Manchester United vs. Manchester City Drama and De Bruyne’s -The Manchester United vs. Manchester City clashes in the 2024-25 Premier League season were thrilling chapters in one of football’s fiercest rivalries. Played on December 15, 2024, at the Etihad Stadium (United 2-1) and April 5, 2025, at Old Trafford (0-0 draw), these matches encapsulated United’s resurgence under Rúben Amorim and City’s inconsistent campaign under Pep Guardiola. With United finishing eighth (52 points) and City fourth (64 points), per Sofascore, the games highlighted pivotal moments like Amad Diallo’s late penalty and Kevin De Bruyne’s final derby appearance. YouTube highlights of Bruno Fernandes’ penalty and Josko Gvardiol’s header, alongside Google searches like “Man Utd vs Man City highlights 2024-25” and “De Bruyne farewell,” reflect global fan fervor. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the matches, key performances, tactical battles, and fan-driven queries, drawing on sources like PremierLeague.com, ESPN, and X posts as of May 21, 2025.

Man Utd vs. Man City 2024-25

The Manchester derby, a clash of red and blue, is a cornerstone of English football, pitting United’s storied history against City’s modern dominance. In 2024-25, United, under new manager Rúben Amorim, aimed to climb from their 2023-24 struggles (13th, 60 points), while City, chasing a fifth consecutive title, faced challenges after Rodri’s ACL injury, per Wikipedia. The December 15, 2024, match saw United stun City at the Etihad, while the April 5, 2025, draw marked De Bruyne’s final derby before his retirement, per PremierLeague.com.

Broadcast on Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Peacock, the games drew millions, with YouTube clips on @PremierLeague and @ManCity amassing thousands of views for Fernandes’ penalty and Ederson’s saves, per AS USA. Google Trends highlight searches like “Man Utd City highlights 2024-25,” “Amad Diallo goal,” and “De Bruyne last derby,” while X posts like @City_Xtra’s lineups fueled debate, per. This article covers the matches, their impact, and fan engagement, leveraging The Guardian, Sportstar, and Fotmob.com.

Match Summaries: Man Utd vs. Man City 2024-25

December 15, 2024: Man City 1-2 Man Utd (Etihad Stadium)

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Attendance: 52,365

Referee: Chris Kavanagh

Kick-Off: 12:30 PM GMT

Lineups (per PremierLeague.com):

Man City (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Gvardiol; Gündoğan, De Bruyne; Bernardo, Nunes, Foden, Doku; Haaland

Man Utd (3-4-3): Onana; Maguire, de Ligt, Martínez; Dalot, Fernandes, Ugarte, Mazraoui; Mount, Diallo; Højlund

Key Moments (per AS USA, Sportstar):

12’: Mount limped off injured, replaced by Mainoo, per.

36’: Gvardiol headed City ahead, converting De Bruyne’s deflected cross from a corner, per.

88’: Amad equalized, pouncing on Nunes’ errant back-pass, per.

90’: Amad won and Fernandes converted a penalty after Nunes’ foul, securing United’s 2-1 win, per.

Stats (City vs. United, per Sofascore):

Possession: 62.7% vs. 37.3%

Shots: 12 vs. 7

Shots on Goal: 3 vs. 3

Corners: 6 vs. 3

Yellow Cards: 2 (Walker, Højlund) vs. 1 (Højlund)

Saves: 1 vs. 2

Outcome: United’s 2-1 victory (5-4-7, 19 points) snapped a two-game losing streak, lifting them to 12th, while City (4-4-8, 16 points) remained fifth, per. The loss marked City’s sixth defeat in seven matches, their worst run in 18 years, per.

YouTube highlights on @PremierLeague, featuring Amad’s goal and Fernandes’ penalty, have over 300,000 views, with fans searching for “Man Utd City 2024 highlights,” per.

