Man United 2-0 Man City Player Ratings: Bruno, Dorgu Lead Carrick’s Red Devils to Dominant Derby Win

Manchester United, reeling just outside the European qualification zone, started off dominantly in the high-stakes Premier League derby at Old Trafford. As the Red Devils clinched a commanding win at home, let’s check out Man United vs Man City player ratings.

Manchester City were keen to bag a full three points from the away fixture to go closer to the top spot on the Premier League table. But they struggled to take control of the midfield in the first few minutes of the Manchester derby.

Early in the game, Man United, managed by new coach Michael Carrick, had almost broken the deadlock from a corner, with Harry Maguire going for a towering header. His strike, ultimately, hit the crossbar, only to keep things level.

The situation heated up quite early as Luke Shaw was shown a yellow card following a rough challenge. The Red Devils kept shelling out more attacks to frustrate their city rivals, but the defence stood tall every time Bruno Fernandes or Patrick Dorgu had the ball inside the box.

The hosts kicked off the second half in the same way, with Man City struggling to keep up with their counter-attacks. Man United came closer to breaking the deadlock, but Gianluigi Donnarumma made heroic saves to deny some clear scoring opportunities.

The full-house Old Trafford went wild after Bryan Mbeumo lit up the derby with the opening goal, giving United a crucial lead in the Premier League fixture.

It was a beautiful counterattack, led by a prolific run from Bruno Fernandes, that ripped apart the Man City defence, leaving Donnarumma in a one-on-one situation, and Mbeumo pulled off a clinical finish through the bottom-left corner.

Only 15 minutes before the final whistle, Patrick Dorgu stunned Pep Guardiola’s side by scoring his second-ever goal in the Man United colours, strengthening the lead for the home team.

The Red Devils were in no mood to settle down. They were on the cusp of making it 3-0, but Amad’s shot bounced off the post in the dying moments of the Manchester derby. In the stoppage time, Mason Mount struck the third one for the hosts to secure an unassailable lead, but his goal was also disallowed. Carrick's men finally recorded a famous derby win at a score of 2-0 at home.

Here are Man United vs Man City player ratings from the Premier League match.

Man United vs Man City Key Takeaways

1. Harry Maguire hit the crossbar with a header from a corner early in the game.
2. Luke Shaw was booked after a rough challenge in the first half.
3. Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring with a clinical counterattacking goal.
4. Patrick Dorgu doubled United’s lead with his second-ever goal for the club.
5. Mason Mount sealed the derby with a third goal in stoppage time.

Manchester United Player Ratings vs Man City

Check out Manchester United player ratings from the PL game:

Goalkeeper

Senne Lammens - 7.0: We noticed he was calm and collected throughout the game. For a keeper to get a clean sheet against a team like Manchester City is a massive achievement. He made a crucial save early on and commanded his area well, especially with a good high claim. From our perspective, he wasn't tested excessively, but everything he had to do, he did with confidence. A solid display that will boost his confidence.

Defenders

Diogo Dalot - 6.5: A bit of a mixed bag for Dalot. He picked up an early yellow card which could have made his afternoon difficult against Jérémy Doku. However, he managed the situation well. He was strong in his duels winning most of them and made some important clearances. His passing could have been better, but defensively he did his job.

Harry Maguire - 7.5: What stood out to us was his commanding presence. He was so unlucky not to score when his header hit the crossbar in the opening minutes. Defensively, he was a giant, clearing his lines and winning his battles. This was the kind of performance that silences critics. He read the game superbly and was a key reason for the clean sheet.

Lisandro Martínez - 7.5: The perfect partner for Maguire today. His aggression and front-foot defending complemented Maguire's aerial dominance. From our perspective, he was flawless, making eight clearances and always being in the right place. He completely nullified the threat of Erling Haaland. A top-tier defensive showing.

Luke Shaw - 7.0: Another disciplined performance from the backline. Shaw handled his side of the pitch with ease. He was booked in the first half but didn't let it affect his game. He wasn't as adventurous going forward as he can be, but his focus was clearly on defensive solidity, and he delivered that in spades. A very professional outing.

Midfielders

Casemiro - 7.0: The Brazilian was doing what he does best before his unfortunate injury. He was a disruptive force in midfield, breaking up City's rhythm and winning the ball back. His tackling wasn't as successful as usual, but his positioning was spot on. It was a real shame to see him forced off, but he'd already made his mark on the game.

Kobbie Mainoo - 7.5: This young man plays with a maturity far beyond his years. Against a City midfield, he looked completely at home. His composure on the ball was exceptional, and he rarely gave it away. He won his tackles, made interceptions, and just kept everything simple and effective. A truly impressive display that showed he belongs on the biggest stage.

Bruno Fernandes - 9.0: Our man of the match, without a doubt. He was simply unplayable. The stats, six key passes and four big chances created, only tell half the story. He was the engine, the creative spark, and the leader all rolled into one. Every time United went forward, he was involved. A truly masterful performance that tore City apart.

Forwards

Amad Diallo - 7.0: A livewire performance. His pace and directness caused all sorts of problems for the City defence. He was constantly looking to get in behind and was unlucky to hit the post late in the game. His decision-making can still improve, but his raw talent and energy were a massive asset for Manchester United today.

