Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
Manchester is known for its rain, and the city is also renowned for its two great football teams. Well we had the rain today but the football didn’t come up to scratch.
Both Manchester clubs have been climbing up the Premier League in recent weeks but neither showed the ambition to win this game. The Red Devils seemed intent on a draw from the off, while City looked too concerned by United’s ability to strike on the break.
The latest Premier League 2020 betting odds pitch the Sky Blues at around 3.00 to regain the title and they have been clicking through the gears, but they didn’t show enough urgency today to set down a serious marker.
Sergio Aguero scored on his return from injury against Marseille on Wednesday night but he wasn’t involved at all tonight, with Manchester City reporting that he was not ready for a game of this intensity just three days later. He was sadly missed by the Sky Blues.
Highlights of the game
In a cautious opening to the match, the Red Devils were determined not to be over-run while City seemed happy to bide their time. United had the first opening when Victor Lindelof flicked on a corner and Scott McTominay was inches away from getting the vital touch at the far post.
The Sky Blues started at a pedestrian pace and there were 20 minutes on the clock before they made inroads into the Red Devils’ defence. Raheem Sterling played a one- two with Kevin de Bruyne and then jinked his way across the box before hitting a low drive which was thwarted by a desperate Harry Maguire block.
Then, Gabriel Jesus latched on to a long ball forward and he hit if first time on the stretch but well over the bar.
City moved out of second gear and came close again when Riyad Mahrez swung in a dangerous free-kick but John Stones couldn’t get the right touch to convert. And at the other end Maguire made a good connection with a header from a corner but was narrowly over.
The Sky Blues fashioned the best opening of the half with a sweeping move which put Mahrez clean through, but David de Gea blocked his shot and De Bruyne uncharacteristically fired the rebound well over. The United keeper is in his tenth season at Old Trafford has been under some pressure recently but he stood firm when asked.
United’s best first-half efforts came from corners; Lindelof beat the City defence but his deft header flew just beyond the far post.
In an explosive start to the second half, the Red Devils thought they’d won their 32nd penalty since the start of last season when Kyle Walker caught Marcus Rashford in the penalty area, but the striker was marginally offside.
Fernandinho flashed a shot wide and as City began to up the pressure again, Jesus sprung the offside trap but De Gea stood firm and De Bruyne’s follow up was blocked.
With the clock running down, United almost nicked a win when Bruno Fernandes took a snapshot, but it was straight at Ederson. At the other end Rodri took the last shot of the game, right down De Gea’s throat and that just about summed the match up.
Key statistics
The Red Devils did the double over their city rivals last season and were looking for a fifth consecutive Premier League win, while City were aiming for their sixth consecutive victory, in all competitions, but neither team really deserved more than a point tonight.
The Sky Blues haven’t conceded in their last six games now, and maybe Pep Guardiola has decided how that’s how they can win the title; but the result leaves then in eighth place, one behind United.
What’s next?
Next up, the Red Devils are away to struggling Sheffield United on Thursday, before an old rivalry is renewed next Saturday when Leeds United are the visitors to Manchester.
Marcelo Bielsa’s new boys have made a good start to the campaign, but they went down 1-2 at home to West Ham on Friday night and they’ll hope to get more points on the board in a winnable game at home to Newcastle on Wednesday before heading across the Pennines.
Here at SBOTOP we’ll be reporting on Leeds’ clash with the Magpies and then previewing their trip to Old Trafford, so keep it here for all the very latest Premier League 2020 updates.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are at home to West Brom in midweek; the Baggies are currently in the drop zone and have a long season ahead of them, and they lost 2-1 to Newcastle earlier today.
Then the Sky Blues head to Southampton on Saturday. That will be a good test against the Saints who have made an excellent start to the campaign.
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