Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho greeted each other as cordially as possible considering the two have had their spats over the years but it was the end-to-end action on the pitch that ended in a 2-1 Manchester City defeat over hated rivals Manchester United that will deservedly command the post-game analysis.
In a match defined by its endless blistering pace, Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring in the 15th minute with an impressive breakaway goal that caught United defender Daley Blind asleep at the wheel.
The Belgian, who dominated the United defense throughout the first half was also involved in City's second goal, firing a shot which ricocheted off the post straight to the feet of Kelechi Iheanacho who scored what will likely be his easiest goal of the season.
"It's a dream come true to play in a Manchester derby, and to get the winning goal, so I am very, very happy," said the 19-year-old Nigerian striker, who appears to have solidified a spot in Guardiola's starting 11. "I didn't anticipate the shot, actually, but I'm happy it came off me."
Wayne Rooney, who looked a step too slow for the lightening pace of the match, vented his frustration by shoving Guardiola midway through the first half. The manager apparently held the ball a second too long for Rooney's liking after it rolled out of bounds. The two shook hands afterward, however, as play resumed.
Minutes later, a mild Rooney free kick which floated outside of the six-yard box drew City's Chilean keeper Claudio Bravo into making a calamitous mistake by coming off his line. Although Bravo grazed the ball, he couldn't control it, and it bounced straight to Zlatan Ibrahimovic who casually thumped in his fourth goal of the season.
United's second half substitution of Marcus Rashford for Jesse Lingard had an immediate impact, with the 18-year-old using his fresh legs to challenge City's defenders with a series of near-misses, one which bounced into the goal off Ibrahimovic, who was loitering offside.
