Manchester City

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca, speaking to BBC Match of the Dayabout his celebrations: "It is the emotion of the derby after [winning with] 10 men. It is always nice to win with 10 men but a derby is a special game for everybody. I was happy and I think it was a normal reaction."

On the game: "After the red card the plan changed completely. The spirit, effort, togetherness of the players has been fantastic. I think it was a red card [for Phil Foden] to be honest, but also in the same action for [Manchester United's] Bruno [Fernandes], not just for us.

"We didn't concede any transitions or space behind. It's a special game for everyone; the fans, the club and the manager, but this is not the moment when I'm thinking about myself. I'm thinking about the team and an unbelievable three points."

On Erling Haaland's goal, which Manchester United wanted ruled out for offside: "I think it was onside clearly so it's good."

Did you know?

• Erling Haaland is now the outright top goalscorer in Premier League Manchester derbies (9 goals), surpassing Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney (8).

• Manchester City are the first visiting side to win 10 times against Manchester United in the Premier League at Old Trafford – across the last 11 seasons (since 2016-17), no English top-flight fixture has seen more away wins than the Manchester derby (10).

• Iliman Ndiaye is the first Manchester City substitute on record (since 2003-04) to attempt 5+ dribbles (6) and win 5+ fouls (5) in a Premier League game, and first overall in the competition since Huddersfield Town's Rajiv van La Parra in October 2017, also against Manchester United.

Hear more from Maresca on BBC Sounds

Man City starting XI:

Gianluigi Donnarumma: Saw his post hit twice but made a good stop to deny Fernandes from range and a sensational one in injury-time from Mbeumo for the clean sheet. 8

Matheus Nunes: Overcome his nightmare performance here from April 2025. Showed some neat touches and generally shackled Rashford well. 7

Ruben Dias: The Portuguese has stepped up to take on the responsibility of being captain and was solid at the back once again. 7

Marc Guehi: Beginning to form an impressive partnership with his skipper and needed to be sturdy after City were reduced to 10 men. 7

Josko Gvardiol: Looks like left-back is where his position will be in this team. Handled Mbeumo brilliantly throughout and provided the cross for Haaland's goal. 8

Elliot Anderson: Busy and hard working in the centre of the park, as is now expected. Managed more touches of the ball than any City team-mate. 7

Enzo Fernandez: Given licence to roam and has fitted in seamlessly into midfield. The Argentine made an excellent challenge to thwart Tielemans and struck the post in the second half. 8

Antoine Semenyo: Has struggled in recent games and was wasteful once more. Place in the starting XI could come under pressure from Iliman Ndiaye. 5

Phil Foden: Total head loss in the cauldron of the derby. Given a straight red after kicking Fernandes in the stomach on 23 minutes and fortunate not to cost his side. 3

Rayan Cherki: Created very little after being move to the right. Not helped by a fellow attacking player getting himself sent off before being taken off at half-time. 5

Erling Haaland: On the periphery of the game in the first half, the fewest touches of any player. But came alive to open the scoring in with a cool, first-time finish in front of his own fans. 7

Subs:

Iliman Ndiaye (on 45, Cherki): Caused some concern to the United backline with his direct running. 6

Nico O'Reilly (on 81, Fernandez) 6

Subs not used: Rulli, Kovacic, Reis, Bouaddi, Allan, Khusanov, Lewis.

Image source, Getty Images

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live from Old Trafford: "Two very different stories.

"For Manchester City, that is their best win of the season without a shadow of a doubt. The biggest compliment you can pay them is that you wouldn't know they were down to 10 men for such a long period of the game.

"[Iliman] Ndiaye coming on at half-time was an inspirational substitution from Enzo Maresca. He made such an impact. They dug in and defended resolutely.

"Manchester United made it easy for them, at times. They put on a lot of attacking players but they couldn't trouble Manchester City.

"That is a big, big performance for those in blue, who are going to celebrate with that pocket of their supporters."

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Erling Haaland's goal helped Manchester City win a highly controversial Manchester derby at rivals Manchester United despite playing with 10 men for more than 70 minutes.

For parts of City's first derby without Pep Guardiola as their manager in more than 10 years, it felt unlikely they would be keeping pace with title rivals Arsenal.

Phil Foden became just the second City player to be sent off in a Premier League Manchester derby, the other being Bernardo Corradi in December 2006, after catching Bruno Fernandes' chest with his studs while sitting on the ground.

