Throughout the history of football, the Manchester derby has always been synonymous with passion and confrontation. In this 192nd match, Manchester City once again proved their dominance, winning 3-1 against Manchester United to complete the home and away double of the season. The victory was not just a blow to Manchester United, it was a shock to the entire football world.
Looking at the data of the match, Manchester City held an overwhelming advantage in almost all key indicators. He had a whopping 74% possession, 27 to 3 shots, 7 to 1 shots on target and 15 to 2 corners ......These stats all show the absolute dominance of Manchester City in this game. However, the charm of the game of football lies in its uncertainty and inadmissibility. Despite City's overwhelming numerical dominance, they fell behind Manchester United in the first half.
In the face of Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City team, Ten Hag's Manchester United did not choose to go head-to-head, but put on a defensive iron bucket formation. The tactic paid off in the first half, with United not only leading the scoreline, but also having chances to extend their advantage. Marcus Rashford's goal came from Onana's precise long ball, which is why Ten Hag insisted on cleaning De Gea. However, football is a competitive game that lasts 90 minutes, and a first-half lead is not enough to guarantee a final victory.
In the second half, City's pressing and attrition tactics finally paid off. United's defence gradually crumbled under City's sustained attacks, and after Foden's world-class equaliser, City were not in a hurry to extend their results, but continued to press and wear down their opponents steadily. As the game wore on, United's fitness dried up and Ten Hag's tactics fell apart. Substitute Cambuvara was one of City's key targets, and Foden's deft combination with Alvarez broke through from his flank, which was eventually met by Foden's low shot.
The turning point of the game was arguably the decision of the two managers when they deployed their troops. Pep Guardiola brought on a fresh force to continue to intensify his attack, while Ten Hag brought on a player full of holes. This decision directly led to the balance of victory and defeat tilting, and Manchester City won the game with great strength. In addition to the victory by the scoreline, Manchester City's lead in the club's all-round construction was even more glaring. From 'noisy neighbours' to 'masters of the city', it took only 15 years for Manchester City to complete this metamorphosis. Although they are still far from Manchester United in the honours table, as things stand, who would dare to say that Manchester City will not complete their comeback against Manchester United?
This Manchester derby once again proved the charm and invisibility of the football game. Although Manchester City dominated the stats and eventually emerged victorious, the twists and turns along the way were memorable. For the fans, it was not just a football victory, but also an affirmation of Manchester City's spirit and fighting spirit. In the days to come, we have reason to believe that Manchester City will continue to write their own legendary chapter in the world of football!