crown, no matter how hard Liverpool push them.

City's first-half performance was excellent but after the break they were simply magnificent as they over-ran United, who were not given a second on the ball and were unable to resist wave after wave of attacks.

Mahrez could have scored more than his two goals but for De Gea, while Joao Cancelo was also thwarted by the United keeper following an acrobatic volley.

City's dominance of possession and ability to carve open an admittedly vulnerable United defence at will delighted their supporters, who revelled in a show of superiority that left United a beaten and bedraggled side long before the end.

Maguire sums up Man Utd misery

This was a miserable and chastening 90 minutes for Manchester United and few of their players suffered more than captain Maguire.

Maguire was out of position for City's first, inexplicably let the ball go in a goalmouth scramble for De Bruyne's second and, unfortunately, deflected Mahrez's effort past De Gea for the third.

He was also booked for a crude, desperate tackle on De Bruyne and looked a like a player whose confidence was non-existent.

Rangnick was not helped by the injuries and illnesses that robbed him of key players but there was no excuse for the wastefulness in possession and the lack of defensive organisation, encapsulated by an amateurish S-shaped defensive "line" that saw Mahrez's final goal given after that VAR check.

The loss puts United in a desperate position in the battle for crucial fourth place and a spot in next season's Champions League after Arsenal's win at Watford strengthened their hold on that position. The Gunners are now fourth, a point ahead of United with three games in hand.

United, of course, are still in the Champions League but the notion that they have a chance of winning Europe's elite competition is the stuff of fantasy based on this grim evidence.

It was painful to watch United chasing shadows and outmanoeuvred at every turn by a City team they would like to regard as rivals.

United seem to be a club in limbo, with an interim manager in Rangnick and a squad of players who are not good enough and seem disaffected with life at the club.

Bruno Fernandes, such an inspiration when he first arrived, now spends more time arguing with officials and attempting to buy cheap fouls than acting as a creative force while the momentum and joy sparked by the return of Ronaldo has long since gone.

This was a dismal afternoon for United and they face an uphill fight to salvage their season.

Player of the match

De BruyneKevin De Bruyne

with an average of 8.38

• Man CityManchester CityManchester City
• Man UtdManchester UnitedManchester United

Manchester City

Avg

1. Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne

   Average rating

   8.38
2. Squad number26Player nameMahrez

   Average rating

   7.67
3. Squad number47Player nameFoden

   Average rating

   7.32
4. Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva

   Average rating

   7.26
5. Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo

   Average rating

   7.02
6. Squad number10Player nameGrealish

   Average rating

   6.92
7. Squad number16Player nameRodri

   Average rating

   6.84
8. Squad number8Player nameGündogan

   Average rating

   6.75
9. Squad number14Player nameLaporte

   Average rating

   6.69
10. Squad number5Player nameStones

    Average rating

    6.62
11. Squad number2Player nameWalker

    Average rating

    6.61
12. Squad number31Player nameEderson

    Average rating

    6.56

Manchester United

Avg

1. Squad number1Player namede Gea

   Average rating

   5.08
2. Squad number25Player nameSancho

   Average rating

   4.74
3. Squad number36Player nameElanga

   Average rating

   3.67
4. Squad number39Player nameMcTominay

   Average rating

   3.31
5. Squad number18Player nameBruno Fernandes

   Average rating

   3.25
6. Squad number6Player namePogba

   Average rating

   3.24
7. Squad number2Player nameLindelöf

   Average rating

   3.15
8. Squad number17Player nameFred

   Average rating

   3.14
9. Squad number27Player nameAlex Telles

   Average rating

   3.07
10. Squad number14Player nameLingard

    Average rating

    2.99
11. Squad number29Player nameWan-Bissaka

    Average rating

    2.88
12. Squad number10Player nameRashford

    Average rating

    2.83
13. Squad number5Player nameMaguire

    Average rating

    2.19

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Man City

Formation 4-3-3

31Ederson

2Walker5Stones14Laporte27Cancelo

17De Bruyne16Rodri20Bernardo Silva

26Mahrez47Foden10Grealish

• 31Ederson
• 2Walker
• 5Stones
• 14Laporte
• 27Cancelo
• 17De BruyneSubstituted forGündoganat 80'minutes
• 16Rodri
• 20Bernardo Silva
• 26Mahrez
• 47Foden
• 10Grealish

Substitutes

• 7Sterling
• 8Gündogan
• 9Gabriel Jesus
• 11Zinchenko
• 25Fernandinho
• 33Carson
• 48Delap
• 79Mbete
• 87McAtee

Man Utd

Formation 4-2-3-1

1de Gea

29Wan-Bissaka2Lindelöf5Maguire27Telles

39McTominay17Fred

36Elanga6Pogba25Sancho

18Bruno Fernandes

• 1de Gea
• 29Wan-Bissaka
• 2Lindelöf
• 5MaguireBooked at 63mins
• 27Telles
• 39McTominay
• 17Fred
• 36ElangaSubstituted forLingardat 64'minutes
• 6PogbaSubstituted forRashfordat 64'minutes
• 25Sancho
• 18Bruno Fernandes

Substitutes

• 3Bailly
• 4Jones
• 8Mata
• 10Rashford
• 14Lingard
• 20Dalot
• 26Henderson
• 31Matic
• 46Mejbri

Referee:

Michael Oliver

Attendance:

53,165

Match Stats

Home TeamMan CityAway TeamMan Utd

Possession

Home69%

Away31%

Shots

Home24

Away5

Shots on Target

Home10

Away2

Corners

Home9

Away3

Fouls

Home10

Away14

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, Manchester City 4, Manchester United 1.

2. 90'+5'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, Manchester City 4, Manchester United 1.

3. 90'+3'

   Post update

   Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

4. 90'+3'

   Post update

   Foul by Fred (Manchester United).

5. 90'+1'

   Post update

   VAR Decision: Goal Manchester City 4-1 Manchester United (Riyad Mahrez).

6. 90'+1'

   Goal!

   Goal! Manchester City 4, Manchester United 1. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan with a through ball.Goal awarded following VAR Review.

7. 89'

   Post update

   Attempt missed. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Grealish.

8. 89'

   Post update

   Attempt missed. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan.

9. 86'

   Post update

   Attempt blocked. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

10. 86'

    Post update

    Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Scott McTominay.

11. 82'

    Post update

    Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

12. 82'

    Post update

    Foul by Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United).

13. 81'

    Post update

    Attempt missed. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.

14. 81'

    Post update

    Attempt saved. João Cancelo (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kyle Walker.

15. 80'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester City. Ilkay Gündogan replaces Kevin De Bruyne.

16. 78'

    Post update

    Hand ball by Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City).

17. 75'

    Post update

    Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

18. 75'

    Post update

    Foul by Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United).

19. 74'

    Post update

    Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

20. 74'

    Post update

    Foul by Alex Telles (Manchester United).

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