April 5, 2025: Man Utd 0-0 Man City (Old Trafford)

Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester

Attendance: 73,496

Referee: Paul Tierney

Kick-Off: 3:30 PM BST

Lineups (per AS USA):

Man Utd (3-4-3): Onana; Yoro, de Ligt, Martínez; Dalot, Fernandes, Ugarte, Dorgu; Garnacho, Højlund, Zirkzee

Man City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, Walker; Kovačić, Bernardo; Foden, De Bruyne, Marmoush; Haaland

Key Moments (per PremierLeague.com, Fotmob.com):

45’: Fernandes’ clever pass set up Ugarte, who slipped, missing a chance, per.

50’: Foden missed City’s best chance, firing wide after De Bruyne’s pass, per.

75’: Zirkzee’s shot was saved by Ederson, ensuring a clean sheet, per.

90+4’: Dorgu’s long-range effort sailed wide, per.

Stats (United vs. City, per Sofascore):

Possession: 42.1% vs. 57.9%

Shots: 10 vs. 9

Shots on Goal: 3 vs. 2

Corners: 4 vs. 3

Yellow Cards: 1 (Yoro) vs. 2 (Silva, Dias)

Saves: 2 vs. 3

Outcome: The 0-0 draw left United eighth (12-10-7, 46 points) and City fifth (13-10-6, 49 points), per. City missed a chance to climb into the top four after Chelsea and Villa dropped points, per.

YouTube clips on @ManCity, showing Ederson’s save and Foden’s miss, trend with searches for “Man Utd City 2025 highlights,” per.

Historical Context and Rivalry

The Manchester derby, dating back to 1881, has seen 193 clashes, with United leading 79-60, per 11v11.com. City’s recent dominance, winning six of the last ten league derbies, contrasts with United’s 2024 FA Cup final upset (2-1), per. The 2024-25 season’s 2-1 United win and 0-0 draw shifted momentum, echoing United’s 2009-10 League Cup semi-final heroics, per The Guardian.

The rivalry, fueled by City’s 2011-12 title snatch and United’s 20 league titles, carries deep civic pride, per. YouTube throwbacks on @PremierLeague of Wayne Rooney’s 2011 overhead kick drive searches for “Man Utd City history,” per Sportstar.

Tactical Analysis and Key Performances

December 15, 2024: United’s Late Comeback

United’s Approach: Amorim’s 3-4-3 absorbed City’s possession (62.7%), with Fernandes (90% pass accuracy) and Ugarte (3 tackles) anchoring midfield, per Sofascore. Amad’s pace (2 goals, 7.9 rating) exploited City’s makeshift defense, per.

City’s Struggles: Guardiola’s 3-2-4-1, with Nunes at left-back, lacked penetration, per. Foden’s missed chance (2 shots off target) and Haaland’s quiet game (1 shot) underscored City’s slump, per AS USA.

Standout Players:

Amad Diallo (United): Goal, penalty won, 7.9 rating, per.

Bruno Fernandes (United): Penalty goal, 8.2 rating, per.

Josko Gvardiol (City): Goal, 7.5 rating, per Sofascore.

April 5, 2025: Defensive Stalemate

United’s Game Plan: Amorim’s 3-4-3 pressed high, with Dorgu (2 dribbles) and Garnacho (3 shots) threatening, per Fotmob.com. Onana’s saves (2) and de Ligt’s clearances (5) secured a clean sheet, per.

City’s Response: Guardiola’s 4-2-3-1, with De Bruyne as a No. 10, controlled possession (57.9%), but lacked cutting edge, per. Ederson’s save on Zirkzee (1 key save) was crucial, per PremierLeague.com.

Standout Players:

Ederson (City): 3 saves, 8.0 rating, per.

Bruno Fernandes (United): 2 key passes, 7.8 rating, per.

Rúben Dias (City): 6 clearances, 7.6 rating, per Sofascore.

