The Manchester derby took place at high speed right after the opening whistle. Man United actively pushed up the squad, while Man City tried to control the game with ball control.
Marcus Rashford and Matheus Cunha were noteworthy attacking spearheads of the home team, but the finishing shots were not accurate enough to make a difference.
A turning point appeared in the 23rd minute. Phil Foden received a direct red card after impacting Bruno Fernandes. Referee Michael Oliver consulted VAR before upholding the decision, causing Man City to play with 10 men for most of the remaining time.
Playing with more players, Man United increased pressure. Rashford had a chance from a free kick but the ball found the post of Man City's goal. However, the home team could not take advantage of the numerical advantage to find the opening goal.
After the break, Man United continued to control the game and push the squad higher. However, Man City was the team that created the decisive moment.
In the 60th minute, Josko Gvardiol made a pass into the dangerous area for Haaland to finish into Man United's net. The assistant referee initially determined the Norwegian striker was offside, but after VAR checking, the goal was recognized because Dorgu was still below Haaland.
Conceding a goal, Man United continuously adjusted personnel in attack. Joshua Zirkzee and Benjamin Sesko were brought on to increase pressure on the away team's defense.
Man City retreated deep into the squad but organized a tight defense, significantly limiting the space for Man United strikers. The away team even almost had a second goal when Enzo Fernandez hit the post after a dangerous finish.
In the final minutes, Man United pushed the entire squad up to attack but could not penetrate Man City's defense. The Manchester derby closed with a 1-0 victory for the away team.
This result helps Man City continue to maintain an impressive start in the 2026-2027 Premier League. Meanwhile, Man United suffered a defeat right at Old Trafford despite having a numerical advantage for most of the match.
