Manchester City: Ederson, Danilo, Otamendi, Kompany (c), Walker, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Sane, De Bruyne, Silva, Aguero.

Manchester United: De Gea, Manolas, Virgil van Dijk, Smalling, Ashley Young, Kante, Jesse Lingard, Pogba, Valencia, Mbappe, Rashford, Chu Ge (c).

'It's the battle for the top spot in the Premier League.'

"It's a Manchester derby."

A simple single sentence kicked off the prelude to this focus war.

……

The stands at Old Trafford were packed.

Manchester United's red and Manchester City's blue are clearly distinguished in the century-old Theater of Dreams.

Red clearly dominates,

Because this is Old Trafford.

However, the blue group is not in the minority. In Manchester, Manchester City supporters have been even more insolent than their old rivals this season.

"Eighteen consecutive wins, can you second me?"

They put up wanton slogans in the stands, which is quite untouchable.

And they have this capital.

Eighteen consecutive wins are an achievement that Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and other traditional giants of England have never achieved.

If someone tells you that this season, Manchester City can do it, they can win eighteen in a row in the league, or even eighteen in the first twenty league games, you must think he is crazy.

However.

Manchester City did it.

This is their proud capital.

To be any team in the world is enough to be proud of it.

In Ligue 1, the longest winning streak was sixteen (Monaco 2017), but that was across seasons.

If you only count a single season, it should be Bordeaux's eleven wins in a row (08-09).

La Liga's longest winning streak is also 16 in a row, held by Real Madrid (2016 cross-season) and Barcelona (10-11).

Serie A is the seventeenth consecutive win, which belongs to Inter Milan in the 06-07 season.

Manchester City's eighteen consecutive wins have surpassed Bordeaux, Monaco, Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as Inter Milan.

In Europe's top five major leagues, their winning streak is second only to Bayern Munich in the 13-14 season, and the second highest in Europe.

The data may be a bit simple and boring, but it's the most straightforward and realistic.

Every team in the past, in the season when they won in a row, won the league title and was the greatest team in the league at the time.

Today, Manchester City sit side by side with them.

It's no wonder Manchester City fans are so proud.

Raise your eyes and look around,

Invincible!

Interestingly, Bayern Munich, who holds the most consecutive wins in the top five leagues, is the manager of Manchester City this season, Pep Guardiola.

Manchester City are just one game away from Bayern Munich's nineteen consecutive wins.

"Maybe it's the game against Manchester United." Manchester City fans thought.

There's nothing happier than tying the record for the highest winning streak in the top five leagues.

If there is,

That is to step on the corpse of the city's sworn enemy Manchester United,

Climb to the top of Europe's best.

"Come on, Manchester City! Fighting！ ”

The Manchester City fans are very passionate.

They shouted slogans to cheer for the team, and from the first minute of the game, they were full of passion.

……

Pep Guardiola stands on the sidelines.

He watched the game with a calm expression.

But the smug ambition in his eyes shows that the coach is currently proud.

First in the league, 18 consecutive wins, the first place in the Champions League group, the first round of the Champions League knockout opponent is the Swiss team Basel at the bottom of the round of 16.

If you look at Manchester City's starting line-up for this game, it's called a star-studded line-up.

Look at their bench again.

Yaya Toure, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Bernato Silva, Stones......

Pulling out a substitute player at any time is a role that the Milan duo can't afford.

Maybe it's called a galactic battleship.

Leading such a team, Guardiola is naturally full of ambition.

He glanced at Alex Ferguson, who was also standing on the sidelines.

Ferguson's face was visibly much more solemn.

The red-nosed coach kept chewing gum, gasping for an overcoat, and his hands in his pockets, standing on the sidelines.

In this game, he still fielded the best player.

Except for Anthony Martial on the bench.

Manchester United went into Manchester City with almost the strongest squad.

But whether this squad can get out of front of Manchester City, Ferguson is not sure.

Pep Guardiola's side even reminded Ferguson of the Barcelona side he met in the Champions League final.

That game took place at Wembley Stadium.

Ferguson still remembers it vividly.

The powerlessness in the face of Barcelona at that time made Ferguson extremely frustrated.

And today, once again, he faced the Cosmos team led by Pep Guardiola.

He couldn't help but have some concern.

