Man City 4 Man Utd 1: De Bruyne-inspired hosts open up six-point gap in title race with United’s top-four hopes wrecked
THE best team in the country? Well they are six points clear of Liverpool again.Best in Europe? They are 5/2 favourites to be just that for the first time come Paris in May.
Kevin de Bruyne scored twice as Man City romped to a 4-1 derby victoryCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Man Utd failed to turn up as they were torn apart by the championsCredit: Getty
What is absolutely without doubt is that City are by far the best team in Manchester.
Have been for a very long time now, and likely to be for a long time to come.
The chasm in class between the blue and red halves of the city there for all to see here.
The best Manchester United could be described as on this evidence was plucky opponents.
For a short period they made it a bit of a contest.
The result, however, was never really in doubt even after Jadon Sancho in the 22nd minute levelled up Kevin De Bruyne’s fifth minute opener.
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De Bruyne would get another on 28 before Riyad Mahrez made sure another three points were collected with his own double in the second half.
City had the outstanding player in the brilliant De Bruyne.
They had the magic at the feet of Phil Foden who just gets better and better.
In fact man for man City fill a combined eleven in every position. Only the goalkeeper’s shirt might be up for grabs.
The ‘oles’ as City passed the ball around and teased with their opponents must have been very uncomfortable for all of a red persuasion here at The Etihad.
De Bruyne fired City ahead after just five minutesCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
The captain was on hand to slot the ball home as City dominated the opening minutesCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
City boss Pep Guardiola said on Friday that for them in the run-in ‘the games with big margins of goals are finished’.
But this could have been five or six.
While this as a big boost for City in the title race after Liverpool had closed to three on Saturday it was a huge blow to United’s top four title aspirations.
They are now fifth, a point behind Arsenal who beat Watford earlier in the day and Mikel Arteta’s side have three games in hand.
The Europa League beckons once more.
Jadon Sancho scored a sublime solo goal in the 22nd minute to equaliseCredit: Getty
Former City academy ace Sancho refused to celebrate against his old sideCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Rangnick’s plans ahead of the game had been thrown into some disarray with Cristiano Ronaldo driven home from training on Friday with a hip injury that ruled him out the game.
Defenders Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane had Covid, while Edinson Cavani – well who really cares anymore. Apparently he didn’t ‘feel quite well enough to play’. It’s a derby, for crying out loud.
Anyway plenty did want to play, although a few in Red may have want to hide for the next few day.
They certainly did as City calved them open with ease to grab that early lead.
Jack Grealish on the left found Bernardo and despite being faced with three United players he nipped to the byline and fired over a low cross.
De Bruyne put City back ahead just six minutes laterCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
The Belgian continues to prove he is a player for the big gamesCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
It flew behind Harry Maguire, Alex Telles couldn’t get across and Kevin de Bruyne strode in to fire high into the net.
United did briefly respond
Brune Fernandes flicked the ball through to the ever improving Fred whose slick turn put him in one-on-one but Ederson smothered his shot.
Then came a fine equaliser as they broke from deep in their own half.
It was a fine pinged through ball from on half way by Paul Pogba into the stride of the sprinting Sancho that set it up.
City took total control in the second half when Riyad Mahrez made it 3-1Credit: Getty
The Algerian fired in one of his typical left-footed curlers in the 68th minuteCredit: Getty
He held the ball up as City retreated and Kyle Walker guarded his route to goal.
But when Fernandes overlapped, Walker went with him giving Sancho the space to cut inside, evade John Stones, and curl a shot into the far bottom corner.
The normally understated Rangnick went crazy on the bench.
City hit back. Foden looped a header onto the top of the bar then De Bruyne grabbed his second as the ball fired around the United six-yard box like a pinball.
What a piece of skill it was by Phil Foden to set the chance up though. Think Gazza versus Scotland as he flicked the ball over the bemused victor Lindelof and hit a shot that demanded a top quality save by De Gea.
Mahrez wrapped up the game with a 90th minute strike following a VAR checkCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
City’s dominant win saw them move six points clear of Liverpool in the title raceCredit: Getty
Bernardo followed up, his shot deflected to defender Telles who stuck out a boot and sent it towards De Bruyne to finish off.
City were already a gear ahead of United but they went through them in the second period as they laid siege to the visitors goal.
The third their dominance deserved arrived with this time De Bruyne the creator.
Most corners land in the middle of a skirmish in the six yard box.
De Bruyne decided to bypass all that picking out Mahrez on the top of the box.
United’s defeat was the latest in a line of miserable results for Ralf RangnickCredit: EPA
United’s top four hopes are all-but-over following Arsenal’s win at WatfordCredit: Getty
His connection on the half volley was sweet but it still may not have found the bottom corner but for a slight deflection off Harry Maguire’s knee that sent it beyond the despairing dive of De Gea.
Rangnick had already made a double substitution in a bid to claw the game back in the form of Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard.
Nobody was pulling their way back from this.
Mahrez added the second in injury time, benefitting from great work by Ilkay Gundogan who broke through United’s wilting players.
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The pass was perfect and the powerful shot bent De Gea’s hand back as the ball flew in.
It was flagged offside, VAR disagreed.
City the best on planet football? You have to agree. More
