Four times the Manchester Derby has left us stunned in the last decade

The second Manchester Derby of the 2020/21 Premier League season is on the horizon, and there is a lot at stake for both sides. A win for Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the blue half of the city would surely all but secure the title for Pep Guardiola’s side, whilst a victory for Manchester United would give Ole Gunnar Solskjær a slight glimmer of hope that perhaps the title race isn’t over just yet.

The first league outing between the fierce rivals back in December was a bore draw, and whilst some of the fans from both sides of Manchester would probably settle for that again this time around, the neutrals will certainly be hoping for a much more lively affair on March 7th.

So, as the hype continues to the build ahead of the top-of-the-table clash, which City are tipped to win according to Betdaq, let’s take a look back at five times the Manchester Derby has left us stunned in the last decade.

2011: Rooney’s bicycle kick

Where better to start than with Wayne Rooney’s stunning bicycle kick back in 2011. The game was finely poised heading into the final quarter at Old Trafford as Manchester City midfielder David Silva cancelled out Nani’s first-half strike. However, with all in the balance, Rooney pulled off an outrageous winner, picking up a crucial three points in the title race for the Red Devils. Nani’s cross was far from perfect as it came in high and behind the striker, but, with his back to goal, Rooney beautifully connected with a bicycle kick, sending the ball flying into the top corner past a hapless Joe Hart to win the game 2-1.

2011: Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City

Manchester United fans might want to look away at this point, as later in the year, City got their own back for that bicycle kick, thrashing the Red Devils 6-1 on their own turf. Mario Balotelli and Eden Džeko notched twice, whilst Sergio Agüero and Silva also got in on the rut for Roberto Mancini’s side. Not only was the scoreline enough to leave us stunned, but it was also the game in which Balotelli revealed the famous ‘why always me’ t-shirt underneath his jersey. One thing’s for sure, with it being Manchester United’s biggest home defeat since 1955, we don’t envy anyone having to deal with Sir Alex Ferguson in the Old Trafford dressing room afterwards. 

2012: Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United

After being humiliated by their noisy neighbours the season before, there was no way Ferguson was going to end his lengthy managerial career with United in a whimper, and he made it his goal to ensure that the Premier League title returned to Old Trafford from the other side of the city. The first meeting between the pair in Ferguson’s pursuit to win back the title was certainly a thriller. Rooney had given the Red Devils a two-goal lead at the break but strikes from Yaya Touré and Pablo Zabaleta in the second half looked to have salvaged a point from the game for the hosts. However, up stepped Robin van Persie, who had the choice of both Manchester sides in the summer prior. The Dutchman’s injury-time free-kick deflected past Joe Hart, sparking wild celebrations in the away section of the Etihad.

2018: Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United

With seven games remaining and 16 points separating Man City from United in second, Guardiola’s side needed a victory over José Mourinho’s men to secure the title and doing so against their bitter rivals would have been a dream come true for City. The title looked wrapped up at half-time as Vincent Kompany and İlkay Gündoğan fired the hosts into a two-goal lead. However, a quick-fire double from Paul Pogba early in the second 45 pulled United level and defender Chris Smalling completed the stunning comeback, volleying Alexis Sánchez’s delivery past Ederson. Of course, it’s worth nothing that City still went on to win the league title.