Manchester Derby: Preview

It is not an overstatement to say that Manchester derby is the key fixture of the Premier League season 2012-2013. This would be undoubtedly heated battle and one can only keep guessing how many goals both teams will score who will be the hero and the villain. Here are some of the most vivid moments in the history of the Manchester derbies.

1) Currently both teams have played 163 times in all the tournaments. Man Utd beat “noisy neighbors” for 68 times, Man City won 45 games, with both teams tying remaining 50 games.

2) Man City have inflicted heavy 6-1 defeat on their rivals for two times – on the 23rd of January, 1926 and 23rd of October, 2011. Both games were played away from home by The Citizens. Both teams have also won 5-0 once –City thrashed United in 1955, while The Red Devils retaliated in 1994.

3) The highest ever attendance in Manchester derby has been registered on the 23rd of September, 1947, when the crowd of 78 came to watch the game between the bitter rivals.

4) Emotions usually run high in Manchester derbies. One of the most dramatic games in the took place in 1970 when George Best broke Glyn Pardoe’s leg in horror tackle. Man City player was forced to retire from football.

5) Wayne Rooney (8) and Paul Scholes (7) enjoy the record of scoring the most Manchester derbies’ goals when speaking about the players currently playing for their teams.

6) It is the first derby for forty four years that Man City will start as Premier League defending champions.

7) Ryan Giggs holds the record of making 35 appearances in Manchester derbies.

8) Sir Alex Ferguson has been in charge of Man Utd in 45 derbies.

9) The first occasion when City and United have finished the season in the first and second spot was registered in the season 1967-1968 when The Citizens claimed the title due to the goal difference. The history has repeated itself in the season 2011-2012.

Here are some pictures of the most memorable moments of the recent Manchester derbies:

Photos: theoffside.com, thesun.co.uk, sportinglife.com, mufclatest.com, givemefootball.com