The Manchester Derby takes centre stage this Sunday as Manchester United welcome Manchester City to Old Trafford for the first meeting between the two rivals in the 2026/27 English Premier League season.
Few fixtures in English football have been able to match the excitement, intensity and history of this derby, with numerous blockbuster clashes, dramatic comebacks, title-defining moments and unforgettable individual performances.
Both sides will be eager to mark another memorable Manchester derby by securing an early statement victory in a campaign that promises plenty of twists and turns, giving the latest instalment of this fiercely contested rivalry all the ingredients for another unforgettable encounter.
Ahead of Sunday’s clash, here, Bet9ja take a look back at the top 10 Manchester derbies:
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1. Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City, September 2009
Goals galore and late drama, this Manchester United derby will forever be remembered as one of the Premier League’s greatest clashes.
The two teams traded goals before Man Utd took a late 3-2 lead through Darren Fletcher, only for Craig Bellamy to net a 90th-minute equaliser to surely snatch a 3-3 draw and point for Manchester City.
However, former Liverpool star Michael Owen had other ideas, as the Manchester United man scored a fantastic 96th-minute winner to seal a 4-3 triumph for the Red Devils.
2. Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City, October 2011
One of the most unforgettable scorelines in a Manchester derby, Manchester City’s 6-1 demolition of Manchester United in October 2011 proved to be even more monumental at the end of the campaign.
A second-half City onslaught saw them score five goals in the final 30 minutes, including three in the last three minutes, while Mario Balotelli also produced an iconic celebration with his ‘Why Always Me’ shirt.
The victory, while memorable in itself, also helped Manchester City to lifting the Premier League title, as their +64 goal difference trumped Manchester United’s +56 at the end of the season – with this result being a particularly pivotal moment in that race.
3. Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United, April 2018
Manchester City were 13 points clear at the top of the table and had the chance to win the Premier League title with a victory against their city rivals when Manchester United visited the Etihad Stadium in April 2018.
Pep Guardiola’s side looked set for a historic victory as Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan gave them a 2-0 lead going into the break, but a stunning second-half fightback followed.
Paul Pogba scored twice in two minutes before Chris Smalling added a third in the 69th-minute, marking a sensational comeback as Manchester United won 3-2 and ensured they would not hand their rivals the title.
4. Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United, December 2012
Manchester United, desperate to reclaim their Premier League crown following the devastating title defeat to their rivals the prior season, went to the Etihad with a point to prove in December 2012.
The game looked all but over as Man Utd took an early 2-0 lead inside 30 minutes thanks to Wayne Rooney’s brace, but goals from Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta – in the 86th minute – appeared to salvage a draw for Man City.
However, star signing Robin van Persie stepped up for a free-kick from range in the 90th minute and brilliantly picked out the bottom corner, albeit with the help of Samir Nasri’s weak block.
The goal marked jubilant Manchester United celebrations, which included Rio Ferdinand’s eyebrow being cut open after the defender was struck by a coin, as well as Joe Hart fending off a pitch-invader also heading Ferdinand’s way.
5. Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City, April 1974
Denis Law, a Manchester United hero and one of their biggest legends, was released in summer 1973 aged 33, and that decision came back to haunt them the following season.
Rivals Manchester City signed the forward, and Law went on to devastatingly relegate his former club at the end of the season.
Law’s late backheel handed Manchester City a 1-0 victory, and although Man Utd would have ultimately been relegated regardless due to results elsewhere, the Manchester United legend refused to celebrate as he believed he had relegated his former side.
6. Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United, April 2012
Manchester City trailed Premier League leaders Manchester United by three points with three games remaining, and this victory ultimately swung the title in their favour.
Vincent Kompany powered home a header in first-half stoppage time to give Man City the lead, and that proved to be the winning goal as the Citizens held out to secure the 1-0 triumph.
The victory was ultimately decisive in the title race, with Man City taking the Premier League crown on the final day on goal difference – when Sergio Aguero produced one of the division’s iconic moments on the final day.
7. Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United, June 2023
The 2022/23 FA Cup final is memorable for multiple reasons, marking the first all-Manchester FA Cup final and the second in three trophies for Man City as they lifted a brilliant treble.
The Citizens raced into a lead inside the opening minute through Ilkay Gundogan, but Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot to leave things level at the break.
However, Man City’s German midfielder scored once again just minutes after the second-half restart, and that proved to be the decisive goal as the Citizens won 2-1.
The FA Cup triumph marked the second of their three trophies, having already won the Premier League title and going on to win the Champions League against Inter days later.
8. Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United, May 2024
Just a year later, Manchester City and Manchester United came together for the FA Cup final at Wembley once again, and this time the Red Devils emerged victorious.
The Citizens were dominant throughout the 90 minutes but struggled to break down their opponents, while Man Utd looked consistently dangerous on the counter and were awarded for their efforts as Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho gave them a 2-0 lead.
Jeremy Doku eventually pulled one back for City with minutes remaining, but Man Utd held on to get revenge for the season before and lift the FA Cup once again.
9. Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United, April 2010
Manchester United had already recorded one late win against their rivals in 2009/10, winning 4-3 as mentioned later in this list, and the Red Devils would record another dramatic triumph in the reverse fixture.
Man Utd were in desperate need of three points to keep their title hopes alive, and after 90 minutes of waiting for the opening goal of the game, Paul Scholes nodded home a dramatic late winner – which was followed by the memorable picture of Gary Neville kissing the midfielder in celebration.
10. Manchester United 1-1 Manchester City, April 2001
This game is remembered less for the football but more for the feud between Roy Keane and Alf-Inge Haaland, which played out its final moment at Old Trafford in April 2001.
The two had previously clashed when the Norwegian accused Keane of feigning injury during a match between Manchester United and Leeds United in September 1997, when Haaland was still playing for the Whites.
Keane patiently waited and eventually took his revenge in April 2001, delivering a shocking knee-high tackle that left Haaland crumpled on the ground, marking the end of a bitter feud between the pair.
As for the football, which was much less memorable, Teddy Sheringham’s second-half penalty was cancelled out by an equaliser from Steve Howey late in the affair.