Just before Foden's action, Fernandes appeared to kick his back while he was on the floor.

The United captain escaped a booking.

City defended solidly and then benefited from their own controversial call to go ahead.

Haaland was only just played onside by Patrick Dorgu's toe while Enzo Fernandez, who was clearly offside, was fortunate not to have been flagged for interfering with play while trying to meet the ball with a diving header.

United keeper Senne Lammens, who was scrambling across his goal, did briefly react to Fernandez's attempt to play the ball.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Manchester United's performance

What did you make of Manchester City's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are two games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Coventry v Brighton (14:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester United v Manchester City (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

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Simply predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

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I have got this result really badly wrong over the past couple of seasons, when I have tended to go for Manchester City, but I am not sure this time.

City are more methodical under Enzo Maresca, with the way that he builds play from the back - they won't be swashbuckling, put it that way.

I don't think he has changed much about his way of playing from when he was in charge at Chelsea, and Manchester United will be ready for that.

I really like United boss Michael Carrick and the way he does not get too carried away, win or lose.

Everton's late equaliser would have felt like a loss last weekend, but United still haven't clicked in attack yet, and that's part of the problem for them.

Then I look at the goals they are shipping too, and wonder if they are really good enough to keep City out?

I am not so sure they are, but I also think they can hurt City.

City have made a brilliant start, with four wins out of four in all competitions since the Premier League got under way, but if they looked a little vulnerable against Coventry then United are going to cause them more problems.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Manchester United host Manchester City on Sunday, and former players have been talking to BBC Radio Manchester about the derby.

Ex-United midfielder Paul Ince said: "It's a big test for United. We talk about City bringing in some tough midfield players but they've also got 30-goals goalscorer Erling Haaland, [Phil] Foden looks like he's starting to find his feet and they look exciting again.

"So, that's probably the test for United to see how far they've come. But like any Manchester derby - it doesn't really matter whether you won the game before, you've got to win that game. Form goes out of the window.

"It will show where both teams are at at this stage of the season."

While former City striker Uwe Rosler told BBC Radio Manchester: "I understood straight away the magnitude of those games and what it meant for our supporters.

"The biggest advantage for City is that they played the Champions League game on Tuesday and United played on Thursday. City had more time for recovery, more time to prepare and coming in off the back of a winning streak.

"But in the end it's a team against a team, men against men on the pitch and we all know United have world-class players. It will not be a walkover.

"But I'm pretty sure we will win the match."

Hear more from Ince on BBC Sounds here

Listen to Rosler's derby day memories here

Find full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds on Sunday

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

The Manchester City squad is "buying into the idea" of new manager Enzo Maresca, says new captain Ruben Dias.

City spent a Premier League record £458m during the recent transfer window, with incomings including midfield trio Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.

But there weren't only major changes to the playing squad. Maresca replaced the legendary Pep Guardiola, who stepped down at the end of last season after 10 years in charge.

Maresca was previously assistant to the Spaniard at Etihad Stadium, before spells at Leicester City and Chelsea.

Dias said Guardiola's departure was not an "easy moment for the club", while Maresca was the "perfect person for the job" as he "knew the house so well".

Asked how the Italian is doing things differently to his predecessor, Dias said: "There's obviously many things from training session to some details about the way we press, details about the way we defend and that make all of these Enzo's idea.

"I feel like everything is making a lot of sense. Everyone is buying into the idea. Everyone's excited about it and there is a lot of joy in training, which is massively important."

Read more here

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Paul Birch
BBC Sport journalist

The 199th Manchester derby takes place with City travelling to Old Trafford looking for a win which would extend their lead over rivals United to eight points after just four games. BBC Sport takes a look at the key themes going into Sunday's fixture.

For the first time in 28 Manchester derbies, dating back to March 2016, Pep Guardiola will not be prowling the touchline. The former Manchester City boss enjoyed a host of famous victories in this fixture, including seven at Old Trafford alone, but the tide had turned in more recent times, with City winning just one of their past six matches against their bitter rivals.

Guardiola's successor, Enzo Maresca, knows all about what this match means, having served as the Spaniard's assistant during City's Treble winning season in 2022-23.

His side come into Sunday's game in fine fettle, having made it four wins in a row with a professional victory in Porto on Wednesday.

With such a heavy turnover of players during a busy summer of ins and outs at Etihad Stadium, Maresca must have been apprehensive that his new-look midfield in particular may take time to settle, but they have hit the ground running.

