The 172nd edition of the Manchester Derby is penned for Old Trafford on Saturday night and there has arguably never been a better stage for high-quality football, impossible goals and memorable moments.
It’s the first time that a Mourinho-led United meets a Guardiola-led City and the way both teams are playing, we’re in for an absolute treat. What better way to wet the appetite than by looking back on some of the greatest Manchester Derby moments?
Wayne Rooney’s Banger
Wayne Rooney is one of the world’s most polarising footballers – you either love him or you hate him. It’s a pretty easy conclusion to reach for a City fan, particularly after the sharpshooter produced a career-best effort to sink the Sky Blues with one of world football’s most stunning strikes in 2012.
Scores were locked at 1-1 when in the 78th minute, Rooney guided a Nani cross past a powerless Joe Hart, who was pretty much just another spectator to the brilliance of the shot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjuLoOPomak
Why Always Me?
Mario Balotelli was one of the most enigmatic men ever to ply their trade in the Premier League, and the excitable Italian’s performances only reached fever pitch whenever he lined up against Manchester United.
Owing to his ability to make the headlines for the wrong reasons, Balotelli was a favourite target for the United faithful during his three-year stint with the Blues.
Balotelli had the last laugh when his 22nd minute strike broke the derby deadlock in 2012; turning towards the camera and revealing an undershirt readying “Why Always Me?”
A Modern Day Drubbing
The depth of talent in any of the Premier League’s big clubs suggests that blow-out score lines should be a thing of the past, whenever two meet head-to-head.
That was certainly not the case in the 2012 Manchester Derby at Old Trafford, when City delivered United a thrashing for the ages; walking away 6-1 victors in a season that ultimately saw the Premier League trophy arrive at the Etihad for the first time.
It was also the day Balotelli delivered his previously mentioned ‘Why Always Me?’ jibe. What a glorious 90 minutes for the blue side of Manchester.
Michael Owen’s Last-Gasp Winner
The 2009 Manchester Derby is widely considered one of the best editions of the spiteful series to date and it could not have concluded in a more dramatic fashion.
United and City traded blows from the outset but it appeared as though the Red Devils were on track for another derby win, until City’s Craig Bellamy stepped up to the plate and scored an equaliser in the 90th minute.
Enter super sub Michael Owen, who poked home the winner for United with virtually the final kick of the game, sending the parochial home crowd into a frenzy.
Law Delivers United a Double Blow
Former United star Denis Law caused plenty of ripples when he signed for City, but that was nothing compared to the heartache he would create when he tapped home the winner against his old club in 1974.
The goal could not be more of a slap in the face. Not only did it all but confirm that United would be demoted to the second division, it was an arsey back-heel that probably wouldn’t come off nine times out of ten.
Law actually played for City before he pulled on a red shirt for the first time, but his role in the ‘United Trinity’ alongside George Best and Bobby Charlton went a long way towards etching his name in Red Devils folklore.
Van Persie Atones with United Fans
Robin van Persie was the cause of several head and heartaches for United when he led the line for Arsenal, but the Dutchman turned provided in his first Manchester Derby in 2012.
Capping an impressive all-round performance, van Persie knocked the winner in from distance at the death; ending City’s unbeaten run of form in the 2012/13 season to add salt to the wounds.
Feed The Goat
Maine Road was the home of Manchester City from its opening in 1923 until the Sky Blues secured a move to the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games Stadium (now the Etihad Stadium) at the conclusion of 2003.
It was the scene of misery several times but also, some of City’s greatest triumphs – perhaps none better than Shaun Goater’s strike to sink the Red Devils in the ground’s final derby in 2002.
Goater pounced on a mistake by United defender Gary Neville, creating grounds for the famous City chant: “Derby Day, the scores were level, then the Goat was fed by Neville!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ_Zqy6QqYI
Birth of a Legend
Ryan Giggs debuted for United at the ripe old age of seventeen and few would have believed that the Welshman would go on to become one of the Red Devils’ greatest players.
In what was his first full start, Giggs lined up against City on May 4th in 1991 and made it count; scoring for the first time professionally in somewhat contentious circumstances.
Giggs would go on to score a total of 114 goals in 672 appearances for United, but arguably none were as sweet as his career and derby opener.
City Makes a Final
Manchester City had not won a piece of silverware since 1976 when they met United in the semi-final of the FA Cup in 2011, and that added weight meant that this derby was a particularly tight affair.
United had their opportunities – Dimitar Berbatov proved that he could not have hit water if he fell out of a boat on the day, by squandering two one-on-one chances with Joe Hart in the first half.
A botched clearance from Michael Carrick is all it took for Yaya Toure to gain possession and score the winner; delivering his team a berth in the final against Stoke City and subsequently, a major piece of silverware.
Roy Keane Buys Into the Hype
Angry Irishman Roy Keane was and is still known just as well for his short fuse as he was his footballing ability, and the passion of a Manchester Derby always delivered memorable moments.
Keane and Norwegian Alf-Inge Haland were locked in a bitter feud for several years and it all came to a head in the 2001 Manchester Derby, when Keane was sent off for a knee-high foul on the City player.
Keane later admitted that the incident was a pre-meditated assault in response to a 1997 run-in and was banned for eight matches and fined a total of £155,000 for the challenge.