Manchester Derby: Man Utd Stun Man City with Late Comeback

In a dramatic turn of events, Manchester United secured a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the December Manchester Derby, marking one of the latest comebacks against a reigning Premier League champion. City led the game until the 88th minute, only to concede two quick goals in a remarkable finale.

This loss adds to a peculiar trend in the 2024 Premier League season, where the team leading at halftime in both Manchester derbies has gone on to lose. Back in March, City overturned a halftime deficit to defeat United 3-1. Tonight, the reverse occurred, with United flipping the script in the dying moments.

The defeat also highlights a rare vulnerability for Pep Guardiola's side at home. Since Guardiola's tenure began, City have lost only four of the 105 Premier League home games in which they were leading at halftime. Interestingly, half of those defeats have come at the hands of their city rivals, including a 3-2 loss in April 2018 and tonight’s 2-1 thriller.

Another point of interest was the age of City’s starting XI. With an average age of 28 years and 137 days, this was the oldest starting lineup fielded by either side in a Premier League Manchester derby since April 2017.

The result shakes up the title race and provides Manchester United with a significant morale boost. For fans of both clubs, the match will be remembered as another unforgettable chapter in the storied rivalry between these two football giants.