The 143 passes Elliot Anderson completed against Coventry City last week was more than the whole Sky Blues side managed, while his overall tally of completing 122 passes under high pressure is more than any other top-flight player this season.

And then against Porto, teen sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi sparkled on his first start for the club, producing a mature and assured performance that led to praise from his manager and team-mates.

"He did a really good game," Erling Haaland said of the most expensive teenager in Premier League history. "The past couple of weeks in training, he has been amazing. I think we have got a gem there, to be honest."

Haaland is in pretty decent form himself, having scored five in his past three games. He also loves facing Manchester United, with his tally of eight goals in seven Premier League appearances against the Red Devils only bettered by Mohamed Salah (13) and Alan Shearer (10).

Carrick looking to continue superb home form

Michael Carrick featured in 23 Manchester derbies as a player and enjoyed a memorable first one as a manager last season as his second spell as the Red Devils' interim boss got off to a dream start with a 2-0 win.

A repeat of that success would see Carrick become only the third United boss to win both of his first two league games against their cross-city rivals, after AH Albut in 1895 and John Bentley in 1913.

It would also be the first time that they have beaten Manchester City in successive league games at Old Trafford since a run of three under Sir Alex Ferguson from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

They have enjoyed a superb run at home since Carrick took over, winning nine of 10 league games and scoring at least twice in all of those victories. However, the past three of those wins have come despite the Red Devils conceding two themselves in each game.

And their habit of letting in two goals per game is becoming a recurring theme. They have conceded twice in all three of their top-flight games so far, and in 10 of their 20 league games under Carrick.

The former England midfielder, though, has enjoyed a superb record against the established 'big six' and Aston Villa, recording seven wins and a draw from his eight in charge, scoring 18 and conceding just eight.

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford (kick-off 16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nico O'Reilly is "100% available" but Jeremy Doku "needs a few more days" to return.

• Maresca said the Manchester derby is "important for different reasons" and is a "special" game in the city.

• He was asked if his side have an "advantage" given they have had two more days to rest than United: "It happened last season when the club played Napoli and played Arsenal two days later. It happened last season with us, this season with them. Next season it will happen to someone else."

• Maresca agreed that Phil Foden raises his game for the derby because of his Mancunian connection: "The feeling for him is probably different to rest of the players. It's normal. For him, it's a different game."

• Elliot Anderson described City as the "kings" of Manchester when he joined, which Maresca says is normal: "The reason why Elliot said that is because he grew up when Manchester City were unbelievable and dominant."

• On Enzo Fernandez's evolution under his coaching: "In the past two years with us, he has become more of an attacking midfielder. In the past, he was more deep. He is unbelievable around the box in terms of goals and assists, and also in terms of leadership."

• On opposition manager Michael Carrick: "He has been doing a fantastic job since last season. He took over a complicated situation, finished well and is more or less starting in the same way."

Hit play above to hear more from Maresca or listen here on BBC Sounds

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The Premier League has announced it will stage seven matches on Boxing Day this year after releasing its festive schedule.

Four fixtures will be staged at 15:00 GMT, with further matches played at 12:30, 17:30 and 20:00.

The fixture programme for 26 December, which falls on a Saturday in 2026, is considerably bigger than last year, when one game was held.

Three matches will be played on Sunday, 27 December, while three further rounds of games will be held over a period up to Thursday, 7 January.

A round of evening midweek fixtures will staged on 29-30 December, while Leeds will host Everton (20:00) for the only match on New Year's Day.

The remainder of that round will be held over the weekend of 2-3 January, with the fourth round of games spread across the evenings of 5-7 January.

The Premier League has brought forward the announcement of fixture scheduling over the Christmas and New Year period after consultation with both broadcast partners and the Football Supporters' Association and representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards.

Television scheduling for Premier League fixtures has been announced up to Monday, 2 November, with broadcast selections for the remaining games in November and December to be announced in the weeks commencing 21 September and 19 October respectively.

The Premier League has guaranteed clubs at least a 60-hour break between fixtures over the festive period to address the concerns over a congested festive schedule that follows recent expansions of the European and international calendars.

