Man Utd hold key to beating Man City as Ten Hag tasked with bucking derby trend

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Manchester United facing Manchester City is always a daunting prospect for fans of the latter in the current day and age – just two wins from the last eight meetings indicate why. But a common trend has emerged from City’s recent derby triumphs that Erik ten Hag must solve if United are to triumph at Old Trafford on Sunday.

United will be the underdogs when the Cityzens travel across the city – as has become customary during Pep Guardiola’s reign of dominance.

Old Trafford hosted one of the most memorable days of Ten Hag’s first season in charge when United came from a goal down in the second half to beat their bitter rivals 2-1.

But City earned the ultimate bragging rights last time out, edging past the Red Devils in June’s FA Cup final on their way to matching Sir Alex Ferguson’s historic 1999 treble.

United put up a fight at Wembley Stadium after Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring just 13 seconds in.

Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot, but Gundogan struck again early in the second half, to which Ten Hag’s side couldn’t respond.

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City’s early goal was the latest in a worrying trend that paints a picture of why the blue side of Manchester has had a bigger share of the spoils as of late.

In all of City’s last four victories against United, stretching back to 2021, Guardiola’s side have opened the scoring in the first 10 minutes.

In November 2021, a 2-0 win, an Eric Bailly own goal handed the visitors the lead at Old Trafford before Bernardo Silva added a second on the stroke of half-time.

In March 2022, Kevin De Bruyne scored the first of four goals in a 4-1 rout at the Etihad Stadium just five minutes in.

Jadon Sancho levelled the score in the 22nd minute before De Bruyne almost instantly restored the lead and Riyad Mahrez netted a brace of his own after the break.

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In October 2022, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland ripped Ten Hag’s side apart with a hat-trick each at the Etihad.

Foden’s deadlock-breaker came in the eighth minute, and it became abundantly clear it would be a long day for the away side from then onwards.

If United are to avoid a seventh defeat of the season on Sunday, they must ensure their defence snaps out of their porous form.

Many fear it will likely be another derby day to forget at United. Conceding in the first 10 minutes would almost certainly bring those concerns to life.

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