Manchester City produced a dominant first-half display to claim a 2-1 win at the home of rivals Manchester United.
The Citizens led through Kevin de Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho goals, before an error at the back allowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic to pounce.
United did not deserve their route back into the game at that stage, but they did improve in the second 45 minutes and could have levelled up on a couple of occasions.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford. This is expected to be the most watched fixture in the history of the English top flight, with close to a billion people tuning in around the globe to watch the latest chapter in the ongoing tale between super managers Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola. It is top against third; Red against Blues; United vs. City.
The timing of this match may not be perfect, coming fresh on the back of a two-week international break - something which Mourinho was extremely unhappy about, to say the least - but that has only helped to generate further excitement. This is the early kickoff time for a Manchester derby in some 13 years, scheduled for 12:30pm to appease the Premier League's growing worldwide audience - meaning viewers from Australia to America to Japan can all tune in and watch what should be a real cracker.
There is always a risk of giving a game too much build-up, of course, which so often backfired last season when some of the division's elite played out incredibly bland games - two of which involved United as they so often failed to live up to expectation under former boss Louis van Gaal. With so many different storylines to unfold over the coming few hours, though, this will surely be on showdown that does not fail to live up to the hype. Only time will tell on that front, but before delving into this fixture in some more depth let's first take a look at how the two sides shape up early on in the season.
United, like their arch rivals, have started a new era with three wins from three in the Premier League. The performances have not been as perfect as the results, evidenced last time out when being pushed all the way by Hull City before finally nicking a deserved winner, but Mourinho will of course be delighted to have hit the ground running. Anything less than nine points would have led to more than a few questions being asked, mind, with a nice set of fixtures to ease the Portuguese into life as United's new manager.
It has, in many ways, been typical Mourinho so far in terms of performances. Particularly away from home, United have looked to strangle the opposition in the first half of games before pouncing and getting the job done. All focus is very much on the results, of course, as it should be after three years of underwhelming finishes, but the opening 45 minutes against both Bournemouth and Hull was far from United of old. The Red Devils now have the ability to create chances galore when required, though, helped by a stronger squad thanks to the transfer business carried out by Mourinho fairly early on.
Throw a straightforward 2-0 home win over Southampton into the equation, plus the curtain-raising victory over league champions Leicester City in the Community Shield, and it is fair to say that this has been a very efficient start to the campaign for United. The most recent outing, a 1-0 win at the KCOM Stadium, was very much deserved even if the Red Devils did have to sweat for their victory by an extremely well-drilled Hull side. It took Marcus Rashford's goal in added time to make it nine points from nine, coming after 28 previous attempts failed to find a way past Eldin Jakupovic.
Mourinho's transfer business has worked a treat so far, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic hitting the ground running by bagging four in his first five - and now 41 in 34 overall since the start of last season - while Paul Pogba has also slotted in efficiently enough alongside Marouane Fellaini in midfield. Pogba is the most expensive player in world football now, of course, so the Frenchman does need to take his performance up a few levels once fully settled into his new surroundings - where better place to mark his true return to United than with a performance of his lifetime in arguably the biggest Manchester derby of all time.
We have still yet to see too much of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, which is a little surprising considering he boasted the best attacking stats in Germany's Bundesliga last season. Bringing him on board was a major coup for Mourinho, but the Armenia international has been gently eased into action and will likely miss out again once more this afternoon due to a knock picked up on international duty. The bench is the best he can hope for, unless the Portuguese makes a few tweaks to his starting lineup, but one man who will play a starring role at the back is Eric Bailly - a player who was perhaps the least known of United's summer arrivals but has slotted in seamlessly so far.
Mourinho has, as expected, stuck with his tried and trusted 4-3-3 of recent years since taking over at Old Trafford. Many have questioned whether a 4-3-3 set-up would get the best out of certain players, including record signing Pogba; a formation that in many ways would only hinder the performances of skipper Wayne Rooney who would have no real preferred role in the team. We can surely expect United to keep things tight at the back this afternoon, as Mourinho learns from recent meetings against Guardiola teams when his own sides have often given away possession far too easily.