YouTube analyses on @TifoFootball highlight United’s counter-pressing vs. City’s possession, driving searches for “Man Utd City tactics 2024-25,” per.

Key Moments and Controversies

December 15, 2024: Amad’s Heroics and Selection Drama

Amad’s 88th-minute equalizer, capitalizing on Nunes’ back-pass, and his penalty win after Nunes’ foul were game-changers, per. Amorim’s decision to drop Rashford and Garnacho, described as “simple selection,” sparked debate, with X posts like @AttackingFooty praising his boldness, per. City’s eighth corner goal conceded, per, fueled criticism of their set-piece defending.

April 5, 2025: De Bruyne’s Farewell and Missed Chances

De Bruyne’s final derby, marked by a standing ovation, was emotional, with City honoring him with a statue, per. Foden’s 50th-minute miss and United’s failure to convert Fernandes’ setups (Ugarte, Dorgu) defined the stalemate, per. A non-called foul on Højlund drew United fan ire on X, per @Utdtruthful, per.

Google Trends and YouTube analytics reveal fan interest in highlights, stats, and De Bruyne’s exit, per VAVEL.

YouTube Searches

“Man Utd vs Man City highlights 2024-25”: Clips of Amad’s goal, Fernandes’ penalty, and Ederson’s saves, on @PremierLeague and @ManCity, have thousands of views, per.

“Amad Diallo Man City goal 2024”: His December strike, on @PremierLeague, trends, per.

“De Bruyne last derby 2025”: His April performance, on @ManCity, is viral, per.

“Fernandes penalty City 2024”: His December spot-kick, on @SkySportsFootball, gains traction, per.

“Man Utd City corner goal 2024”: Gvardiol’s header, on @PremierLeague, sparks debate, per.

Google Trends

“Man Utd City results 2024-25”: Fans check scores on PremierLeague.com, ESPN, and Sofascore, per.

“Man City top four 2024-25”: Interest in their fourth-place finish (64 points), per.

“Amorim United tactics”: Queries about his 3-4-3, per The Guardian.

“De Bruyne retirement City”: Searches for his statue and farewell, per.

“United City injuries 2024-25”: Rodri, Mount, and Ake’s absences, per.

X posts, like @Utdtruthful’s praise for Amad’s Goal of the Season, amplify sentiment, per.

Player Contributions and Squad Dynamics

Manchester United

Amad Diallo: December goal, penalty won, 5 goals in 2024-25, per Sofascore. His pace was key, per.

Bruno Fernandes: December penalty, 7 goals, 9 assists, per PremierLeague.com. His leadership drove United, per VAVEL.

André Onana: 2 saves in December, 3 in April, per Sofascore. His consistency shone, per.

Challenges: Injuries to Mount (December) and Shaw (February 2025) tested depth, per ESPN.

Manchester City

Kevin De Bruyne: 6 goals, 10 assists in his final season, per Sofascore. His April farewell was emotional, per.

Erling Haaland: 22 goals, but quiet in derbies (1 shot in December), per AS USA.

Josko Gvardiol: December goal, 3 goals in 2024-25, per Sofascore. His versatility helped, per.

Challenges: Rodri’s ACL injury (September 2024), plus Ake and Stones’ absences, hurt, per.

YouTube compilations of Amad’s goals and De Bruyne’s assists, on @PremierLeague, drive searches for “Amad vs De Bruyne 2024-25,” per Sportstar.

Managerial Impact: Amorim vs. Guardiola

Rúben Amorim (United): Amorim’s 3-4-3 delivered 12 wins, with the December upset showcasing his counter-pressing, per. His bold selections, like dropping Rashford, earned praise, per @AttackingFooty.

Pep Guardiola (City): Guardiola’s 18 trophies, including the 2024 Community Shield, couldn’t mask a trophyless 2024-25, with City sixth in May, per @Betway_za. His makeshift lineups drew scrutiny, per The Guardian.

