New Delhi: The 195th Manchester derby began under unusual circumstances as for the first time in a long time both Manchester sides heading into the game on dodgy form. Manchester City entered the game having picked up just one win in their last 10 games while Manchester United came off the back of two successive defeats and sitting in the 13th position in the Premier League table.
It was a cagey start to the game as well with both sides looking rusty in the beginning with fans having to wait until the 21st minute for the first shot on target, courtesy Phil Foden. That gave Manchester City the platform to build on and they took the lead in the 36th minute via a Josko Gvardiol header. The Croatian rose highest to a Kevin De Bruyne delivery, scoring his eighth goal of the calendar year to give his side the lead.
Half-time at Etihad Stadium with @ManCity leading through Josko Gvardiol
The prolific Croatian has scored eight Premier League goals in 2024, more than any other defender 🥇#MCIMUN pic.twitter.com/6o5fdWo6yt
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 15, 2024
With eight goals scored throughout 2024, he becomes the highest scoring Premier League defender in the year, with no defender having scored more than him. Gvardiol has proven to be a clutch goalscorer for Manchester City, scoring vital goals for them this season. Before the opener in the derby, he scored the equalizer in City’s last-minute win over Wolves and also scored their only goal in the draw with Newcastle United earlier this season.
Manchester City closing in on another Derby win
Joško Gvardiol has scored 4 goals this PL season.
Only Erling Haaland (13) has scored more for Man City. pic.twitter.com/XzJvAx5LPX
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) December 15, 2024
Thanks to Gvardiol’s goal in the first half, Manchester City carry a slim lead in a game that is slowly heading towards it’s closure with more than an hour of action played till now. Manchester United have till now struggled to get into the game and have rarely tested Ederson in the Manchester City goal. The Red Devils haven’t won at the Etihad in over three years now and it seems like the won’t be able to buck the trend tonight as well.
Ruben Amorim’s first Manchester derby looks like it’ll end in a draw at best barring any freak comebacks from the Red Devils. The Portuguese manager had earlier gotten the best of Pep Guardiola while he was still in charge of Sporting CP when the two met in the UEFA Champions League. It seems like the Catalan manager is finally getting his revenge for the humilitating 4-1 defeat at the hands of Sporting.
Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has hit a new milestone with his goal against Manchester United that gave his side the lead in the 195th Manchester Derby. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
