City turns Manchester derby
Foden’s double pack makes Haaland’s huge misfires forgotten
March 3, 2024, 8:41 p.m
England’s football champions Manchester City turn the game against local rivals Manchester United. Superstar Erling Haaland creates a curiosity. In the English Premier League there will be a showdown between City and Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool next weekend.
Despite a strange miss by Erling Haaland, Manchester City won the derby against Manchester United and remains the first pursuer of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC in the English Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s team won against the Red Devils 3-1 (0-1) and travels to Liverpool next Sunday for the top game, one point behind.
England’s national soccer player Phil Foden (56th minute/80th) and striker Haaland (90th + 1) scored twice for the Citizens. The Norwegian had a misfire shortly before half-time when he shot over the empty goal from two meters and missed the equalizer. The shot had an xG value of 0.91, 0.14 more than a penalty. The xG value measures the quality of a goal chance. It lies between 0.1 and ends at a maximum of 1.0.
City dominates and turns the game around late
In the 192nd derby, Manchester City pushed their city rivals into their own half from the first minute. With the first attack, Man United shocked Guardiola’s team. Bruno Fernandes passed on Marcus Rashford: The English international striker’s brilliant shot from over 20 meters went off the bottom edge of the crossbar into the net in the 8th minute to make it 0-1.
The hosts responded with even more possession and even more pressure. But United goalkeeper André Onana saved brilliantly against Foden (14th/19th) and Rodri (33rd). The guests were previously dangerous on counterattacks. However, Rashford stumbled in two promising situations (17th/23rd). Shortly before the break, Haaland managed to shoot the ball over the empty goal from close range after a pass from Foden (45th). So after the first half it remained a surprising 0:1 despite 17:2 shots on goal and 71 percent possession of the ball.
After the break, the outstanding Folden redeemed the Guardiola team: with a powerful shot from almost 20 meters, he ensured the well-deserved 1-1 equalizer. City quickly tried to step up, but their city rivals retreated even further. In the end it was Folden once again who scored to make it 2-1 after a one-two with Julian Alvarez. Haaland made the decision with his 18th goal of the season and was still able to celebrate.