One man we have seen plenty of so far, to the surprise of many, is Belgium international Fellaini. Having played every minute of every game in the opening month of the season, the battling midfielder is a certainty to start once again this afternoon after shaking off a back injury picked up prior to the international break. Mourinho often sacrifices an attacking midfielder when up against Guardiola sides, so could we see central attacker Rooney drop out today, or will Juan Mata once again be the fall guy? We will find out in around 35 minutes' time when the two teams are officially announced.
One word of warning on that front, though - Rooney has scored more goals than any other player in this famous fixture, bagging 11 in total during his time in the red half of Manchester. The major talking point comes on the right of the attacking trident behind Ibrahimovic; Rashford doing everything that he possibly can to oust Anthony Martial for a starting berth thanks to a late goal at Hull and a hat-trick for England Under-21s in midweek. Mourinho is the man who holds all the cards, and as ever he has held them closely to his chest in the two-week build-up to today's huge showdown at Old Trafford.
In terms of the visitors, Guardiola has also started the season in a perfect fashion with three league wins from three. Sunderland proved to be the toughest assignment thus far, pushing the Citizens all the way before succumbing to a 2-1 defeat, while Stoke City and West Ham United proved easier to break down as City claimed 4-1 and 3-1 victories respectively. Guardiola believes that his side, much like United, will continue to get stronger with each passing game - a statement that will be put to the test over the next few hours when coming up against the Red Devils.
City have kept their best display so far for the Champions League thrashing of Bucuresti, as they smashed five unanswered goals past their qualifying opponents in the first leg before rounding things off with a 1-0 triumph in the return tie. Guardiola is without doubt the most innovative active manager in the game, best summed up by his unorthodox use of the two City full-backs tucking inside to provide midfield support in attacking transitions. With Bacary Sagna back to full fitness, that could well prove to be the key position on the field today.
Guardiola has largely had to use the same group of players from last season so far, but there is already a far fresher feel to this City side. Raheem Sterling has benefited more than any other player, seeing his stellar performances so far land him the Player of the Month award in the Premier League. The ex-Liverpool attacker has scored two and set up one more for his side, yet we could well see him fielded in a False 9 position this afternoon. The absence of Sergio Aguero to suspension is a major blow for the visitors; the club's top scorer - and a player with seven goals in eight games in this fixture - being made to pay for an elbow on Winston Reid.
Mourinho countered that argument by suggesting that City can now alter things and catch United by surprise. While that is in fact completely true - one of Silva, Sterling, Nolito or Iheanacho could start through the middle - Guardiola would much rather have had the prolific Aguero available for selection. The Catalan has been boosted by the return of some of his summer recruits, however, as Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane have returned to training this week and could well play a part at some stage at Old Trafford.
Guardiola has so often opted against a like-for-like replacement when it comes to his leading forward, instead using a midfield players - most recently Mario Gotze - as a sort of decoy for others to get in behind. This is such a high-profile game, though, and City have also won five from five in all competitions, so simply bringing in Kelechi Iheanacho from the start and keeping the other nine outfield players from last time out will surely be the best bet for the Catalan. But then again, this is Guardiola we are talking about...
Aguero's replacement in the side is of course a huge decision for Guardiola to make, but there is arguably one even bigger question to answer: Who starts between the sticks? The Joe Hart saga has finally died down, with the England international completing a season-long loan move to Torino, but is this really the right game to throw in new signing Claudio Bravo? The occasion is certainly not too big for the Chile international, who is quite happy to play in high-profile fixtures, although United love getting crosses into the box and height is not exactly the Citizens' strong point.
The Red Devils have doubled their cross rate in the early stages of Mourinho's tenure, looking to get the ball into the box for the likes of Ibrahimovic, Pogba and Fellaini to get on the end of. Ibrahimovic, one of the best attackers of the ball in world football, is the man to have profited most so far and therefore begs the question whether it is best to leave Bravo out for another few days. It also means John Stones will have his toughest test to date in the heart of City's defence, challenged with sticking to Ibrahimovic in the final third - a task made all the more difficult against a player that often likes to drop deeper to pull opponents out of position.
