Man City win at Old Trafford with 10 men after Foden red

Manchester City defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday despite playing more than three quarters of the match with 10 men following Phil Foden's red card in the first half. The result extended City's unbeaten start to the Premier League season to four games, keeping them level with Arsenal at the top of the table.

City became only the second side ever to win at Old Trafford in the Premier League after having a player sent off. The only other team to achieve the feat was Everton in November 2025, with Iliman Ndiaye having been part of that side — and the summer signing again proved influential here, introduced at half-time and playing a key role in the victory.

Ndiaye's energy was central to City's defensive shape, with the forward outsprinting all but Antoine Semenyo and Enzo Fernández despite spending only half the time on the pitch. Semenyo covered 304 metres while sprinting, with Semenyo and Ndiaye's willingness to support Erling Haaland helping City push up the pitch despite the numerical disadvantage.

Elliot Anderson was outstanding in midfield, covering 11.6 kilometres — more than any other player on the pitch — and recording 77 touches, the most of any City player. Anderson and Fernández also led both sides for interceptions.

United dominated possession, finishing with 55% of the ball and completing 94 more passes than City, but were restricted to just three shots on target. City's xG of 1.1 edged United's 1.0, from only six shots compared to United's 16.

Gianluigi Donnarumma was solid in goal, preventing a combined 2.6 goals across four league matches according to Opta's Expected Goals on Target model, and has kept two clean sheets in that run.

Haaland scored the only goal and has now netted six times across all competitions this season, including four in the league, as he pursues a fourth Golden Boot in five years. The Norwegian said the victory was one of his favourite matches in a City shirt.

Manager Enzo Maresca celebrated on the touchline at the final whistle, and noted afterwards that United's preference to attack on the counter rather than control possession may have suited City's defensive structure on the day.