Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United (3 Mar, 2024) Game Analysis

Phil Foden kept Manchester City's Premier League title challenge on track with a second-half brace as his side fought back to secure a 3-1 home win over Manchester United on Sunday.

Marcus Rashford's eighth-minute thunderbolt gave United the lead against the run of play and it looked like the visitors could dent City's hopes of winning a fourth consecutive crown.

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But Pep Guardiola's side remained patient, dominated possession and were ultimately rewarded with Foden once again proving how indispensable he is to City.

Foden fired a sublime effort into the top corner in the 56th minute and the England striker then produced a clinical finish 10 minutes from normal time.

Erling Haaland, who missed a golden opportunity in the first half, made sure of the points with a late goal.

City, reigning champions, whose unbeaten record in all competitions now stands at 19, rose to 62 points, one behind leader Liverpool who they will visit next weekend. United remain in sixth place with 44 points.

“We can't control what Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa or other competitors do, it's about us. We do what we have to do to win today, next Wednesday and Sunday. This team is legendary “Guardiola said.

Rashford's thunderbolt might have toppled inferior teams, but Erik ten Hag's United might have few complaints with the way City turned things around.

City had 74% possession and 27 efforts on goal to United's three, but it was Foden who found the key to the lock.

He received a standing ovation as he left the match after striking in stoppage time as City fans were in an optimistic mood to keep the pressure on Liverpool and Arsenal.

“That's my goal, to be in the big games,” said Foden, who has now equaled his record of 11 league goals in a campaign. “This season, I’m proving it.”

City camped in United's half in the opening minutes but were stunned when Bruno Fernandes flicked a pass towards Rashford, who launched a 25-yard effort which crashed under the bar and into the net.

Guardiola's side continually probed United's defense and finally opened it up, only for Haaland to inexplicably side-foot the cross from Foden's header as half-time approached.

It was an incredible miss from such a lethal striker, but there was no sense of panic and the pattern continued after the break, with City pinning United down in their own half.

It looked like he might need a little magic to break United's resistance and Foden provided it.

Receiving the ball on the right, just outside the box, Foden leapt inside and unleashed a fierce left-footed shot that was almost as spectacular as Rashford's effort.

This eased the tension and City continued to press and Foden gave them the lead in the 80th minute with a low left-footed shot past André Onana after being played in by Julián Álvarez.

Haaland was not denied his goal and came into action in stoppage time with a left-footed mark to highlight the gulf in class between the two teams.