REFEREE WATCH! The confirmed team news from Old Trafford will be with us in a little over five minutes time, but before checking out the two teams in a little more depth let us first turn attention towards the man who is tasked with running the rule over things this afternoon. Euro 2016 final referee Mark Clattenburg was given the nod to officiate this fixture for a fifth time, having also been in the middle for City's famous 6-1 win here in 2011. Clattenburg has often been accused of favouring United in the past but he did send off Chris Smalling in the FA Cup final just four months ago, remember.
So many questions have been asked of officials already this season - arguably the dominant talking point from the opening month of this intriguing Premier League campaign. Referees have been told to clamp down on player dissent and pulling back inside the box, but some inconsistencies on that front suggests that there is still a long, long way to go before players truly learn their lesson. Clattenburg himself has booked seven players in his two games this season, while showing seven red cards in 51 games last term - including that red for Smalling in the FA Cup final win over Crystal Palace at Wembley.
We are now just one hour away from kickoff at Old Trafford, meaning the confirmed team news should be with us in the next few moments. Plenty of questions to be answered when the team sheets arrive, such as who will be given the nod in City's goal; will Rashford force his way into the side, and if so who will it be to make way; will Mourinho and Guardiola stick with their preferred formations?
TEAM NEWS!
MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw, Fellaini, Pogba, Mkhitaryan, Rooney, Lingard, Ibrahimovic
MANCHESTER CITY XI: Bravo, Sagna, Otamendi, Stones, Kolarov, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Nolito, Iheanacho
So Mourinho has gone with two changes to his side, then, but has decided against bringing in Rashford who has to settle for a place on the bench once again. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard are the two players to come in, the latter of whom was unlucky to miss out through injury early in the campaign and the former a stellar signing from the Bundesliga who is finally handed his first start today. Juan Mata and Anthony Martial are the men to make way, meaning Mourinho will indeed stick with his tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 formation from the off at Old Trafford.
Mkhitaryan picked up a thigh strain on international duty last week and his inclusion from the off is a surprise, but his inclusion, and indeed the injection of pace that a fit Lingard provides, ensures that United will be full of energy today. Rashford being overlooked will disappoint many supporters, but bringing him on from the bench almost guarantees a goal these days! Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia were the other two players with slight question marks in terms of fitness, yet both are fully fit - the latter only returning to the club less than 48 hours ago - and will start on either side at the back.
In terms of the visitors, Guardiola has gone with the smart option by bringing in Kelechi Iheanacho as a direct replacement for the suspended Aguero. Using Silva or Sterling as a False 9 was the other option, as was shifting Nolito into a more central role, but impressive youngster Iheanacho is given the nod and could well take another huge step up in his development at the Theatre of Dreams this afternoon. Claudio Bravo is another player to come in from last time out, meaning a testing debut for the former Barcelona stopper in the heat of a Manchester derby.
Gundogan misses out on the City squad completely while Sane is only on the bench; Guardiola very much deciding to keep changes to a minimum following a winning start to his City tenure. Kolarov and the fit-again Sagna are given the nod at full-back, where they will be tasked with tucking inside the provide midfield support for Fernandinho and skipper David Silva. Possession is key for Guardiola, and this side is set out to dominate things on that front. Mourinho will not be too concerned, as he often talks of the side in possession being most at risk of conceding a goal, meaning a counter-attacking approach has been adopted at Old Trafford.
BENCH WATCH!
MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Romero, Smalling, Herrera, Mata, Schneiderlin, Martial, Rashford
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Caballero, Zabaleta, Clichy, A.Garcia, Fernando, Navas, Sane
Mata and Martial will no doubt feel disappointed to drop down to the bench following that win at Hull last time out, but Mourinho changing things slightly today did feel inevitable. The Portuguese often drops a playmaker when up against Guardiola sides, but in this case he has instead injected a little more pace through Lingard's fresh legs and tasked Rooney and Ibrahimovic with providing the first line of defence high up the field. Rooney has the chance to make it 12 goals in this fixture, having already surpassed all before him to create Manchester derby history.