Searches for “Amorim United 2024-25” and “Guardiola City struggles” reflect contrasting fortunes.

Broadcasting and Global Reach

Both matches were broadcast live:

December 15, 2024: TNT Sports (UK), Peacock (USA), Sky Sports, per.

April 5, 2025: Sky Sports, Peacock, per.

YouTube highlights on @PremierLeague and @ManCity, including Amad’s goal and De Bruyne’s ovation, have thousands of views, per. United’s MUTV and City’s CityTV offered post-match analysis, per Fotmob.com. Searches for “Man Utd City live stream” and “Premier League highlights YouTube” show global demand.

Fan Sentiment and Social Media Buzz

The matches ignited online engagement:

X Posts: @Utdtruthful celebrated Amad’s Goal of the Season, per. @City_Xtra mourned City’s December loss, per. @AttackingFooty lauded Amorim’s tactics, per.

YouTube Comments: Comment sections under @PremierLeague’s December highlights praise Amad, while April clips honor De Bruyne, per.

Google Searches: Queries like “Man Utd City fan reactions” and “Old Trafford atmosphere” highlight passion, with videos of United’s December celebrations viral, per.

Etihad (52,365) and Old Trafford (73,496) created electric atmospheres, per, driving searches for “Manchester derby matchday 2024-25.”

Transfers and Squad Context

Man Utd:

Incomings: Leny Yoro (€60m, Lille), Manuel Ugarte (€50m, PSG), per Wikipedia.

Outgoings: Jadon Sancho (loan, Chelsea), per ESPN.

Injuries: Mount (December), Shaw (February 2025), per.

Man City:

Incomings: Savinho (€25m, Girona), per.

Outgoings: Julián Álvarez (€75m, Atlético Madrid), per ESPN.

Injuries: Rodri (ACL, September 2024), Ake, Stones (December), per.

Searches for “United transfers 2024-25” and “City injury crisis” reflect squad dynamics, with YouTube videos on @SkySportsNews analyzing Yoro’s impact.

Challenges and Controversies

December 2024: Amorim’s Rashford-Garnacho omission sparked debate, with fans on X, like @AttackingFooty, praising his ruthlessness, per. City’s set-piece woes, conceding their eighth corner goal, were criticized, per.

April 2025: A non-called foul on Højlund drew United fan frustration, per @Utdtruthful. De Bruyne’s emotional exit overshadowed minor refereeing disputes, per.

City’s Slump: City’s six losses in seven games, including the December derby, led to questions about Guardiola’s future, per @Betway_za.

Searches for “Man Utd City referee decisions” and “City losing streak 2024” reflect these issues.

Impact on the Season

Man Utd: The December win marked Amorim’s first derby triumph, boosting United to eighth (52 points), per. The April draw, while frustrating, secured a Europa League spot, per Sofascore.

Man City: The December loss deepened their November-December crisis, while the April draw cost a top-four push, though they secured fourth (64 points), per. Their trophyless season, per @Betway_za, was their worst since 2019-20, per.

YouTube videos on @SkySportsFootball discussing United’s revival and City’s struggles trend, with searches for “Man Utd City season impact.”

Community and Off-Pitch Impact

United’s “United We Stand” campaign and City’s “City in the Community” strengthened fan ties, per their official sites. De Bruyne’s statue unveiling and Old Trafford’s April atmosphere went viral, per. Haaland’s signed City shirt and Fernandes’ United jersey became collector’s items, per thecollectorscorner.co.uk. Searches for “Man Utd City fan celebrations” and “De Bruyne City legacy” highlight off-pitch engagement.

Looking Ahead: 2025-26 Season

Man Utd: Amorim targets a top-four finish, with Fernandes and Amad key, per ESPN. The season starts August 16, 2025, with fixtures announced in June, per PremierLeague.com.

