Haaland’s brace lLeads Manchester City to 3-0 victory over Manchester United

In a thrilling English Premier League derby, Erling Haaland starred for Manchester City, notching two goals in a resounding 3-0 win against arch-rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The high-stakes clash left City in jubilation and United grappling with their first defeat in four games across all competitions.

Pep Guardiola’s formidable squad, fresh off a treble-winning season, demonstrated their prowess once again, now standing third in the league with 24 points after ten games.

United, still seeking consistency, find themselves in eighth place with 15 points. Their struggles against City have been pronounced, with six losses in the last eight encounters, including a painful 2-1 FA Cup final defeat the previous season.

Erling Haaland, the Norwegian sensation, took center stage, converting a 26th-minute penalty after VAR revealed a foul by Rasmus Hojlund on Rodri during a free kick.

Notably, this was City’s first penalty awarded in 27 Premier League visits to Old Trafford.

For United, their decline under the ownership of the Glazer family, dating back to 2005, has coincided with City’s ascent as a dominant force in English football, thanks to substantial backing from Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

While United has outspent City in recent transfer windows, their investments have often failed to yield results.

Erik ten Hag, United’s manager, has come under scrutiny as the club’s fortunes take a sharp downturn. The team’s five defeats in their opening ten league games represent their worst start since 1986-87, and their Champions League prospects hang in the balance.

Fans have voiced frustration, and questions about Ten Hag’s leadership are emerging, with United now eight points adrift of the top four and a seemingly insurmountable gap between them and City.

City, under Guardiola’s guidance, aims to achieve an unprecedented milestone: winning the English top flight for a fourth consecutive year.

Having recently matched United’s historic achievement under Sir Alex Ferguson by securing the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in a single season, they continue to set the pace in English football.