Vincent Kompany, as well as the aforementioned Gundogan, fail to make the City bench as they are slowly brought back to full fitness. Zabaleta and Clichy drop out of the side as Guardiola continues with his full-back rotation, while Willy Caballero is another to make way from the 3-1 win over West Ham a fortnight ago. A huge match for Bravo in the City goal, then, with United doubling their crossing tally this term and no doubt looking to exploit their opponents at the back today with high balls.
DID YOU KNOW? Manchester United and Manchester City have won their opening three games to a Premier League season for just the second time. The previous occasion that happened was in 2011 when the Citizens pipped their great rivals to the title on the final day to provide this famous fixture with another famous moment. The Red Devils have been back on top of the pile since then, but since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 it has been nothing but stagnation under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.
There are so many various storylines to delve into as we build up towards kickoff, yet arguably the biggest of all is the rivalry between Messrs Mourinho and Guardiola. From close friends at Barcelona to arch enemies now in Manchester, it has been quite some journey for the pair since they first met. The relationship began going south in 2008 when, after holding successful talks with the Catalan giants, Mourinho was overlooked for the job as Guardiola looked to be the better up-and-coming manager. The Portuguese then opted against allowing Guardiola to watch over various training sessions, and things really began boiling over in the famous 2010 Champions League tie between Inter Milan and Barcelona.
Things really came to a head during the super managers' time together in Spain, as regular El Clasico meetings were often dominated by events on the sidelines rather on the field of play. Guardiola has since taken a year-long hiatus away from the game, reportedly due to being warn out by his spats with Mourinho, and the two men have not locked horns in the past four years. In terms of the overall record, Mourinho has won three and lost seven of the past 16 meetings.
On the subject of the two managers, let us now check out some of the pre-match thoughts from both camps as kickoff edges ever closer at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho: "It's more difficult [for us]. It looks a little bit of a contradiction, but without Aguero it is more difficult. When Aguero is available, we know that Aguero plays. We know their formation, we know their dynamics and nobody has doubts they have so many options that for us in the preparation of the game. We have to go step by step, we have to go situation after situation because we try to reduce the unpredictability of the game, you know?"
Pep Guardiola: "Let me live this derby and after I can tell you how it compares with Spain and Munich. I think that for the media on both sides, in Spain and here, it's similar. I saw the four official games United have played and in every game they've played better than in the one before. Like us. Set pieces with tall guys is impossible to control, they're taller than us. They're a top team, like Man United always is."
So Mourinho using a bit of reverse psychology of sorts there by claiming that the ball was very much in Guardiola's court in terms of team selection. Key man Aguero may be absent, but the Catalan could go with any number of formations this afternoon, in the end settling for Iheanacho in a simple like-for-like switch up top. Guardiola was asked specifically about the hype surrounding this fixture, but surely it is secondary to the debate in the weeks and months leading up to El Clasico in La Liga, where the whole country seems to come to a standstill to watch events unfold.
This is expected to be the most watched fixture in Premier League history, though, with around 900 million tuning in across the globe. That does not take into account multiple viewers, either, so one billion is the figure many media organisations are going with - plus it sounds much better! As well as the Mourinho vs. Guardiola angle, we also have Kevin de Bruyne coming up against the man who essentially claimed he was not good enough to perform for a top club, and Ibrahimovic meeting Guardiola, who he claimed was a "spineless coward" in his much-publicised autobiography.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Manchester City are looking for their 50th win in this fixture in what is the 172nd meeting, with Manchester United coming out on top on 71 occasions. The Citizens have failed to win any of the last three, however, having previously won four on the bounce prior to Van Gaal taking charge of the Red Devils, and even failed to register a goal in last season's two games. United have lost three of the last five here in this fixture, however - more than in the last 29.
