Man United v Man City
Premier League
Fixture Date – Saturday 17 January 2026
Kick-off – 3pm
Old Trafford, Manchester

🕰️ Origins & Early History

• The first match took place on 12 November 1881, when Newton Heath (later United) beat St. Mark’s (later City) 3–0

• Both clubs originated in east Manchester working‑class districts—United grew into the west side after moving to Old Trafford in 1910, while City remained east—their early association gave life to the Manchester derby rivalry

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📊 Head‑to‑Head & Statistics

• As of 6 April 2025, they’ve met 196 times in all competitions: United have won 80, City 61, and 55 draws

• According to SI (Dec 2024), head-to-head tallies stand at 195 matches, United 80, City 62, draws 53

• In the Premier League era: United had the early upper hand, but City have closed the gap significantly under Pep Guardiola

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⚽ Milestone Matches & Classic Moments

• 23 October 2011: City inflicted a 6–1 defeat at Old Trafford—one of United’s heaviest home losses ever. Mario Balotelli famously revealed a “Why Always Me?” shirt after scoring

• January 2023: United beat City 2–1 at Old Trafford with Rashford’s winner, undercutting City’s treble hopes.

• June 2023 (FA Cup Final): City edged United 2–1, with İlkay Gündoğan scoring after mere seconds—marking the first ever FA Cup final between them.

• May 2024 (FA Cup Final): United reversed the previous year’s outcome with a 2–1 win at Wembley, earning the FA Cup under manager Erik ten Hag

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🏆 Legendary Players & Goal Scorers

• Wayne Rooney remains the derby’s all-time top scorer with 11 goals, including a memorable bicycle kick in 2011

• Joe Hayes and Francis Lee (City), each netted 10 goals; Sergio Agüero has 9; Bobby Charlton also scored 9 for United

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📅 Recent Era & Narrative Shifts

• Since Pep Guardiola’s arrival at City in 2016, derbies have mixed dramatic wins (like City 6–3 over United in Oct 2022), comebacks, and tactical battles

• The 2024‑25 season saw both clubs underperforming, culminating in a rare 0‑0 draw at Old Trafford in April 2025—their first goalless derby since the Covid‑era December 2020

• Former United midfielder Nicky Butt has emphasised how derbies are driven by passion and emotion, and not league form or position, Talksport.

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🏅 Club Honours & Rivalry Legacy

• United boast 67 major trophies, while City have amassed around 36—though City’s dominance has grown rapidly since 2010

• Both clubs are the only English sides to have won a continental treble: United in 1999, City in 2023 .

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🔥 The Derby in a Nutshell

📅 Fixture Details

• Sun, 14 September 2025 – Manchester City vs Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium

  • Kick-off is listed at 11:30 AM UK time (08:30 AM PDT)

• Sat, 17 January 2026 – Manchester United vs Manchester City at Old Trafford

  • UK kick-off time around 16:00 CET / 07:00 AM PST

These are the only league derbies scheduled for the season, with no cup ties or early-season matchups listed at this time

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🔍 Match Significance

• The September fixture opens the derby chapter early in the campaign, setting an early tone as both teams aim to assert dominance.

• The January fixture at Old Trafford offers United the chance for home pride and potential bragging rights in the midst of a challenging run of fixtures, including clashes with Arsenal and Chelsea

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📺 Broadcast & Attention

• While specific TV details haven’t been officially confirmed, Sky Sports is expected to air the derby in the UK, typical for such high-profile fixtures. International broadcasters will likely include platforms like TNT Sports, DAZN, or Peacock, depending on the region

• Derbies between Manchester’s giants usually attract massive global viewing figures.

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⚽ Triple Threat Rivalry

With form uncertain for both clubs leading into the season, these early showdowns could prove pivotal. Expect a tactical chess match as managers Ruben Amorim (Man United) and Pep Guardiola (Man City) seek early advantage in the rivalry arc

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✅ Summary

 

🧑‍🍳 Managerial Tenure

• Pep Guardiola has been Manchester City’s manager since July 1, 2016

• Rúben Amorim took charge at Manchester United on November 11, 2024, following a brief interim period under Ruud van Nistelrooy

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⚔️ Head-to-Head: Guardiola vs United Managers

Pep Guardiola vs Erik ten Hag (until October 2024)

• Met in 7 Manchester derbies.

• City managed 5 wins, United 2, with 0 draws.

• Guardiola scored 17 goals, conceding 10.

• Win rate vs. United under Ten Hag: ~71%

Pep Guardiola vs Rúben Amorim (up to May 2025)

• Amorim oversaw at least one derby: United’s dramatic 2–1 win at the Etihad on December 15, 2024, marking his first derby victory—a first for a United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson

• While broader data on Amorim vs Guardiola is still limited, that win suggests an instance where Amorim has succeeded.

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📊 Overall Derby Log for Guardiola vs United

• Against all United managers combined, Guardiola holds a derby record of 13 wins, 8 losses, and 2 draws, scoring 47 goals, conceding 32

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📋 Summary Table

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🎯 Key Takeaways

• Supported by data: Guardiola has traditionally held the upper hand over Manchester United managers, including Ten Hag.

• Amorim’s fresh start: While his tenure is in its early stages, Amorim grabbed an immediate derby result by beating City at the Etihad.

• Long-term narrative still undecided: As Amorim and Guardiola face off again in upcoming derbies, the dynamic could evolve substantially.

 

 

 

 

 

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