Man Utd 0-1 Man City: Haaland winner after Foden red card - player ratings

Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday, extending their perfect start to the season despite Phil Foden's first-half red card. Erling Haaland scored the only goal, while Bruno Fernandes escaped punishment for his role in the incident that led to Foden's dismissal. Simon Stone rated the United players and Shamoon Hafez scored City's.

Confirmed line-ups

Manchester United (4-3-3)

Starting XI: Senne Lammens; Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Patrick Dorgu; Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans, Bruno Fernandes; Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Marcus Rashford

Substitutes: Benjamin Sesko, Joshua Zirkzee, Darlow, Mazraoui, Mount, Yoro, Santos, Heaven, Lacey

Manchester City (4-3-3)

Starting XI: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi, Josko Gvardiol; Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez, Antoine Semenyo; Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland

Substitutes: Iliman Ndiaye, Nico O'Reilly, Rulli, Kovacic, Reis, Bouaddi, Allan, Khusanov, Lewis

Selection notes

Manchester United replaced Luke Shaw with Patrick Dorgu at left-back. Matheus Cunha was preferred to Benjamin Sesko in the starting line-up. City kept the same XI that started their previous league game.

Player ratings

Manchester United

Senne Lammens: Not as busy as he might have expected. Absolutely vital save from Fernandez to prevent City second. 7

Diogo Dalot: If only he had been able to control Bruno Fernandes' chipped pass into the penalty area he might have marked his 250th Manchester United appearance with a rare goal. Didn't look down the line to see he was clearly offside as United pressed just before half-time. Screwed shot wide after break. 4

Harry Maguire: Decent performance from veteran central defender and not far away from an equaliser with late header. Needless push on Enzo Fernandez in the box, for which he was booked. 6

Lisandro Martinez: Didn't dive in when Bruno Fernandes played a pass towards his own goal straight to Erling Haaland and won the ball from the Norwegian. Decent effort. 7

Patrick Dorgu: Replaced Luke Shaw at left back and did OK but doesn't have the same link with Rashford. Attempted block proved so crucial to City's opener. 6

Kobbie Mainoo: Another assured display in front of England boss Thomas Tuchel. Came close to giving his side the lead just after half-time and was home side's most effective midfielder battle. 8

Youri Tielemans: Best performance of the season so far but yet to make the standout contribution expected. 7

Bryan Mbeumo: Probably United's most effective attacking player. Header just wide before injury-time effort saved. 8

Bruno Fernandes: Fortunate to get away with no sanction at all over the incident that led to Foden's dismissal. Not one of his better efforts. 6

Marcus Rashford: Curling long-range free-kick against the post with Donnarumma beaten and shot into side-netting but still waiting for first goal since his return. 6

Matheus Cunha: Preferred to Benjamin Sesko in starting line-up and dragged early shot wide. Got involved on plenty of occasions, but again by dropping deep. Off target with a second half opportunity. 7

Substitutes: Benjamin Sesko (on 66, Tielemans) 6; Joshua Zirkzee (on 83, Rashford) 6.

Manchester City

Gianluigi Donnarumma: Saw his post hit twice but made a good stop to deny Fernandes from range and a sensational one in injury-time from Mbeumo for the clean sheet. 8

Matheus Nunes: Overcome his nightmare performance here from April 2025. Showed some neat touches and generally shackled Rashford well. 7

Ruben Dias: The Portuguese has stepped up to take on the responsibility of being captain and was solid at the back once again. 7

Marc Guehi: Beginning to form an impressive partnership with his skipper and needed to be sturdy after City were reduced to 10 men. 7

Josko Gvardiol: Looks like left-back is where his position will be in this team. Handled Mbeumo brilliantly throughout and provided the cross for Haaland's goal. 8

Elliot Anderson: Busy and hard working in the centre of the park, as is now expected. Managed more touches of the ball than any City team-mate. 7

Enzo Fernandez: Given licence to roam and has fitted in seamlessly into midfield. The Argentine made an excellent challenge to thwart Tielemans and struck the post in the second half. 8

Antoine Semenyo: Has struggled in recent games and was wasteful once more. Place in the starting XI could come under pressure from Iliman Ndiaye. 5

Phil Foden: Total head loss in the cauldron of the derby. Given a straight red after kicking Fernandes in the stomach on 23 minutes and fortunate not to cost his side. 3

Rayan Cherki: Created very little after being move to the right. Not helped by a fellow attacking player getting himself sent off before being taken off at half-time. 5

Erling Haaland: On the periphery of the game in the first half, the fewest touches of any player. But came alive to open the scoring in with a cool, first-time finish in front of his own fans. 7

Substitutes: Iliman Ndiaye (on 45, Cherki) 6; Nico O'Reilly (on 81, Fernandez) 6.

Analysis: Why Foden's red card didn't cost City

Phil Foden's 23rd-minute dismissal could have been fatal for Manchester City. But the champions adapted seamlessly. With Rayan Cherki struggling to create from the right, Pep Guardiola needed his midfield to take control. Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson did exactly that, harrying United's midfield and winning possession back quickly. Josko Gvardiol provided the telling moment, delivering the cross that Erling Haaland converted, his only real contribution of the first half. It was ruthless.

United, meanwhile, lacked the cutting edge. Bruno Fernandes had a chance to test the goalkeeper from range but was denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Bryan Mbeumo was a constant threat, but his header went wide and his injury-time effort was saved sensationally. Harry Maguire's late header almost snatched an equaliser, but it was not enough. The decision to start Matheus Cunha over Benjamin Sesko did not pay off. United's attack was too often static, with Cunha dropping deep and Rashford cutting a frustrated figure. The service from the flanks was inadequate.

Defensively, City were resilient after going down to ten men, with Marc Guehi and Ruben Dias solid in the centre. Matheus Nunes shackled Marcus Rashford effectively. The win means City maintain their perfect start, while United's search for a first league win continues.

Talking points

  • Should Bruno Fernandes have been punished for his role in Foden's red card? He escaped any sanction, but replays suggest he provoked the reaction. Many will argue United got lucky.
  • Did Erik ten Hag make the right call starting Matheus Cunha over Benjamin Sesko? Cunha was wasteful, while Sesko had little time to make an impact.
  • Is Phil Foden a liability in big games? His red card was reckless and could have cost City dearly. It's not the first time he's let his emotions get the better of him.
  • Are City's title credentials strengthened by winning ugly? They ground out a result with ten men at Old Trafford. That's the mark of champions.

What happens next

Manchester United travel to face Liverpool at Anfield after the international break, still seeking their first Premier League win of the season. Manchester City host Arsenal at the Etihad, aiming to extend their perfect start. Both matches kick off at 15:00 BST on Saturday, 13 September.

Frequently asked questions

Why was Phil Foden sent off against Manchester United?

Foden was given a straight red card after kicking Bruno Fernandes in the stomach on 23 minutes.

Who scored the only goal in the Manchester derby?

Erling Haaland scored the only goal with a cool, first-time finish in front of his own fans.

What was the final score of Manchester United vs Manchester City?

Manchester City won 1-0 at Old Trafford.

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