Manchester United and Manchester City fought tooth and nail at Old Trafford on Sunday. The Premier League game finished in a 0-0 stalemate. This was Kevin De Bruyne’s last Manchester derby. The midfielder broke the news that he’ll be leaving Manchester City at the end of the season. The draw dampened Manchester City’s hopes for Champions League qualification. Each team has endured disappointing campaigns thus far.
Throughout the match, Manchester City supporters periodically broke into chants for De Bruyne, underscoring the significance of his impending departure. Even with such emotional backdrop, both teams had trouble generating clear chances in a testy first half. The shortage of offensive chances had supporters aching for more excitement on the field.
The second half opened up more and both sides were looking to attack. Omar Marmoush then almost set the stadium on fire when he let loose a searing shot from 25 meters. Andre Onana, Manchester United’s goalkeeper, made a stunning save to deny the U.S. captain. Despite their impressive start, it would be former Manchester United man Joshua Zirkzee who’d go on to craft the best opportunity of the half. He cut sharply and hit a half-volley that had City’s Ederson diving, making an amazing two handed save.
Even with the intensified efforts from each team, the game was tied at 0-0. A brief moment of controversy ensued in the final minutes. It should have been a penalty kick after Ruben Dias literally tripped and fell on the ball within the box. Even with the referee and VAR officials unable to see eye-to-eye, Manchester United was denied a penalty. This mystique kept players and fans alike on the edge of their seats.
Neither side could find a game-winner. This frustrating outcome has both teams looking to turn their respective seasons around. The draw soured Manchester City’s hopes of catching their rivals to secure Champions League football next year. At the same time, Manchester United are still figuring out huge inconsistency issues.
