EPL: Manchester City Thrash Manchester United 3-0 in Derby Day Showdown

Erling Haaland's brace powers City to dominant win

Manchester City secures a 3-0 win over Manchester United in the Premier League derby, with Erling Haaland netting a brace and Phil Foden scoring a crucial header.

Manchester City asserted their dominance after the restart, with Erling Haaland playing a key role...

Manchester City secured a convincing 3-0 win over Manchester United in the Premier League derby, with Erling Haaland netting a brace in the second half. This victory marked City's first win within 90 minutes in five head-to-head matches across all competitions against their rivals. The match saw both teams create early chances, with Haaland coming close to scoring before Benjamin Sesko forced a save from City's debutant goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Man City get their first win since the opening weekend in some style 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/gZ1qdUdHIV

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 14, 2025

Haaland's brace was instrumental in City's dominance, with Phil Foden also scoring to seal the win. The Norwegian striker's performance showcased his clinical finishing ability, leaving United's defense struggling to contain him. This win extends City's unbeaten home run to 19 matches across all competitions, solidifying their stronghold at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City now sit one point behind league leaders Liverpool, setting up an intriguing title battle.

Altay Bayındır had a close call but managed to save the shot. Unfortunately, he couldn't make the save in the 18th minute when Jeremy Doku skillfully dribbled past defenders and delivered a precise cross to Phil Foden, who headed the ball into the net. This goal marked Foden's seventh career goal against Manchester United, with only Brighton having seen more of his scores.

Doku continued to impress, setting up Tijjani Reijnders with a great pass that led to a first-time shot. Although Bayındır made the save, Doku's contribution to the team's attack was evident. Erling Haaland showcased his skill by initiating a swift Manchester City counter-attack, but he couldn't capitalize on Bernardo Silva's pass.

Manchester United attempted to exploit Manchester City's defense by playing the ball behind their backline on several occasions. One such instance resulted in Abdukodir Khusanov conceding a free-kick, which led to Bruno Fernandes taking a creative shot that was held by the goalkeeper just before halftime.

Erling Haaland's brace means he's got more goal involvements against Man Utd than any other opponent! pic.twitter.com/f3aqUW8Zha

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 14, 2025

Manchester City asserted their dominance after the restart, with Erling Haaland playing a key role. He headed away crosses and later used his strength to hold off Luke Shaw, allowing him to receive a perfectly weighted through ball from Jeremy Doku. Haaland skillfully dinked the ball past goalkeeper Altay Bayındır, doubling the hosts' lead.

Haaland had another opportunity shortly after, getting away from the goalkeeper, but his effort hit the post. Meanwhile, at the other end, Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo had a volley tipped past the post by a diving save from Gianluigi Donnarumma, showcasing the goalkeeper's athleticism and reflexes.

How impressed were you by Gianluigi Donnarumma on his Man City debut? 🧤 pic.twitter.com/VVQ8oYKf09

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 14, 2025

Despite Manchester United's efforts, Manchester City's defense held firm, with Haaland and others working tirelessly to nullify the opposition's attacks. The Cityzens' solidity at the back was crucial in securing their 2-0 lead and maintaining their momentum in the match.

Erling Haaland's instincts were sharp as he pounced on Manchester United's defensive lapse, racing onto Bernardo Silva's pass to slot the ball home with ease. This goal showcased Haaland's clinical finishing and ability to capitalize on opponents' mistakes, further solidifying his reputation as a top striker.

With their lead now comfortable, Manchester City continued to control the match. Haaland even had a chance to set up a goal, but Tijjani Reijnders couldn't replicate his clinical finish. Despite this, City's win was well-deserved, providing a perfect response to their previous back-to-back defeats.

The 3-0 loss inflicted further misery on Manchester United, who have struggled to find form this season. With only one win in five matches, United will need to regroup and reassess their strategy to turn their season around.