An early red card, a clinical finish and one last save settled Manchester United vs Manchester City. Manchester City won 0-1 at Old Trafford despite losing Phil Foden on 23 minutes, with Erling Haaland scoring the winner and Gianluigi Donnarumma preserving it at the end. In the ratings, that split is the story: City's lowest mark belonged to the player who put them in trouble, and their best ones belonged to the two who got them out of it.

City's ratings tell the whole story

The stand-out number is Donnarumma's 8. It fits the moment that decided the closing stages, when he made a sensational injury-time save from Bryan Mbeumo to keep the clean sheet.

Shamoon Hafez, quoted by bbc.co.uk, wrote: "Gianluigi Donnarumma: Saw his post hit twice but made a good stop to deny Bruno Fernandes from range and a sensational one in injury-time from Mbeumo for the clean sheet. 8"

That was the goalkeeper's match in one line. Manchester United created enough danger to make a point feel possible, but Donnarumma was the reason it stayed out of reach.

Haaland's 7 was a different kind of influential display. He was quiet in the first half, and BBC's ratings piece described him as having the fewest touches of any player before the break, but he still scored the only goal. That is why he remains such a problem. Manchester City do not need him dominating a game for 90 minutes if he takes the one opening that arrives.

Hafez's summary captured it neatly: "Erling Haaland: On the periphery of the game in the first half, the fewest touches of any player. But came alive to open the scoring in with a cool, first-time finish in front of his own fans. 7"

There is a broader trend too. Haaland now has 3 Premier League goals in 3 appearances, and City have opened the league campaign with four straight wins. Winning away in a derby after going down to 10 men is not how most of those runs are built, which is why this one will please them more than a routine away result.

Foden sat at the other end of the spread with a 3, the lowest City mark. He was sent off on 23 minutes after kicking out at Fernandes, and that left his team playing well over an hour a man light. However anyone reads the earlier contact, the dismissal itself is not really debatable.

The Independent's ratings verdict was harsher in tone but made the same point: "Phil Foden, 1: Oh dear. There’s clearly an argument that Fernandes got away with one, but that’s no excuse for what Foden did."

United's openings and the late escape

United were not short of moments. Marcus Rashford hit the post with a curling long-range free-kick, and Kobbie Mainoo also struck the post from range. With City reduced to 10, that should have been enough to force more than a narrow defeat.

Rashford was rated 6 by the Independent, and their writer called him United's best player on the day: "Marcus Rashford, 6: Bright and buzzy from the left wing. Unlucky with a free-kick that had Donnarumma beaten but struck the post. United’s best player on the day."

That is a fair reflection of United's attack. Rashford threatened, Mainoo had his moment, and Mbeumo came closest of all at the end, only for Donnarumma to get across and save. The finishing was the difference.

There was also a smaller milestone inside the defeat, with Diogo Dalot making his 250th appearance for United. It was not a day the home side will remember fondly, but they were in the game throughout.

The red card debate and the goal that stood

Two arguments will run on from this derby. One is whether Fernandes also committed an earlier foul before Foden reacted. The other is whether Enzo Fernandez was interfering with play when Haaland scored.

Both points deserve mentioning because the coverage split on them. One outlet raised the earlier Fernandes incident and the interference question, while the BBC report did not go that far. Still, neither changes the verified result or the most obvious reading of the match.

City were reckless to lose Foden that early, then disciplined enough to survive it. Haaland still supplied the winner, and Donnarumma still made the final save that kept it at 0-1. Those were the decisive moments at Old Trafford on 13 September.

FAQ

Why was Phil Foden sent off against Manchester United?

Phil Foden was shown a straight red on 23 minutes after kicking out at Bruno Fernandes. One report argued Fernandes may have got away with something earlier, while another did not, but both agreed Foden's reaction left Manchester City down to 10 men for well over an hour.

How did Manchester City beat Manchester United with 10 men?

City still had the two decisive moments. Erling Haaland scored the winner at Old Trafford, and Gianluigi Donnarumma preserved the 0-1 result with a late stop from Bryan Mbeumo. The red card changed the game, but City defended the rest of it well enough to protect the lead.

Did Manchester United have chances to get something from the derby?

Yes. Marcus Rashford hit the post with a curling long-range free-kick, Kobbie Mainoo also struck the post from range, and Donnarumma made a sensational injury-time save from Bryan Mbeumo. United had chances across the match but did not convert any of them.

Was Haaland's winner controversial against Manchester United?

There was disagreement around the goal. One outlet raised the question of Enzo Fernandez interfering with play, while another did not. The confirmed outcome is that the goal stood and Haaland's finish was the winner in Manchester City's 0-1 derby victory.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →