MANCHESTER, ENGLAND — Erling Haaland fired 10-man Manchester City to a memorable 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, extending Enzo Maresca’s perfect start to his reign despite Phil Foden’s first-half red card.
Foden kicked out at United captain Bruno Fernandes on 23 minutes, leaving the visitors with a mountain to climb. But a new-look City were up to the challenge, as the near £250 million midfield pairing of Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez proved their worth in a gritty, disciplined display.
Haaland’s winner was laced with controversy. Fernandez was deemed not to be interfering with play when he attempted to head in Josko Gvardiol’s deflected cross before the ball reached the Norwegian, who adjusted his body brilliantly to sweep it into the net. A VAR review confirmed that Haaland was onside and that Fernandez was not interfering as he stooped to try to head the ball in himself.
Defeat compounds a miserable Premier League start for United, who are already eight points adrift of City and defending champions Arsenal. By contrast, victory was a huge statement for Maresca, quelling fears of a major drop-off from City following Pep Guardiola’s trophy-laden decade in charge.
A fervent pre-match atmosphere was fuelled just as much by United fans’ anger towards their own club as it was by the usual animosity between the two sets of supporters. A crackdown on ticket touting in recent months resulted in widespread condemnation from supporters’ groups after many innocent people faced the threat of sanction. A normal array of banners and flags in the Stretford End was replaced by just one bearing the message: “The way you treat us is a disgrace.”
The visitors had made the better start in the opening quarter but looked to have been completely undone by Foden’s ill discipline. City will argue Fernandes should also have seen red, as he fouled Foden and then kicked him in the back. But there was little case for Foden’s defence, as he retaliated by throwing both legs up into Fernandes’s midriff.
Kobbie Mainoo blocked Rayan Cherki’s goalbound effort before Youri Tielemans nearly sliced Antoine Semenyo’s cross into his own net as City continued to be the more threatening side. Marcus Rashford was inches away from his first United goal since December 2024 when his free-kick came crashing back off the post with United’s best effort before the break.
The woodwork came to City’s rescue again just after half-time when Mainoo curled onto the post from distance, and the ball rebounded kindly into Gianluigi Donnarumma’s grasp. But the City sucker punch arrived on the hour mark through Haaland, who now has five goals in as many appearances against United.
City came close to landing the telling blow when Fernandez’s effort was turned onto the post by Senne Lammens. Haaland also should have had a second when he got onto Fernandez’s wicked low free-kick delivery. City, though, were not made to pay for failing to add a second, as United lacked the composure and quality to make the man advantage count until the final minute of stoppage time. Fernandes’s reverse ball perfectly picked out Bryan Mbeumo, but he was denied by a fine save from Donnarumma.
Maresca scampered down the touchline in delight at full-time. After a battle for the title went down to the final week of last season, Arsenal and City look a class apart from the competition once more. Both are locked on 12 points, with Chelsea, Liverpool and United already cut adrift.
