Marcus Rashford

Ranked: Our 10 best Old Trafford derby goals

Friday 11 December 2020 16:25

Manchester United go head-to-head with Manchester City at Old Trafford in the 183rd Manchester derby on Saturday evening.

Down the years, meetings with our crosstown rivals at the Theatre of Dreams have produced an array of memorable strikes etched into the fixture’s recent history.

Ahead of the latest instalment in M16 on Saturday, here’s our top 10 goals against the Blues on home soil – these are bound to bring back some fond memories…

10 – ANTHONY MARTIAL (2019/20)
For our first in the countdown, look no further than our last meeting with the Blues at Old Trafford, back in March. An instinctive bit of magic via a quick free-kick from Bruno Fernandes set in the Frenchman who converted on the volley to give United the first-half lead and break the deadlock after a well-contested start to the encounter.

9 – MARCUS RASHFORD (2017/18)
It’s fair to say our no.10 has enjoyed his time in the fixture over the last few years. Having scored on his Manchester derby debut the year before at the Etihad Stadium, Marcus popped up again to register his first derby goal on home soil. An equaliser at the time, it was unfortunately in vain as the visitors edged back ahead in the second 45 before taking all three points back across the city.

Ranked: Our top 10 goals v City at home Video

Ranked: Our top 10 goals v City at home

Cantona, Ronaldo and Rooney are all represented in this delicious derby-goal compilation…

8 – DARREN FLETCHER (2011/12)
The one highlight on a rare afternoon to forget for Sir Alex Ferguson’s Reds at Old Trafford. Fletch’s superb curling effort into the top corner was only a consolation as the Blues hit six on a disappointing day at the office for United.

7 – ERIC CANTONA (1994/95)
It couldn’t be a top 10 of United goals without an appearance from the King, could it? Eric’s thumping finish turned out to just be the warm-up act for an Andrei Kanchelskis hat-trick as the Reds ran out 5-0 winners on a memorable night at the Theatre of Dreams.

6 – JUAN MATA (2014/15)
The Spaniard’s first goal in a Manchester derby and typical of his cool nature in front of goal. The midfielder’s calculated finish through the legs of Joe Hart extended the Reds’ lead on the day as Louis van Gaal’s side went on to register a sixth-straight win in the Premier League.

5 – CRISTIANO RONALDO (2008/09)
The 118th and final goal of Cristiano’s glittering six years in Manchester. His long-range free-kick helped United towards a 2-0 win over our crosstown rivals and took us a step closer to winning the 2008/09 Premier League title.

4 – SCOTT MCTOMINAY (2019/20)
A brilliant bit of attentive play from our Scotland international to create an iconic moment in the closing stages of our last meeting with the Blues. McTominay’s long-range finish sparked wild celebrations inside Old Trafford as Ole’s Reds wrapped up all three points deep into stoppage time. Here’s to more scenes like that again soon!

Ole’s three wins against Pep Video

Ole’s three wins against Pep

The Reds beat the Blues in 75 per cent of our meetings last season – relive each victory here…

3 – NANI (2010/11)
A goal often forgotten as a result of the one that came shortly after it. The quality wasn’t lacking however, as the Portuguese winger combined a neat touch with a cool finish to break the deadlock shortly before the break.

2 – MICHAEL OWEN (2009/10)
A year earlier, it was Michael Owen’s turn in front of the Stretford End, and what a turn it was. Having signed for United in that summer, the forward’s 96th-minute winner was his first goal for the Reds at the Theatre of Dreams as United jubilantly won all three points with one of the last kicks of an action-packed encounter.
Classic Match: United 2 Man City 1 Video

Classic Match: United 2 Man City 1

“I have never seen a goal like that in my life,” said Sir Alex Ferguson, after Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick in 2011…

1 – WAYNE ROONEY (2010/11)
It just had to be, didn’t it? A goal worthy of winning any top 10, or game for that matter. Wazza’s superb overhead kick to meet Paul Scholes’s deflected cross was the decisive moment in 2010/11’s Premier League meeting at OT as United beat the Blues on the way to securing a record 19th league title in the months that followed.

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