Manchester City Defeat Manchester United 2-1

First blood Pep. His plan worked. Jose must have had one too but there was scarcely any evidence of it. Manchester City came to Old Trafford and departed – deservedly – with all the points.

The best football was played by them. The best player played for them – even minus Sergio Aguero - in Kevin De Bruyne. United can have no complaints.
Mourinho was out-thought, his team out-fought and only the desperate inadequacy of the goalkeeper Claudio Bravo on his debut gave the hosts any cause for optimism – a late rally aside.

This game is not going to cost United the league title – certainly not in September – but Guardiola moved his team to the top of the reckoning with a display that had aggression when it needed it, pace when it needed it and control at all times. The pitch was watered at the end but that might have well been to cool down the grass; Guardiola will have not coached a team in as intense a match since his Barcelona days against Mourinho’s Real Madrid.