Manchester United stunned Manchester City in a dramatic derby at the Etihad Stadium, as Amad Diallo delivered a late masterclass to secure a 2-1 comeback victory. City’s recent slump under Pep Guardiola continued, with the defeat marking their eighth in the last 11 matches. The loss further compounds the pressure on Guardiola, who admitted post-match that his side’s form is “getting worse and worse.”
The game appeared to be heading City’s way when Josko Gvardiol opened the scoring with a first-half header off a deflected Kevin De Bruyne cross. City dominated possession but lacked the cutting edge to extend their lead. Despite a strong defensive display for much of the match, a lapse in focus in the closing minutes unraveled their efforts.
United’s resurgence began in the 89th minute, with Bruno Fernandes converting a penalty after Matheus Nunes’ errant backpass led to a foul on Diallo. The equalizer set the stage for Diallo’s brilliance just minutes later. Racing onto a through ball, the young winger skillfully flicked it over Ederson and slotted home the winner, sparking wild celebrations in the away end.
The defeat exposed deeper issues within Guardiola’s squad. Bernardo Silva described the team’s final moments as “stupid decisions” and likened their play to “under-15s.” Guardiola himself expressed frustration, acknowledging that he has yet to find solutions for the team’s poor form. City’s collapse comes amid a season of inconsistency, with their title defense now in jeopardy.
For United, the derby win was a much-needed boost under Ruben Amorim. The manager’s bold decision to drop key players Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho paid off, with Diallo stepping up to deliver one of the most memorable performances of his young career. Amorim credited his squad’s resilience and hinted at reintegrating Rashford and Garnacho into the fold next week.
