03 June 2023 , 04:00
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The first ever Manchester derby in the FA Cup final is set to take place on Saturday afternoon.
The two clubs head into their latest showdown with their own targets in mind. Pep Guardiola's side are aiming to secure the treble come the end of the campaing - the FA Cup representing the second part.
Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag's side will want to stop their near neighbours from matching their achievements, whilst they also have a domestic cup double in their sights.
Manchester bragging rights is also on offer. It could be a memorable showdown then, and one that could rank in the all-time matches between the two sides:
Man Utd 0 Man City 1, April 27th 1974
The game that will forever be remembered for Denis Law’s late back-heeled goal against his former club United, which he did not celebrate as he thought it had sent them down and ended their 36-year stay in the top-flight. United were relegated anyway, irrespective of Law’s goal for City, after Birmingham beat Norwich on the final day of the season.
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Law’s anguish was understandable though, having spent 11 years at United, scoring 237 goals from 404 appearances. United fans invaded the pitch with five minutes to go and the game did not restart, the Football League upholding the result. United were relegated but came straight back up the following season.
Denis Law thought he had scored the goal to relegate Man Utd in 1973 (Getty Images)Who do you think will win the FA Cup? Share your predictions in the comments below
Man City 5 Man Utd 1, September 23rd 1989
Newly-promoted City marked their return to the top-flight in style, with a crushing defeat over their local rivals, who were still struggling in their early years under Sir Alex Ferguson, who branded it his most embarrassing result – until the 6-1 defeat to City in 2011.
The Blues ran amok, racing to a 3-0 lead by half-time, stunning United, who responded briefly with a scissors-kick volley from Mark Hughes. United’s respite was short-lived, with two further goals sealing an emphatic and historic win for the Blues over their neighbours. The rival clubs would finish one place apart in the league that season, level on points, with United above City on goal difference.
Man City 2 Man Utd 3, November 7th 1993
United had been dumped out of the Champions League by Galatasaray four days earlier in the infamously volatile ‘Welcome to Hell’ game in Istanbul, where the players came under attack from fans. Their misery continued at Maine Road, when they found themselves 2-0 down at half-time. United’s players expected a blast of Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary hairdryer temper, instead he was calm and told them to continue to play the way they were.
Ferguson was proved right, his side staging a stunning second-half comeback, a double from Eric Cantona and a goal from Roy Keane – playing in his first Manchester derby – sealing victory for the champions, who would go on to retain the title and clinch the Double, lifting the FA Cup.
Man City 3 Man Utd 1, November 9th 2002
The last Premier League Manchester derby to be played at Maine Road ended in joy for City and humiliation for United – in particular defender Gary Neville, who was left tormented by his abject display.
Nicolas Anelka gave City the lead after five minutes, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer equalising for United three minutes later. Then came Neville’s calamitous moment, robbed by Shaun Goater in the 26th minute as he tried to turn the ball back to Fabien Barthez, the City striker scoring with a low angled finish.
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Five minutes after the restart, Goater made it 3-1 with his 100th City goal. Neville was subbed just after the hour, an act of mercy from Ferguson, whose side were shown none by their ruthless local rivals.
Shaun Goater gave Gary Neville a torrid afternoon back in 2002 (Getty Images)Man Utd 4 Man City 3, September 20th 2009
This breathless Old Trafford encounter is regarded as the greatest Manchester derby of all-time. Armed with their new-found wealth following Sheikh Mansour’s takeover, City had poached Carlos Tevez from United and enraged Ferguson with their infamous ‘Welcome to Manchester’ billboard posters, depicting the striker’s cross-city defection.
As such, the derby was billed as the most acrimonious – and lived up to it. United took the lead on three occasions, only for City to peg them back. But there was a late twist, with Michael Owen’s 96th minute winner sending United into delirium and a jubilant Sir Alex Ferguson delivering his memorable “noisy neighbours” jibe at City in his post-match interview.
Man Utd 1 Man City 6, October 23rd 2011
Sir Alex Ferguson described this defeat as his “worst ever day” at United as City ran amok, the scoreline significant as they would go on to win the title on goal difference from their local rivals. Mario Balotelli opened the scoring, before revealing a T-shirt with “Why Always Me?” written across the front.
United only trailed 1-0 at the break, but imploded thereafter, a red card for Jonny Evans opening the floodgates for a second-half City onslaught. Balotelli scored again, Sergio Aguero added a third, with sub Edin Dzeko scoring either side of David Silva’s fifth goal for City, whose fans still taunt United on derby days with a resounding chant of: “It should have been 10, it should have been 10, you lucky b*****, it should have been 10.”
Man City 1 Man Utd 0, April 30th 2012
Sergio Aguero’s dramatic and iconic last-gasp goal with virtually the last kick of the season may have sealed City’s maiden Premier League title, but skipper Vincent Kompany’s header against United was equally significant, putting Roberto Mancini’s side into a position where they could go on to win it.
Billed as a title decider, victory put City top on goal difference, just three weeks after they had trailed United by eight points. Kompany’s goal in first-half added time proved the difference in a tight encounter, one Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his side deserved to lose. Ferguson clashed with Roberto Mancini on the touchline, the City boss giving as good as he got in a heated exchange between the rival managers.
Roberto Mancini and Sir Alex Ferguson clash in 2012 (Getty Images)
Man City 2 Man United 3, December 9th 2012
United, stung by losing the title to City on goal difference seven months earlier, were out for revenge when the sides met at the Etihad Stadium. The Reds were top by three points, with City second. United went 2-0 up after 29 minutes through a Wayne Rooney double and looked to be cruising to victory.
But City came back through a Yaya Toure goal, with Pablo Zabaleta making it 2-2 with four minutes left. Honours even, it seemed, but Robin van Persie had other ideas.
In the second minute of injury time, his dipping free-kick evaded everyone, including City keeper Joe Hart, to seal victory for United. Bedlam ensued, with United’s jubilant players celebrating wildly in front of their ecstatic fans, the celebrations taking place against a backdrop of red smoke, from a flare let off in the away sections. Rio Ferdinand was struck by a coin in the chaos, while Hart intercepted a pitch invader who tried to get to the United defender.
Robin van Persie scored a late free-kick against Man City in 2012 (Getty Images)Man City 2 Man Utd 3, April 7th 2018
Pep Guardiola’s City were 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League, with victory over United enough to secure a first title under the Catalan. In anticipation of a City win and a title triumph, the club had set up fireworks on the roof of the Etihad, T-shirts proclaiming City champions were ready to be worn and the champagne ready to be sprayed.
Everything was going according to plan for City, with Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan giving them a 2-0 lead after half-an-hour. City were utterly dominant and could have been 5-0 by the break, Raheem Sterling missing two glaring chances.
Two goals in quick succession from Paul Pogba made it 2-2, before unlikely match-winner Chris Smalling made it 3-2 to United, who delayed City’s coronation. The Blues recovered to set a Premier League record of 100 points for a single season, with runners-up United 19 behind.
Man City 6 Man Utd 3, September 19th 2022
The highest-scoring Manchester derby took place earlier this season, with City running out comfortable winners at the Etihad Stadium. The scoreline ultimately flattered United, who scored twice late on through Anthony Martial to make it a little less humiliating.
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both plundered hat-tricks, with Pep Guardiola’s side 4-0 up at half-time. Ahead of the game, much had been made of how Erik ten Hag had turned United around, following defeats in his first two games, which left them bottom of the table.
Wins in their next four league games had seen United climb the table, but this was a brutal reality check, one which underlined the gulf in class between the teams. City would go on to win a third straight title, with United ending 14 points adrift in third place.