Eyes on the players on the field swept over one by one.

Compared to that classic game back then, Manchester City did not have Xavi, but they had De Bruyne. The only thing that is difficult to replace may be that they do not have Messi.

And for Manchester United.

Manchester United just faced Ronaldo's exodus, relying on the explosive seed of Ryan Giggs, the luck of the luck, and the on-the-spot command of Lord Flederm against the sky, all the way to the final.

And today's Manchester United, there is Van Dijk, Kante, and Mbappe.

And Chu Ge.

"Maybe today's game will be different from that year." Ferguson watched the players silently.

In this game, Manchester City controlled the tempo of the game from the start.

They dominated the game, steadily increasing their possession and repeatedly burned the flames into United's half.

It looks like the advantage is obvious.

But Ferguson can see that his children are not passive.

Chu Ge retreated to respond, and Kante swept around.

With Van Dijk defended closely, Manchester City's striker Sergio Aguero rarely even managed to get a football.

Manchester United's players looked passive, but the overall formation of the team remained very compact and full of tension.

It's like a spring.

Although he was pressed down by his opponent, once there was a chance and space to counterattack, Ferguson was confident that his players would strike hard and deal a heavy blow to this seemingly unshakable formidable opponent.

……

Chu Ge takes the ball.

He took two steps with the ball and was soon tackled by De Bruyne, who rushed towards him.

The two neighbors who lived together did not show mercy to each other when they arrived on the court.

Change your feet.

The tackle tackles.

-for-tat, even more difficult.

And

It is precisely because of their intimate knowledge of their opponents that when they meet each other, they not only show no mercy, but are more targeted and ruthless than the usual game.

After shoveling Chu Ge.

See the ball fly safely off the sideline.

Ding Ding stood up at this time, and reached out to pull Chu Ge up by the way.

Chu Ge grinned, complained twice, and patted Ding Ding's ass with his hand.

DuangDuang's rebound.

Tintin didn't care either.

The two looked at each other and smiled, and each returned to his place.

De Bruyne's movements looked very big, but he was obviously going towards the football, and he didn't hurt anyone, so Chu Ge was not substantially affected, but he was a little painful when he was hit, and he could return to normal with two strokes. The referee will not blow a foul for this.

Matches resumed.

Confrontations like this are not uncommon.

For every inch of space on the court, the players on both sides are fighting for every inch of land and will not give up at all.

The competition was very intense.

This is the Manchester derby.

……

"In this game, the two sides went back and forth, and the tempo went very fast. Overall, Manchester City have a certain advantage, but the advantage is not obvious. ”

……

"Before you know it, more than 20 minutes have passed since the game, and the score is still 0:0."

……

'Now it's Manchester United's chance to attack, Chu Ge receives a pass from Pogba and dribbles forward. He had just started his pace when he was forced to the wing by Fernandinho and Gundogan. It seems that Manchester City is very concerned about Chu Ge's marking in this game. I'd rather let Chu Ge get the ball on the side than let him break through in the middle. ”

……

"Good shot! De Bruyne shoots a cold shot from outside the box. His shot was very powerful and resolute, with great power and angle, but United goalkeeper David De Gea was very well positioned and focused. In the face of the incoming ball, De Gea quickly adjusted his pace, jumped in time and saved the ball to deflect City's long-range shot. It was a good shot, with Kevin De Bruyne shooting well and De Gea keeping it beautifully. ”

……

"Chu Ge! Chu Ge! ”

Chu Ge suddenly accelerated horizontally, cut inside with the ball from the left side, and formed a breakthrough in a row. In the area of about 30 meters from the goal, he forced a shot at great speed, and the angle was tricky, but unfortunately it was slightly over the crossbar. ”

"In this game, both sides were mostly long-range shots from outside the box. In the box, neither team gets many chances. ”

……

As the commentator narrates, the time flies by.

The score is still 0:0.

Neither side scored first.

In the stands, whether it is Manchester United fans or Manchester City fans, emotions are still full. They shouted and applauded their players from time to time.

A high-quality game doesn't lose its appeal just because you don't score a goal.

Instead, it will be more nervous.

In such a game, whoever scores first will have the advantage and have the advantage in the derby.

……

Ferguson called Kante over.

