Haaland's brace brings down United at Old Trafford, Onana prevented a catastrophe

Manchester United fans were heading to the Old Trafford this afternoon with some gloomy thoughts in their minds. Ahead of the long-anticipated derby with Manchester City, they knew that their team was not the favourite. The Citizens have won more Premier League away games against Manchester United than any other side (8), with seven of their eight wins at Old Trafford coming in their last 12 visits. Ouch. But derby is a derby, and they had some hope. That hope soon vanished when United’s Scandinavian version of Haaland, Rasmus Hojlund gave away a stupid (and rather softly given) penalty and started the chain of events which led to another routine City victory: Manchester United – Manchester City 0-3. It’s hard to believe that visitors took the lead after a penalty, which was, in fact, City’s first ever at Old Trafford in the Premier League era!

In the last couple of years, City’s dominance in the Premier League also means a dominance against their hated rival United. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Manchester City have won 13 of their 24 Premier League meetings with Manchester United (D3 L8), more than any other side in that time. And tonight, the domination was again on City’s side. Even the most fanatical United supporters witnessed it tonight – the Red Devils are way off from City in every department. The only bright side for Erik Ten Hag’s team today was the fact that they did, in fact, have some really good chances and that Andre Onana and Harry Maguire weren’t guilty of those three goals. In fact, the Cameroonian saved the hosts from embarrassment with a couple of excellent saves, while Maguire cleared the ball off the line after only a few minutes into the game. With this defeat, United are back into crisis mode, and Ten Hag is really feeling the heat now.

The first half started with a chance for City when Onana took the ball off Haaland just as he was about to score, while Maguire cleared the ball off the goal line. Then the guests started to ‘hide’ the ball from their opponents like they usually do against everybody, but their dominance was not turned into goals, not even good chances, until the Dane didn’t ‘help them. Youngster Hojlund made a foul in the penalty box by pulling down Rodri and referee Tierney was called by VAR. He looked and decided it was the penalty, and it was Hojlund’s Scandinavian neighbour Haaland who took the lead. Onana then saved his team after a great free kick by Alvarez. McTominay had the best chance for United with a fantastic shot, but after Onana, it was time for Ederson to make a great save. The Cameroonian keeper was again on top of his game and prevented a certain goal with a fantastic reflex save to deny Haaland in injury time. But the Norwegian was keen to score from open play, and Onana couldn’t prevent it.

It happened in the second half when Grealish went down the left, and Bernardo got the ball, and his cross found Haaland completely alone at the back post, who headed it for 2-0. From that moment, United couldn’t do anything for a while and only around the 70th minute did the Red Devils have a decent chance. Eriksen gave a beautiful pass across the pitch from right to left, and Rashford got it, but put his shot wide of the far post. But it was Onana time again just minutes later. Same opponents – the Cameroonian keeper and Haaland, who got the ball from Grealish, but Man United’s goalie was on the spot again. The game ended with an assist from Haaland to Foden, who scored the third and final goal of the game, which prompted many United's supporters to leave the stadium early.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 10

Friday

Crystal Palace - Tottenham 1-2 (0-0)

/Ayew 90+4 - Ward 53, Son 66/

Saturday

Chelsea - Brentford 0-2 (0-0)

/Pinnock 58, Mbuemo 90+6/

Arsenal - Sheffield United 5-0 (1-0)

/Nketiah 28, 51, 58, Vieira 88 pen, Tomiyasu 90+6/

Bournemouth - Burnley 2-1 (1-1)

/Semenyo 22, Billing 76 - Taylor 11/

Wolverhampton Wanderers - Newcastle United 2-2 (1-2)

/Lemina 36, Hwang 71 - Wilson 22, 45+4 pen/

Sunday

West Ham - Everton 0-1 (0-0)

/Calvert-Lewin 51/

Aston Villa - Luton 3-1 (1-0)

/McGinn 17, Diaby 49, Lockyer 62 og - Martinez 83 og/

Brighton - Fulham 1-1 (1-0)

/Ferguson 26 - Palhinha 65/

Liverpool - Nottingham 3-0 (2-0)

/Jota 31, Nunez 35, Salah 77/

Manchester United - Manchester City 0-3 (0-1)

/Haaland 26(p), 49, Foden 79/