Mourinho has just been speaking to Sky Sports News, explaining his reasoning behind bringing in Lingard and Mkhitaryan. The Portuguese claimed it was purely down to City's use of full-backs in midfield under Guardiola, believing that by putting in two dangerous wide players the visitors will be forced to go with a more structured 4-2-3-1 formation. This really is an intriguing tactical battle - the first of many this season in a league dominated by a Hollywood list of managers that have flocked to English shores over the past 12 months to test their wits against the best of the best.
While all the talk this weekend has been dominated by this fixture, it is worth pointing out that there is a full fixture list in the Premier League over the next three days. It all ends with Sunderland against Everton on Monday evening in the North East, but before then we will also see Chelsea - the only other side boasting a perfect start - face off against Swansea City. Champions Leicester City are also the first visitors at a revamped Anfield to take on Liverpool in what should be another thrilling match, as the English top flight returns with a bang after two weeks away.
No matter what happens this afternoon, Guardiola has already made some history by becoming the first City manager to win his first five games at the helm when taking into account those Champions League qualifying clashes. Mourinho is also the first United boss to win his first four matches in charge, if including the Community Shield, and can go one step further by making it five from five today. After this match United turn attention to an away clash with Feyenoord in the Europa League on Thursday, while the Citizens host Borussia Monchengladbach in Europe's primary competition.
PREDICTION! A real tough one to call, this, but something has to give in terms of those perfect starts. Both have started the season in fire in terms of results, without truly being at their thrilling best in the league, with this the first major test for both managers. A score draw seems like the most obvious prediction to make but I'll go all out and back the home side to claim a 2-1 victory, thanks to their ability to create numerous chances and also buoyed by star man Ibrahimovic being available through the middle.
Both sets of players have now made their way down the tunnel and on to the field of play. The atmosphere is electric inside Old Trafford for the biggest game of the season so far, as two teams on a real high in their respective new eras look to make it four from four in the league. Something has to give over the next two hours, but will the match live up to the hype it has been afforded? We are about to find out...
KICKOFF! Manchester City get us under way at Old Trafford, bringing an end to all the drawn-out preamble for what should be an entertaining game of football. It will be interesting to see how exactly Manchester United set themselves out, as Mourinho's side perhaps looks to soak up the pressure before springing attacks.
United's ploy already clear to see, as Valencia looks to burst down the flank with three or four red shirts made available inside the box. The cross does not arrive, but City's defensive players - and indeed Claudio Bravo - will have a real task on their hands to keep out those balls from wide.
A superb defence-cutting ball sees De Bruyne find himself between left-back and central-defender, and his teasing ball is so nearly met by Iheanacho inside the box with De Gea unable to reach it. United get away with it, though that was a real scare at the back so early into the match.
Shaw has started this game very slowly, with City getting in behind on a few occasions already in these first seven minutes or so. Sterling and Silva, as well as De Bruyne a little earlier, unable to make the most of the gaps at the back.
SHOT! First sign of United's counter-attacking ability as Rooney powers past Fernandinho and just about picks out Mkhitaryan, who in turn lays the ball off for Pogba who is high up the pitch. The Frenchman bends his shot a yard or so over the bar from range.
City still picking up the ball in dangerous positions in the final third; De Bruyne the latest to draw a challenge from Bailly which Clattenburg deems a foul. It is a good shooting position for City to take on the free kick, but Kolarov fails to make the most of it and sends his shot well over the target.
Sixty-four per-cent possession for City in the opening 13 minutes of the match, which is pretty much what was to be expected this afternoon. Mourinho will be concerned by the amount of space City are finding themselves in around 25 yards from goal, with the right side of defence particularly struggling.
It is the turn of United to get bodies forward and ask question of the City backline, but Mkhitaryan loses the ball a little too easily. The Red Devils' only attacking moments so far have come from counter-attacks; City looking the better side overall.
Fellaini, Rooney and Lingard all make unnecessary errors on the ball in quick succession. The hosts are still desperately trying to get into this match, while their opponents are looking a little more composed and seemingly the more likely to make a breakthrough.
