Watch: De Bruyne, Iheanacho score, Zlatan pulls one back in Manchester Derby
Following a summer of big spending and weeks of hype, the Manchester derby is finally here.
Manchester United and Manchester City square off at Old Trafford, with both putting their perfect 3-0-0 records on the line coming off the international break. This already storied rivalry has reached new heights, with managers Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola bringing their personal differences to the northwest.
The clubs' summer additions also bring a new element to this derby, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba all starting for United, while Nolito, John Stones and just-added goalkeeper Claudio Bravo are all starting for City.
It was an already established City player, Kevin De Bruyne, who struck first in the 15th minute to hush the home crowd. Kelechi Iheanacho, starting in place of the suspended Sergio Aguero, flicked on a header from Aleksandar Kolarov's long ball. De Bruyne put it around Daley Blind with an outstretched right foot to put himself in clear on goal, he struck a low, right-footed blast from 18 yards by David de Gea to open the scoring:
#LigaPremierTD REVIVE el gol del Manchester City por conducto de @DeBruyneKev. #MUFC 0-1 #MCFC https://t.co/J32h8ZOq8v
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) September 10, 2016
De Bruyne had a hand in making it 2-0 in the 36th minute. He whipped a low shot in from the right, and it ricocheted off the right post. Iheanacho, who was onside when De Bruyne fired, had the ball land right at his foot while he was unmarked six yards out, and he simply put the rebound in to double City's lead, with United players all standing around and waiting for the offside flag that was never raised.
Who needs Sergio Aguero? #ManchesterDerby https://t.co/2eEhlMIq2E
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) September 10, 2016
Ibrahimovic pulled back a vital goal for United just minutes before halftime to let the hosts claw back into the game. Bravo, with all eyes on him after Joe Hart's departure, came off his line to try to punch or catch a lofted free kick in his box, but all he could do was tap it right to Ibrahimovic. The Swedish striker happily took advantage and scored for the fourth time this Premier League season with an impressive right-footed, first-time volley from 15 yards out.
Are we sure Zlatan Ibrahimovic is human? @ManUtd #ManchesterDerby https://t.co/D6udaylbI7
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) September 10, 2016
Bravo was fortunate not to gift United another scoring opportunity in the 56th minute, after his heavy touch in his own box forced him to scramble to recover. He slid, studs up, into an onrushing Wayne Rooney, but referee Mark Clattenburg did not give the penalty despite Manchester United's shouts.
A Rooney o se la pones o te rompe ? #ManchesterDerby #Bravo pic.twitter.com/3uVzaBZT07
— Javier Chijani (@jchijani) September 10, 2016
United had another opportunity to equalize in the 71st minute, as halftime substitute Marcus Rashford latched onto a long ball and ran right at Stones. His chance from just inside the box beat Bravo, but it took a deflection off an offside Ibrahimovic, negating the goal.
Minutes later, City had a chance to restore its two-goal edge, with De Bruyne hitting the post again. He made a near-post run to meet Leroy Sane's pass, and his first-time blast hit off the right post and rolled across the goal mouth without trickling in for City's third.
The goal posts at Old Trafford are savages #ManchesterDerby https://t.co/tdfwjQffbl
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) September 10, 2016
Stay tuned here for more updates and video of goals and key moments from this massive clash.