Regardless of the sport you support, nothing beats derby day. Even if you are not a staunch fan, the sheer excitement and pandemonium that fills the air are enough to get you curious. England plays host to some of the most epic rivalries of the football world. So intense is the rivalry, such that a simple win over the other is more important than winning the title.
The city of Manchester is home to one of the oldest rivalries in Association football. On one side is Manchester united and on the other are Manchester city. At present, there has been a total of 185 matches and 92 titles between the two clubs. However, there is far more history behind this, as you shall now see.
When did it start?
The Manc derby dates back to 12th November 1881. The game saw a 3-0 win for Newton Heath over their cross-city rivals St. Marks. Newton Heath is now Manchester United, and St. Marks refers to Manchester city. The intensity was not high back then. There was no structured competition and no deposit bonus from betting pools as you would now.
However, that was soon to change after the formation of the Football league in 1888. Since then, there have been some great spectacles that will forever remain in the history books. Here are some of them.
April ’74 – Denis the Menace.
Following a goalless 80 minutes of play, Denis Law showcases his brilliance by back-heeling the match-winner. You may be wondering why this counts as epic, given that back heels are now a staple. But there is more to the story.
Denis Law was a former United forward. And to be condemned to a loss by one of your own is next to treason in the footballing world. Furthermore, United was facing relegation regardless of whether they won or not. Such was the intensity that United supporters stormed the pitch to force the game to be abandoned after the goal.
However, this was not meant to be. The result stood, and Manchester united spent the next season in the second tier of English football. As for Denis, he retired soon after and joined the world of football punditry.
September 2009 – Goal seven for 7. Michael Owen.
The encounter saw a total of seven goals in a 96-minute match. Yes, ninety-six minutes was the total playtime for the match. But that is beside the point. The game was not only entertaining but a roller coaster of emotions to the very end.
Rooney slots in the first goal in two minutes, only for Barry to equalize soon after. Fletcher heads in four minutes post halftime, only for Bellamy to even things. Fletcher once again dispatches a header with ten minutes to spare. But yet again, Bellamy was right there to dampen the mood. However, a masterful pass from Giggs to Owen in injury time was the masterstroke. The wearer of the number seven shirt scored goal number seven to close one of the most memorable derbies.
April 2018 – Smalling redeems himself.
The most recent of these epic derbies dates back to April 2018. City was thirteen points clear at the top, with six matches remaining. A win against second-place United would have made them champions after the final whistle. Most importantly, the win would have made them champions at their home turf. For many on the blue divide, this was a mere formality, given that Manchester City was scoring for fun at this point.
All seems to be going Manchester city’s way as they are two up by halftime. Chris Smalling was the scapegoat, following his lapse in concentration, which led to City’s first goal. However, United was a completely different team in the second half. Pogba scored on the fifty-third minute and a second two minutes later. Smalling turned from villain to hero, following his winner in the sixty-ninth minute.
The rest of the game was an intense affair, with City coming all guns blazing towards the United goal. But, De Gea must have been bitten by a radioactive spider. Some of the saves he made during the game only seem possible with CGI. Ultimately, the final score was 2-3, with United taking the three points.
With in-person attendance not an option at present, it feels right to relive past glories. When you look at how football has evolved over the years, there is plenty to expect for the future. So, if you fancy free-flowing intense football action, the Manchester derbies have got you covered.
