The attention of football fans in the world was given to the 192nd Manchester Derby happened in the Etihad Stadium on Matchday 27 of the 2023/2024 English Premier League Season last week, and the heavyweight league encounter saw Cityzens’ unbeaten run being furthered to 19 games in all competitions despite their long-time foes Manchester United taking an early lead. Phil Foden and Erling Haaland were the contributors for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side in extending Cityzens’ unbeaten run, as they led the come-from-behind 3-1 victory over the Red Devils at home. The crucial 3 points allowed City to move within a single point from league leaders Liverpool with only 11 league games remaining in 2023/2024.
Rashford Walked the Talk and Almost Prevented Cityzens’ Unbeaten Run From Extensions
The Manchester Derby happened yesterday was the 192nd official meeting between seven-time English Premier League winners Manchester City and 20-time English Premier League winners Manchester United at Etihad, and the visitors had the upper hand of 78 victories against the home team’s 60 in the all-time head-to-head record. To the surprise of many, the deadlock of the 192nd Manchester Derby was broken by Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils, courtesy of Marcus Rashford.
The 26-year-old England international, who stole the headlines with his article titled “Who I Really Am” in The Players’ Tribune, was the receiving end from a Bruno Fernandes pass, after the Portuguese took the ball for a run off André Onana’s superb long ball. Without hesitation of any sorts, Rashford hit the ball first time way outside the penalty box, and the staggering effort beat Ederson and contacted the bar before ending in the back of the net for the game opener in the eighth minute. The goal was only the England striker’s sixth goal in 33 games played across all competitions in the 2023/2024 campaign.
United had multiple chances of increasing their advantage in this away fixture in the Premier League but was forced to take a mere 1-0 lead into the second 45 minutes, and their missed opportunities were punished by the home team after the restart. Determined to extend Cityzens’ unbeaten run in all tournaments, Rashford’s teammate in the Three Lions Foden caught the ball at the right flank, and he beat his defender Victor Lindelöf, followed by curling a left-footed shot into the top left corner of the Manchester United goal; There was nothing Onana could do in his attempt to save the incredible shot, meaning things were back to all square again in the 192nd Manchester derby.
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Foden and Haaland Haunted the Red Devils Once Again at Etihad in Furthering the Cityzens’ Unbeaten Run
To ensure Cityzens’ unbeaten run is full intact and that Pep’s men can catch up with league leaders Liverpool at the summit of the English top-flight football, the 23-year-old Foden once again demonstrated his brilliance in front of goal late in the game. With 10 minutes remaining in the normal playing time of 90 minutes, the England attacker played a one-two with Julián Álvarez, who was introduced to the game as a 59th-minute replacement to Jérémy Doku, and Foden managed to squeeze the ball into the far post to give City their first lead of the game as well as a promising chance to extend Cityzens’ unbeaten run.
To further Cityzens’ unbeaten run and add the icing on the cake for Manchester City against their fiercest nemeses, Haaland delivered his 28th goal in 31 games played for his club in the Blue Half of Manchester in the second half stoppage time. Spanish midfielder Rodri dispossessed another substitute Sofyan Amrabat in United’s own half, and the Spaniard found Haaland inside the dangerous zone, who then slotted home City’s third and final goal of evening at the bottom left corner. The Norwegian striker sensation’s strike gave Pep’s side all 3 points in the 192nd Manchester Derby at home and their 61st win in the head-to-head record between two Manchester clubs.
The young duo of Foden and Haaland was of course influential at the same venue last time around with each of then scoring hattrick in Manchester City’s 6-3 thrashing over Manchester United, and their combined performance of three goals against the Red Devils last night gave crucial momentum to the three-time defending champions in their endeavours in earning the first-ever fourth consecutive English top-flight football crown at the end of the current season; With 11 games remaining, Cityzens’ unbeaten run saw them only a single point adrift Liverpool in the 2023/2024 English Premier League title race, and the two title contenders are set to face off at Anfield this coming Sunday for a potential title decider.
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Pep’s and ten Hag’s Verdict on Cityzens’ Unbeaten Run Lengthened with the Derby Triumph
Pep highlighted Foden as the reason why City came back to defeat United at home and Cityzens’ unbeaten run being continued. “He is right now this season (One of the best players in the Premier League). He’s been the best so far. I always had the feeling he would score goals, in training sessions, always I had the feeling but now he is winning games. To become a world-class player at that age you have to win games and he always played good, always had an incredible work ethic. Doesn’t matter what position, he doesn’t complain,” said Guardiola over his priced apprentice at the three-time defending English champions City.
The Spaniard did not stop his compliments for the England international yet. He continued to note: “He lives to play football but now he is winning games. He played a false nine at Bournemouth and was unbelievable. Today after he missed the first chance against Onana he became a little bit anxious. That is for his age, he will learn on that. But Rashford scored an unbelievable goal and Phil scored an unbelievable goal too. We have Copenhagen on our mind and we will have time after to talk about Liverpool. We have a lot of points still to play for and different places to go.”
Ten Hag, whose Red Devils gave Cityzens’ unbeaten run a continuation by suffering back-to-back defeats in the league after a four-game winning streak, had this to say during the post-match conference: “On defining moments, we didn’t have it on our side because just before the 1-1, I think Rashford was on another break. And just before 2-1, there was Garnacho in a breakthrough. I think we were really close to win or at least get a draw here.”
🗣️ Pep Guardiola on Phil Foden: “He is the best player in the Premier League right now for the amount of things he does”
Watch his best moments from this season so far 🤩
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 3, 2024
