Ole Gunnar Solskjaer once again got the better of Pep Guardiola as Manchester United beat Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, delivering a tactical masterclass that exposed City's vulnerabilities. Despite the win, City remain 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League, leaving United fans to question why such a performance was absent in recent draws against West Brom, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace.
Solskjaer has become the first United manager to win his first three away games against City, and among managers who have faced Guardiola more than three times, he is the only one with more wins (four) than losses (three). The victory provided a blueprint for other teams to beat City, relying on disciplined defence, quick counter-attacks, and exploiting space left by City's possession-heavy style.
United saw just 34% possession on Sunday, similar to their 28.1% and 27.7% in previous derby wins. Solskjaer's game plan utilised the pace of Marcus Rashford, Dan James, and Anthony Martial to trouble City's back line, a strategy that proved effective in the December 2019 win at the Etihad.
City, chasing an unprecedented Quadruple, face a demanding schedule of 20 more games, including knockout competitions. Solskjaer's success has shown how Guardiola's side can be out-thought, but with City still heavy favourites for the league, the question remains whether United can sustain such form in crucial matches.
