Watch Out: Top 5 mouthwatering Manchester Derbies since 2010

The Manchester Derby has been the standout fixture in the English calendar for a long time. It is a rivalry labelled by Blue vs Red and has seen some iconic matches over time.

The cross-town rivalry will take center stage today at the Etihad Stadium when both teams clash. It is a must win encounter for Ole’s men as they need to bridge the gap against Pep’s Manchester City

The clashes, duels, goals, iconic moments have all been the spectacle of this derby. The most important contribution of this derby has been the ability to come back and win the contest. Here every inch of the player’s souls is put on the line and form makes for little doing.

While keeping the focus on today’s clash, we will look back at the top 5 Manchester derbies played over the last decade in the Premier League.

Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United (7^th April, 2018)

Manchester City played hosts to the Red Devils in a clash where City required a win in order to seal the title. But the Red Devils had other plans.

Jose Mourinho’s side completed a magnificent turnaround after being 2-0 down to win 3-2 and keep City waiting for just another week to celebrate the title win.

Kompany and Gundogan put City ahead within the half time before a second half memorable comeback was completed by United when Pogba scored a brace and Chris Smalling sealed the deal with a towering header.

United could not manage to win the title that season but the ability to come back when down and the spirit, resolve put in by the boys was visible to one and all.

Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United (9^th December, 2012)

It was just the deciding encounter needed to show why Manchester United were deserving champions in the 2012/13 season.

United took the lead within 16 minutes, when Rooney scored before he added another goal 13 minutes later to put the away side 2-0 up on enemy territory.

City were shocked and could not bear to lose another derby and put in an absolute tooth and nail fight to get the contest back on track.

Yaya Toure completed half the comeback when he scored in the 60^th minute before Pablo Zabaleta got the City fans into raptures when he drilled home 4 minutes from time to make it 2-2.

But it was Robin Van Persie, Man Utd’s new signing in that season who took the cake with the icing when he scored a free kick in his first taste of Manchester Derby to complete a famous United win.

Manchester United won the Premier League title that season and this result played a pivotal role in them doing so.

Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United ( 30th April, 2012)

City welcomed United in a crunch tie as the winner of this would determine a clear advantage in the title race in the 2011/12 season.

It was Vincent Kompany’s drilled header in the 45^th minute which sent the City fans into absolute ecstasy and broke United’s hearts.

The match was completed 1-0 in favor of the hosts and it went a long way in helping Manchester City complete their Premier League triumph, which they won with arguably the most dramatic finish to an English season in that year.

Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City (12^th February, 2011)

Manchester United played host to Manchester City in what the United faithful will always recall as the ‘Rooney show’ due to his effort to win the derby- A Bicycle Kick.

It was Nani who gave the hosts the lead before Silva equalized for the visitors but Wayne Rooney’s moment of inspiration was the clincher as he rose to readjust his position and send an acrobatic, unstoppable overhead kick high past the startled and rooted Joe Hart to send the crowd into a tizzy and even made Sir Alex Ferguson jump with surprise out of his viewing area seat.

United won that day 2-1 and further cemented themselves as champions and eventually won the title in the 2010/11 season.

Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City (23^rd October 2011)

One of the darkest days for the Red Devils and as the commentator reiterated that day ‘A size big day in English Football’ was on show as Manchester City thumped United 1-6 at Old Trafford to break the shackles of Man United dominance in the league. It was Sir Alex Ferguson’s heaviest defeat in his career.

Mario Balotelli with a cool finish and removing his shirt which read ‘Why Always Me’ was the starter as City went 1-0 ahead. The Italian made it 2-0 in the 60^th minute before Sergio Aguero added his name to the party to make it 3-0.

Darren Fletcher pulled one back for 3-1 but what followed was probably one of United’s disastrous minutes in the Premier League ever.

A Dzeko brace with a Silva goal sandwiched in between; all during the 90^th minute silenced the Old Trafford faithful to make it 6-1 to the visitors and complete a destruction never seen before at Old Trafford.

As the referee blew the final whistle, it was a pin drop silence followed by City celebrations as they had alerted their neighbors that they are here and not to be considered pushovers.

This result paved the way for Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City winning the title in 2011/12 season.