Premier League Christmas and New Year schedule

Saturday, 26 December

12:30 Aston Villa v Leeds

15:00 Everton v Sunderland

15:00 Fulham v Brighton

15:00 Ipswich v Brentford

15:00 Spurs v AFC Bournemouth

17:30 Hull v Liverpool

20:00 Newcastle v Manchester City

Sunday, 27 December

14:00 Coventry v Chelsea

16:30 Manchester Utd v Nottingham Forest

19:00 Crystal Palace v Arsenal

Tuesday, 29 December

19:30 Hull v Leeds

19:30 Spurs v Brighton

20:15 Everton v Manchester City

Wednesday, 30 December

19:30 Coventry v Brentford

19:30 Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth

19:30 Fulham v Arsenal

19:30 Manchester United v Sunderland

19:30 Newcastle v Nottingham Forest

20:15 Aston Villa v Liverpool

20:15 Ipswich v Chelsea

Friday, 1 January

20:00 Leeds v Everton

Saturday, 2 January

12:30 Brighton v Manchester United

15:00 Arsenal v Ipswich

15:00 Brentford v Crystal Palace

15:00 Liverpool v Coventry

15:00 Nottingham Forest v Fulham

15:00 Sunderland v Hull

17:30 AFC Bournemouth v Aston Villa

Sunday, 3 January

14:00 Chelsea v Newcastle

16:30 Manchester City v Spurs

Tuesday, 5 January

19:30 Arsenal v Brentford

19:30 Brighton v AFC Bournemouth

19:30 Everton v Aston Villa

19:30 Nottingham Forest v Hull

20:15 Sunderland v Liverpool

Wednesday, 6 January

19:30 Crystal Palace v Chelsea

19:30 Fulham v Spurs

19:30 Ipswich v Coventry

20:15 Leeds v Manchester City

Thursday, 7 January

20:00 Manchester United v Newcastle

Atletico Madrid are not planning to sell Spain midfielder Alex Baena, 25, any time soon despite interest from Manchester City. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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We asked for your views after Manchester City opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Primeira Liga side Porto.

Here are some of your comments:

Paul: We were brilliant. Porto rarely concede goals or lose at home and we controlled the game for the most part. We silenced a vociferous home crowd, we didn't concede a single shot on target, and Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi looked the part. I'm a delighted Blue!

Harry: It wasn't a perfect performance, but I never expected it to be. While this team grows, we will concede chances and we will lose games but, going off this performance, we will dominate too. We made the Portuguese champions play like non-league opposition, diving for any hint of favour. To do what we did - away from home - was gutsy. I'm so proud of the lads. Bring on Manchester United!

Barrie: It was a win, but this squad is going to struggle during the long season ahead. For starters, we need a goalkeeper who inspires confidence. When Enzo Maresca studies the game, he will kick the wall with frustration at the aimless meandering in front of him.

Brian: Mission accomplished. Message sent. Manchester City mean business in the Champions League. We are a team now with the belief and will to win. A clean sheet is good news and everyone played their part in controlling the victory. The depth in the squad is exciting.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Ayyoub Bouaddi belied his age with a mature Champions League performance on his first Manchester City start to showcase why the club were so intent on signing the 18-year-old.

And after two substitute appearances for City, he was handed his first start against Porto and did not look out of place during the 2-0 victory.

Erling Haaland will take the plaudits for his two goals, but it was Bouaddi who caught the eye with a tidy and assured performance in the middle of the park, signalling early signs that Rodri may not be too sorely missed after his departure.

"His age, his game – he looks absolutely born to do it," former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 Live during the game.

"I cannot take my eyes off Bouaddi, he looks very special. The City fans had the fear of losing Rodri - I watched Bouaddi playing against Scotland at the World Cup, he has been very impressive so far."

Aged 18 years and 341 days, Bouaddi became the fourth-youngest player to start a Champions League match for City.

Question marks were raised around the size of the fee for a position on the pitch where players can be exposed, but Bouaddi seems to have settled in immediately and showcased why he will be a valuable option this season.

"He is very good," said manager Enzo Maresca. "Against Coventry, he lost two balls and after that he was inside our box and calm. Other players may have panicked but at 18, he is a fantastic player.

"Tonight, he was very good. He speaks French, English, Spanish perfect. He is different in how mature he is. This is why the club has made the effort for him to be with us."

Bouaddi completed 54 of his 55 passes, while he also topped the metrics across players of both sides for most dribbles (4), most times possession won (7) and contesting more duels (13).

"He did a really good game," said Haaland. "The last couple of weeks in training, he has been amazing. I think we have got a gem there, to be honest."

Read more on Bouaddi's impressive performance