No winners, no spark: Manchester derby ends in goalless draw

TDT | Manama

Email : hussianm@newsofbahrain.com

Manchester United and Manchester City played out a forgettable 0-0 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday, in a tepid Premier League derby that failed to ignite and dealt a blow to City’s hopes of a Champions League return.

With Erling Haaland absent through injury, Pep Guardiola’s side lacked cutting edge and struggled to find rhythm in attack. The result leaves City fifth in the table, one point behind Chelsea, while United sit in 13th with 38 points, continuing a season marked by inconsistency.

In a first half light on chances and atmosphere, both sides were tentative. The second period brought slight improvement. City’s Omar Marmoush forced a fine save from Andre Onana with a strike from distance, while United’s Joshua Zirkzee tested Ederson with a sharp turn and volley.

“I’m happy with the performance — obviously not the result,” said United captain Bruno Fernandes. “The game was there for both teams.”

Despite a few late surges, neither side found the breakthrough. United’s calls for a penalty when Ruben Dias fell on the ball in the box were waved away, and City couldn’t capitalise on their spells of possession.

The draw marked the first goalless Manchester derby since 2020. Unlike December’s dramatic 2-1 United win at the Etihad, this 196th meeting between the two clubs was short on drama — and fans took notice, with many heading for the exits well before the final whistle.

Kevin De Bruyne, in what could be his final derby appearance, received warm chants from travelling City fans throughout. But the mood at Old Trafford soured after full-time, with hundreds of United supporters staging a sit-in protest against the club’s ownership and ticket price increases, holding banners that read: “RIP fan culture, 1878–2025” and “Glazers out.”

For both clubs, the result did little to answer the growing questions that have defined their troubled seasons.