Manchester Derby

Lore & Background

The first meeting between the two teams occurred on 12 November 1881, when St. Mark's (West Gorton) – who would later become Manchester City – hosted Newton Heath LYR – who would later become Manchester United. The game finished 3–0 in favour of Newton Heath. Both clubs grew in stature as the 1880s progressed. The pair became the dominant teams in the Manchester area; the winner of the Manchester Cup was either Newton Heath or Ardwick every year between 1888 and 1893. Both teams joined the Football Alliance. Admission to the Football League finally came in 1892. The first Football League meeting between the teams came in the 1894–95 season. In the late 1890s, Scottish brothers Billy and Matthew Gillespie played on opposite sides in the fixture on three occasions. The first meeting between the clubs to take place at the highest level of English football occurred in December 1906, a 3–0 City win. Before the Second World War, many football supporters in Manchester watched City one week and United the next. After the war, a stronger rivalry developed.

In Their Own Story

The season began with a 2–0 win at Athletic Bilbao on 12 August, with a strike from Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham's debut goal. Bellingham quickly became the focal point, scoring a late winner against Getafe on 2 September and another late winner against Union Berlin in the Champions League on 20 September. The first defeat came on 24 September, a 1–3 loss to Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano. The team bounced back, and on 28 October, Bellingham scored two goals to give Madrid a late 2–1 comeback victory over Barcelona at the Olímpic Lluís Companys. The Supercopa de España final on 14 January saw the Brazilian duo of Vinícius and Rodrygo score all goals in a 4–1 victory over Barcelona, with Vinícius getting his second career hat-trick. The Copa del Rey ended on 19 January with a 2–4 extra-time loss to Atlético Madrid. The league title was secured with four games to spare, marking a record-extending 36th La Liga championship. The Champions League final on 1 June saw Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2–0, with Carlo Ancelotti winning his fifth trophy in the tournament, the most among managers.

Reader's Guide

The first floodlit Manchester derby was played on 26 February 1889 at the Belle Vue Athletic Ground. The first competitive floodlit derby was the 1956 FA Charity Shield match, played at Maine Road. Manchester derbies in the 1970s saw two controversial incidents: a tackle by United's George Best broke the leg of City's Glyn Pardoe in December 1970; and in the 1973–74 season, Mike Doyle and Lou Macari each received a red card in a 0–0 draw. The return fixture of the 1973–74 season saw Denis Law back-heel the ball past goalkeeper Alex Stepney for City, leading to a pitch invasion and United's relegation. In the 1980s, City defeated United 5–1 on 23 September 1989, but this would be their last win over United for 13 years. In the 1990s, United dominated the fixture, going unbeaten in derbies for the full decade.

Did You Know?

• The first meeting between the two teams occurred on 12 November 1881.
• The first floodlit Manchester derby was played on 26 February 1889.
• Denis Law's back-heel goal for City in 1974 led to a pitch invasion and United's relegation.
• Goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who played for both United and City, can claim an unbeaten record in derby games.