Report: Man City 3 United 1

City were quickest out of the blocks from the off and went ahead on 12 minutes through Silva. United held firm for the remainder of the opening period but, three minutes after the break, Aguero struck a second. Martial converted a spot-kick just before the hour-mark, but City responded with a third goal four minutes from time from sub Gundogan to earn the Blues the derby-day spoils.

Jose Mourinho made two changes to the side that started in Turin, with the injured Paul Pogba replaced by Marouane Fellaini, while Alexis Sanchez dropped to the bench, after he picked up a late knock in the win over Juventus. Marcus Rashford, the scorer of a derby winner here in 2016, came in to take his spot in attack.

Attack is exactly what the hosts did from the outset. Bernardo Silva was first to take aim on two minutes with an effort that curled just wide. There was no let-up from City thereafter and, on 12 minutes, they went ahead.

A whipped cross from Raheem Sterling fell to Bernardo at the back post who knocked the ball back across goal to where his namesake David was waiting, and the City captain took a touch before powering home.

United soon settled into the game after that setback, but the Blues remained a threat going forward. Sterling and Silva were proving particularly tricky to deal with their slick passing, interchanging of positions and quick thinking on and off the ball. Sterling found himself with the ball and sprinting into the box after Ander Herrera had lost possession, but the Reds midfielder recovered well to get a vital block in on Sterling’s shot.

Clear-cut chances remained few and far between, for both sides, as the half progressed. The Reds mustered a Chris Smalling header which dropped onto the roof net, while Aguero fired into the side-netting just before the break.

City’s record goalsorer made no mistake three minutes after the restart, however, and the Reds will be extremely disappointed with how it came about. A De Gea free-kick was miscontrolled by Jesse Lingard in midfield allowing Aguero to power forward. He exchanged passes with Riyad Mahrez before striking a shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Sterling continued to be a menace to the United defence, but thankfully the City winger did not have his shooting boots on at the crucial moments.

With the Reds trying to find a way back into the game, Jose opted to make a change just before the hour-mark, with Romelu Lukaku coming on for Lingard, and it worked a treat straightaway.

 Lukaku latched onto Martial's ball forward in the area and Ederson came flying out to bring the United striker down. Martial duly converted the penalty to give the Reds a lifeline.

After Fernandinho had stung the palms of De Gea, two more United additions followed with Juan Mata, who netted a vital equaliser in Turin, and Alexis entering the fray with 20 minutes to go.

There wasn’t to be a famous comeback this time, though, as City added a third to seal the victory through Gundogan, who was left unmarked to slot home Bernardo’s cross, after the hosts kept the ball for some time.

United will look to move on quickly from this and bounce back after the international break.

THE TEAMS

Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy, Fernandinho, Silva (c) (Foden 90), Mahrez (Sane 62), Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero (Gundogan 75).

Subs not used: Muric, Kompany, Delph, Jesus.

Booked: Bernardo

Scorers: Silva 12, Aguero 48, Gundogan 86

United: De Gea; Young (c), Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw; Matic, Herrera (Mata 73), Fellaini; Lingard (Lukaku 57), Rashford (Alexis 73), Martial.

Subs not used: Romero, Darmian, Jones, Fred.

Booked: Shaw

Scorer: Martial  58 (pen)

Attendance: 54,316