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY (KEVIN DE BRUYNE)
Man City take a deserved lead in the match through the game's best player so far. It was as simple as you like for the visitors, as Iheanacho got a slight touch to flick the ball towards De Bruyne, who made Blind look rather silly by knocking the ball past him and tucking superbly past De Gea when clean through on goal.
Groans galore around Old Trafford at the moment, as City break straight for United's kickoff before Lingard again fails to control a fairly simple pass. To say the Red Devils have failed to get going thus far would be an understatement - it has been pretty much all City, who deservedly lead through the finest of De Bruyne finishes.
Better from United over the past few minutes, as they finally wrestle back some control of the game. Mourinho would have liked to counter, but his side now needs to attack the opposition - not only to find a route back into the game but to also win back the support of those in the stands.
First flash point of the game, as Guardiola refuses to give the ball back to Rooney on the sidelines when the ball went out of play. The situation quickly diffused, though, and when play resumed City were straight back into their groove as Sterling so nearly found space inside the box.
The tempo of the match has not really dropped so far, with more than a quarter of the game now played. United depending purely on counter-attacks now, failing to register a single attempt on target against a dominant City side.
Rooney with two rash challenges in quick succession, as he lets his frustration get the better of him. Still only the one shot on target this afternoon, but there is no question who will be the happier of the two managers - Guardiola's City still sitting comfortably on this one-goal lead.
Fellaini and Shaw constantly being caught on the ball, which is making supporters audibly extremely nervous. Groans galore at Old Trafford, with a second City goal looking more likely than a United opener. Mkhitaryan thought he was in behind, but the offside flag went up.
City still in control, as Guardiola teams often are, but we have seen this so many times down the years. One side on top for large parts, before one lapse in concentration changes things completely. Far too early for a Mourinho change, but do not be surprised to see alterations at the break.
City's pressing has been superb high up the field, meaning that Fellaini and Mkhitaryan are so often looking at blue shirts charging them down. Up the other end of the pitch, United are again far too predictable when countering and lose the ball 20 yards from goal.
The Citizens looking so fluid in attack, but unable to create clear-cut chances of any note. We have still seen just the one opportunity, which led to the opening goal, though it has been far from a boring game of football so far.
De Gea is called into action to pluck the ball from Iheanacho's feet in front of goal. United need half time - it is completely and utter domination from the visitors, who are playing like the home side at Old Trafford.
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 0-2 MANCHESTER CITY (KELECHI IHEANACHO)
Even during the days of Moyes and Van Gaal, I am struggling to remember United being pulled apart quite like this. An incredible first-half display from City, who have been on top throughout and are more than worthy of a two-goal lead - it should probably be more. From their latest fluid attacking move, De Bruyne cuts inside and hits the post, with Iheanacho tucking in the rebound from five yards out. Easy.
I cannot stress just how slow United have been in possession. We will see a breakdown of the stats in a few minutes' time, but seemingly every 50-50 has gone the visitors' way, with near enough the entire game being played out in the Red Devils' half.
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-2 MANCHESTER CITY (ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC)
So many questions in the build-up to this match were asked of debutant Claudio Bravo, and he has just had an absolute howler. It was a simple cross into the box, which the Chilean flapped at to give Ibrahimovic of all players the chance to drill the ball home on the brink of half time. The most undeserved goal you will see all season, but what a huge goal it could be!
So all of a sudden we have a completely different game on our hands. We have seen just three shots on target this afternoon, with all three ending in the back of the net in a first half that has completely flown by. A real edge-of-the-seats thriller, this.
SAVE! United's first chance of their own making, which comes via a right-sided cross toward the back post. Ibrahimovic does what he does best when timing his jump to perfection and nodding the ball on goal, but Bravo this time keeps the ball out. What a half of football this has been!
What is Bravo doing?! He makes an absolute howler for the second time today, failing to collect a simple ball down the middle which allowed Lingard to turn. He has an empty net to shoot into, but cannot quite adjust his feet and the chance goes begging. City now the side holding out.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-2 MANCHESTER CITY
And breath! That was as good a half as football you will see in terms of being gripped. It was also a half of football that, for more than 40 minutes, City completely dominated. De Bruyne and Iheanacho put them into a deserved two-goal lead, but Bravo had a debut moment to forget to make it game on at Old Trafford.