Patrick Dorgu - 8.0: What a game from the youngster. He was a constant threat, worked incredibly hard defensively, and took his goal with the composure of a seasoned striker. Winning nine duels shows his tenacity and desire. He was brilliant from the first whistle to the last. A performance to remember.

Bryan Mbeumo - 7.5: He led the line effectively and got his reward with the crucial opening goal. His movement was intelligent, pulling defenders out of position. He didn't have many touches, but the ones he had were effective. Getting the first goal in a derby is huge, and he delivered a clinical finish when it mattered most.

Substitutes

Matheus Cunha - 7.0: Came on for Mbeumo and made an immediate impact, providing a great cross for Dorgu's goal. His energy was a welcome addition late in the game.

Manuel Ugarte - N/A: Replaced the injured Casemiro and helped see out the game with solid defensive work.

Ayden Heaven - N/A: A late substitute for the final few minutes.

Mason Mount - N/A: Came on for the brilliant Bruno Fernandes in stoppage time.

Manager

M. Carrick - 9.0: From our perspective, he delivered a tactical masterclass. His team was organized, aggressive, and played with a clear plan. They pressed at the right times, defended as a unit, and were clinical in attack. To mastermind such a dominant 2-0 victory over Pep Guardiola's City at Old Trafford is a phenomenal achievement.

Manchester City Player Ratings vs Man United

Here are Manchester City player ratings from the Manchester derby:

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma - 7.0: He was one of the few City players to emerge with any credit. He made five saves, including a couple of really sharp stops to deny United. There was very little he could do about either of the goals. Without him, the scoreline could easily have been much worse for the visitors. A busy and frustrating afternoon for the Italian keeper.

Defenders

Nathan Aké - 5.5: A day to forget for Aké. He looked uncomfortable against the pace and movement of United's attackers. He was caught out of position a few times and committed a needless foul. He just never seemed to get to grips with the game's intensity. A subpar performance from the usually reliable defender.

Abdukodir Khusanov - 6.0: He had a lot of the ball and his passing was accurate, but defensively he was part of a unit that was breached too easily. He made a high number of clearances which shows how much pressure City were under. However, he struggled to contain the fluid attacks from the home side. A tough learning experience.

Max Alleyne - 5.5: He was hooked at halftime, which says a lot about his performance. He had one shot on target but offered little else. He seemed off the pace and struggled to make any real impact on the game either defensively or in possession. A difficult first 45 minutes for the young defender.

Rico Lewis - 5.0: A really poor performance from Lewis. He was tenacious but often reckless, committing fouls and picking up a deserved yellow card. He lost possession frequently and was dribbled past too easily. He blazed a great chance over the bar late on, which summed up his frustrating day.

Midfielders

Rodri - 6.0: It's rare to see Rodri lose a midfield battle so comprehensively, but that's what happened here. While his passing numbers were high as usual, he had no control over the game's tempo. He was booked for a cynical foul and looked frustrated. He was bypassed too often by United's quick transitions.

Bernardo Silva - 5.5: We barely noticed he was on the pitch. As captain, you expect him to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, but he was completely anonymous. He lost the majority of his duels and offered no creative spark. It was no surprise when he was substituted with 10 minutes to go.

Phil Foden - 5.5: Another player who had a shockingly quiet game. He was substituted at halftime after making zero impact. He couldn't get on the ball in dangerous areas and seemed lost in the frantic pace of the first half. A very disappointing showing in a big game.

Jérémy Doku - 6.0: He was City's most likely source of danger, constantly trying to take on his man and drawing several fouls. However, his final product was consistently poor. His dribbles often led to nothing, and his crosses were inaccurate. There was a lot of smoke but no fire from Doku today.

Antoine Semenyo - 6.5: He worked hard and looked lively at times, but like his teammates, he lacked a cutting edge. He created one decent chance for Silva and had a shot of his own that went just wide. He showed good effort but couldn't provide the moment of quality City needed.

Forwards

Erling Haaland - 4.5: From our perspective, this was one of the worst performances we've seen from him in a City shirt. He was completely invisible. With only 14 touches in 80 minutes, he was totally marked out of the game by Maguire and Martínez. He had two shots blocked but never looked like scoring. A truly anonymous and ineffective display.

Substitutes

Nico O'Reilly - 5.5: Came on at halftime but couldn't change the flow of the game and picked up a yellow card.

Rayan Cherki - 6.0: Replaced Foden but struggled to get involved in any meaningful way.

Tijjani Reijnders - N/A: A late change for Bernardo Silva.

Rayan Aït-Nouri - N/A: Came on for the final 10 minutes.

Divine Mukasa - N/A: Replaced the ineffective Haaland for the closing stages.

Manager

Josep Guardiola - 4.0: A rare off-day for the master tactician. His team looked flat, uninspired, and were second-best in every department. His starting lineup seemed wrong, and his substitutions had no positive effect on the game. He was thoroughly outmaneuvered by his opposite number in the dugout. A day he'll want to forget quickly.

Man United vs Man City Man of the Match

Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandes was the POTM with a rating of 9/10.

Worst Performer

Man City star Erling Haaland had a bad game and claimed a rating of 4.5/10.