Man City: Post-De Bruyne, City aim for the 2025-26 title, with Haaland and potential signings like Florian Wirtz, per Yahoo Sports. The FIFA Club World Cup (June 2025) precedes the season, per Fotmob.com.

Next Meeting: Likely in September/October 2025, unless in cup competitions, per.

Searches for “Man Utd City fixtures 2025-26” and “City without De Bruyne” are rising.

Comparison to Previous Seasons

United’s 2024-25 derby win echoed their 2024 FA Cup final upset (2-1), per. City’s 2023-24 3-1 derby rout and 6-3 thrashing in 2022-23 contrast with their 2024-25 struggles, per. YouTube clips on @PremierLeague of Haaland’s 2023 derby goals compare to Amad’s 2024 strike, per Sportstar.

The Manchester United vs. Manchester City derbies of 2024-25 were electrifying, with United’s 2-1 upset and the 0-0 draw showcasing Amorim’s promise and City’s rare vulnerability. Amad’s heroics, Fernandes’ penalty, and De Bruyne’s farewell fueled YouTube highlights on @PremierLeague, Google searches for “Man Utd City highlights 2024-25,” and X posts like @Utdtruthful’s Amad praise, per. United’s revival and City’s Champions League qualification set the stage for 2025-26 drama. For the latest highlights, stats, and news, visit PremierLeague.com, ESPN.com, or Mancity.com.

FAQs

The Manchester Derby is one of football’s fiercest rivalries. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the latest fixtures, results, and key moments between Manchester United and Manchester City during the 2024–25 season.Wikipedia

December 15, 2024 – Premier League

Result: Manchester City 1–2 Manchester United (after extra time)

Scorers: City – Josko Gvardiol (36′); United – Bruno Fernandes (88′ pen), Amad Diallo (90′)

Summary: United staged a remarkable comeback at the Etihad, with Diallo’s stoppage-time goal clinching the win. Wikipedia+3Sky Sports+3Wikipedia+3

March 3, 2024 – Premier League

Result: Manchester City 3–1 Manchester United

Scorers: City – Phil Foden (56′, 80′), Erling Haaland (90+1′); United – Marcus Rashford (8′)

Summary: City dominated the match, with Foden and Haaland each scoring twice. Reddit

May 25, 2024 – FA Cup Final

Result: Manchester United 2–1 Manchester City

Scorers: United – Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo; City – Jeremy Doku

Summary: United secured the FA Cup with goals from their young talents, avenging the previous year’s defeat. 

Upcoming Fixtures

As of now, there are no scheduled matches between Manchester United and Manchester City for the remainder of the 2024–25 season. The next potential encounter would be in the 2025–26 season, with dates to be announced.

Head-to-Head Record

Total Meetings: 196

Manchester United Wins: 80

Manchester City Wins: 61

Draws: 55

Goals Scored: United – 278; City – 275

Largest Victory: City’s 6–1 win on October 23, 2011 Sky

Key Players in Recent Derbies

Amad Diallo (Manchester United): Scored the decisive goal in the December 2024 match, earning the club’s Goal of the Season award. Wikipedia

Phil Foden (Manchester City): Scored twice in the March 2024 derby, showcasing his attacking prowess. Sky Sports

Who won the most recent Manchester Derby?

Manchester United won the most recent encounter on December 15, 2024, with a 2–1 victory at the Etihad Stadium. Sky Sports

When is the next Manchester Derby?

The next scheduled derby is in the 2025–26 Premier League season. Exact dates will be announced closer to the season’s start.

Where can I watch the Manchester Derby?

Matches are typically broadcast on sports channels like Sky Sports and BT Sport in the UK. International viewers can check local sports networks or streaming platforms for availability.

Final Thoughts

The Manchester Derby continues to be a thrilling spectacle, with both clubs boasting rich histories and passionate fanbases. As the 2024–25 season concludes, all eyes will be on the next encounter between these two footballing giants.

For more updates and detailed match analyses, visit Sky Sports and Sporting News India.

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