With so many underlying storylines in the build-up to the match, the first half managed to meet expectations as a high-tempo opening 45 minutes had a reported one billion viewers glued to their TV screens. For the 77,000 spectators inside the Theatre of Dreams, it was very much a first half to forget for large parts as the visitors took complete control of the contest from the off.
Chances would prove to be few and far between for the Citizens, with their only two opportunities resulting in goals, but Pep Guardiola was the happier of the two managers prior to Kevin de Bruyne's eventual breakthrough goal 15 minutes into the match. It was not a trademark Guardiola goal, as a simple punt up the field was flicked on by Kelechi Iheanacho for De Bruyne to simply knock the ball past an embarassed Daley Blind, with the Belgian superbly tucking the ball past David de Gea when clean through. First blood City.
United, forced to feed off scraps and the occasion counter-attacking move, saw things get worse before they got better as the Citizens bagged a deserved second through Iheanacho's tap-in from six yards out. De Bruyne was again involved, doing his best to gain revenge on former boss Jose Mourinho by cutting inside and curling a shot back off the post for his teammate to fire into the back of the net. It was a performance that had all the hallmarks of the Citizens' 6-1 win here in 2011, yet the game changed an a debut error from Claudio Bravo, who flapped at a simple cross to gift Zlatan Ibrahimovic of all people the chance to drill the ball home inside the box.
From being desperate to hear the half time whistle to being on top, it was United who were the superior side from that point on as Ibrahimovic saw a back-post header kept out by Bravo, before the ex-Barcelona stopper fluffed his lines yet again on the brink of the interval when failing to collect the ball and allowing Jesse Lingard - back into the starting lineup to provide some pace in attack - the chance to turn and shoot. The returning midfielder failed to pick his spot, though, and City were able to see things through until the break with a one-goal lead intact.
This is a match that has lived up to the hype so far; Manchester City dominating for 40 minutes before Manchester United wrestled back control to end the half on top. We may see a change from Mourinho at the break, though, as the two teams make their way back down the tunnel area...
RESTART! A double change for United at the break, as Mourinho holds his hands up and admits he made a mistake with his original selection. Rashford and Herrera are on; Mkhitaryan and Lingard making way. Still no place for Mata or Martial.
CHANCE! An early chance for the hosts, as Rashford gets in behind just seconds after being brought on. Rashford's chipped pass is met by Ibrahimovic six yards from goal, but he can only send his shot over the bar.
Ibrahimovic sends another shot over the bar, this time from longer range. A complete reverse of the first half now, as United - buoyed by the momentum Ibrahimovic's goal provided - get right at their opponents in search of a second.
United have started the half as expected, really getting at their opponents in front of their up-for-it supporters. Credit to City, though, because they have started to grow more into things, with Silva's ball around the ball just about cut out.
Mourinho was happy to change tact by telling his players to get at City, rather than waiting to pounce on the counter. The Citizens are back in control on the ball now, so it is difficult to tell exactly who that suits at this stage.
PENALTY APPEAL! Bravo is having a stinker. He was brought into the side because of his good footwork, but he overhits the simplest of passes and is forced to lunge in on Rooney. A red card in my opinion, with his studs showing, though referee Clattenburg disagrees.
Another United penalty appeal rejected, as a cross from the right is blocked by an arm, but again Clattenburg is having none of it. The Citizens unable to dominate the game like the did in the first half, which may tempt Guardiola into making a change in the next couple of minutes.
MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Guardiola makes his second change, bringing on debutant Leroy Sane for Sterling in a straight swap. That alteration was desperately needed, with City unable to grab a foothold in this second period.
It is still pretty much end-to-end stuff at Old Trafford, but tiredness is now becoming an issue. That was to be expected after the most frenetic of first halves, but there is still plenty of time for one of these teams to find a winner.
