By Sports Correspondent

Manchester City turned the Manchester derby into a procession on Sunday afternoon, brushing aside a disjointed Manchester United 3–0 at the Etihad Stadium. It was a victory that carried both style and symbolism: City looked comfortable without ever hitting top gear, while United were left chasing shadows and asking uncomfortable questions of themselves.

Foden Breakthrough Sets the Tone

The breakthrough came from an unlikely pocket of space. Jeremy Doku, stationed on the left wing, drifted centrally into what Pep Guardiola would call the “half-space,” spun away from his marker and threaded his way into a number 10 position. His movement disrupted United’s defensive shape, and when he turned, Phil Foden’s instincts took over. The England international ghosted into the box and met Doku’s second attempt with a perfectly steered header, leaving United with eight red shirts in the penalty area and yet no answer to City’s blue precision.

Haaland Delivers His Trademark Punch

If Foden’s opener set the stage, Erling Haaland provided the knockout blows. The Norwegian striker, whose very presence terrorises Premier League backlines, struck twice more to seal the contest. His first came shortly after the restart, the kind of ruthless finish that has become his trademark. His second, deep in the second half, was delivered with a calm inevitability, a reminder that if you give him a yard, he will take the goal.

Doku the Difference Maker

Much of the post-match conversation circled back to Doku. The Belgian winger has been in red-hot form for club and country, and here he was the difference-maker. His daring to cut inside, his willingness to take on defenders, and his ability to spot passing lanes created constant panic in the United back line. It was not just about dribbles or flair, but about intelligence — moving into spaces United had no plan to cover.

United in Tactical Disarray

For Manchester United, the story is bleaker. The scoreline flattered them. Defensive organisation was absent, with players visibly confused by their assignments. At times, United had numbers in the right places but no coordination, conceding three goals while flooding their own box. The system looked broken, the players unsure, and questions about whether the manager can adapt are growing louder. Calls for a return to basics — a back four, clear roles, and direct football — are starting to gain momentum.

The Bigger Picture

This victory does more than add three points to City’s tally. It reasserts their dominance in Manchester and steadies the ship after a string of inconsistent displays in recent weeks. For Guardiola, it will be seen as a performance of control: not their most dazzling display, but one of authority and maturity. For United, it is another sobering reminder that the gulf between the two clubs remains vast, not just in quality, but in clarity of purpose.

Final Word

Derbies are meant to be battles of equals, but this was a mismatch. City were fluid, ruthless, and assured. United were hesitant, fractured, and fragile. The Etihad roared, the blue half of Manchester celebrated, and once again the red half was left staring at a painful truth: in this city, there is only one team in control.