Silva picks up the ball in the hole and has five yards of space either side of him to run into. The Spaniard chooses the wrong option on this occasion, but that shows that United are now throwing everything at their opponents, leaving gaps at the back.
Stones boots the ball into Row Z when under little pressure. Intriguing to see how the next 25 minutes of this match unravels, as Ibrahimovic drills his third shot of the half over the bar from a smart Fellaini knockdown.
Fernando adding some steel in midfield since coming on for Iheanacho a little earlier. City looking far less likely to score when getting forward as a result, but United also unable to create any real clear-cut openings themselves.
Sane wiggles his way into the box, only for his cross to deflect into the hands of De Gea. City struggling to make the most of these attacking moves, looking rather hesitant to truly get at their tiring opponents with a quarter of the game to go.
OFFSIDE GOAL! United fans go wild as they think they have levelled things up. Rashford made the most of some slack defending from Sagna and Stones to cut inside and fire a shot that went the way through, but Ibrahimovic - well offside - got a telling touch in front of Bravo.
SAVES! De Gea at his absolute finest here, as he first keeps out a well-struck Fernandinho shot and then gets up to deny Nolito from even closer range. Fernandinho then got his head to a corner, which De Gea was across to keep out in a comfortable manner.
OFF THE POST! This game has been absolutely incredible for the neutral. United attack from the City corner and win a corner of their own. The Red Devils see a third penalty appeal rejected and within seconds Silva is slipping in De Bruyne for the Belgian to hit the post, with the ball rolling across the line and away. What a game!
SHOT! Chances galore for City now on the counter, as De Bruyne and Silva link up for the latter to curl a shot over the bar. Guardiola will be furious if his side fail to see through this match, with a little over 10 minutes to go.
United still have hope while the scoreline remains at 2-1, but City the team enjoying the end-to-end game the most as they have created five of six half-chances. De Bruyne sends a free kick over the bat from 25 yards out, meaning a chance for the hosts to regroup.
Nolito goes down inside the box following a flowing City move, but Clattenburg - who has been very busy today - quickly waves away the appeals. De Bruyne then felt he was tugged back in the box, but this was a far weaker shout.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Martial is on for closing stages, taking the place of Luke Shaw. An attacker for a defender - cue shouts of "attack! attack! attack!" from the home fans. Don't think any of the reported one billion people watching this match around the globe want it to finish.
YELLOW CARD! Bravo is just taking far too long on the ball. Can't blame Rooney for charging in, making a fair attempt to win the ball, but he was a little too zealous on this occasion and earns a booking for lunging in a tad too late.
We are now 88 minutes into the match and still it is end-to-end! Rooney denied a chance to shoot at one end; Fernandinho seeing a shot blocked up the other end seconds later. Guardiola urging his players to just hold on, seemingly shouting that he wants five at the back.
The Citizens now have little intention of pressing forward quite so much. Crosses galore for the hosts, which are coming to little in truth, but the visitors struggling to pounce when pushing forward. We are now into added time at Old Trafford!
MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Zabaleta is on for Nolito, who smartly positioned himself at the other end of the field to eat up some valuable seconds. All changes now made, we have three minutes of added time left to play in a game that nobody - other than City fans, of course - quite wants to end.
Ibrahimovic so nearly creating his own piece of Manchester derby history with a late goal, but the ball ends wide of the target via a deflection. Time is so nearly up for the hosts now, with just 60 seconds or so left to play at Old Trafford.
FULL TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 1-2 MANCHESTER CITY
Mark Clattenburg sounds his full-time whistle at Old Trafford, meaning a first defeat in charge of Manchester United for Jose Mourinho. Different emotions entirely for Pep Guardiola, who saw his Manchester City side show two aspects to their game this afternoon to hold out for all three points. The Citizens almost proved to be their own worst enemies, but they just about have their perfect start to the season intact.
Well that concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Old Trafford, but be sure to stick around for reaction aplenty from Old Trafford in the coming hours. We also have live coverage from La Liga as Real Madrid face Osasuna, which can be found right here. Enjoy!