He gave N'Golo Kante a few words of encouragement and got him back on the pitch with no actual tactical set-up.

His move seemed meaningless, but it interfered with Guardiola and Manchester City's players on the pitch.

Pep Guardiola can't help but wonder if Ferguson has changed some tactics.

Just like he didn't expect before the game, Ferguson would suddenly switch to a back three in this game.

"Did he call Kante over, was there any arrangement?"

While watching the game, Guardiola's eyes can't help but take the initiative to observe N'Golo Kante's movement from time to time.

He was pondering what kind of tactical intentions N'Golo Kante had with the United manager.

The same is true for City's players.

They will also unconsciously pay more attention to Kante.

In fact, it is false,

Fiction is reality,

Playing tactics, it's all like that.

Perhaps it was this "empty city strategy" that worked, when the game reached the 37th minute, Pogba suddenly retreated and received a pass from Van Dijk.

Long legs on the court,

Pogba started to move forward with the ball.

His style of dribbling the ball is very different from Chu Ge's.

Chu Ge likes to tease his opponent with changes in speed and rhythm, and once he finds space, he immediately speeds up. Pogba, on the other hand, uses his strong body to protect the ball under his control at all times, dribbling forward while observing the situation around him.

The long legs and thick and powerful body make it difficult for Manchester City's defenders.

Although Gundogan is also physically strong, it is still difficult for him to steal Pogba directly, so he can only keep his tail tight.

After dribbling the ball for four or five meters, Pogba quickly found Chu Ge.

As Pogba pushed forward, Chu Ge also quickly ran to the wing, pulling City's defensive formation apart and getting ready to receive the ball.

Pogba glanced up at Chu Ge,

Then passed the football to Mbappe.

His pass was a bit of a surprise to the Manchester City defenders. The football did not go to the right side where Chu Ge was as expected, but went to the left.

Danilo rushed towards the spot where the ball landed.

This ball, he has 85.73% certainty and directly grabs the landing point.

Soon, the Brazilian full-back was close to the football. He stretched out his thighs, ready to stop the football.

At this moment, a long leg suddenly thrust horizontally.

Forcefully stabbed the football away from Danilo.

Clams?

Danilo was stunned.

The owner of the long legs is none other than Mbappe.

Just as Danilo was about to take control of the football, Mbappe suddenly started at high speed. He grabbed the first kick and kicked the ball behind Danilo.

subsequently

The Frenchman rounded Danilo and went on the run.

"This ...... That's too fast, isn't it? ”

Danilo didn't expect Mbappe's explosiveness to be so strong, and he made some mistakes in time and space.

And this small mistake caused him to lose his defensive position.

Turn around

Danilo hurried back.

However, he has been left far behind by Mbappe.

Taking advantage of his speed, Mbappe completed the ball split, and he bypassed Danilo and advanced with the ball at high speed.

Call!

There was a burst of exclamation at Old Trafford.

The fans applauded the youngster's wonderful breakthrough.

Pep Guardiola's face on the sidelines was a little grim.

Looking at Dani Leak, Guardiola feels as if he has been pitted by some bald man.

"The dead bald man." He thought indignantly.

I didn't notice that my hairstyle was a little different.

But

Despite Danilo's unsuccessful defence, Pep Guardiola remained unfazed.

City's defence was not seriously flawed by a reckless one. Under the command of captain Vincent Kompany, the Manchester City players quickly re-blocked the defense, Kompany himself went to block Mbappe, and several players such as Fernandinho, Otamendi, and Walker also organized a tight defensive line to protect the front of the Manchester City penalty area.

De Bruyne is also running back all the way.

Although he is the team's midfielder, Tintin is more than just a striker. He is very good in attack and defence, he can go forward when attacking, and he can often even get back in front of his own penalty area when defending.

Mbappe lunged forward.

Behind him, Professor Yang was also rushing forward.

Despite not being a contract year, Professor Young pinned down Danilo, forcing him to give up chasing Mbappe in favor of Ashley Young.

Then.

Lingard ran over.

"Here! Over here! He ran and beckoned to Mbappe.

Mbappe seems to have seen Lingard.

He bobbed a few times in a row, and after seeing that he couldn't break through Kompany quickly, Mbappe suddenly picked up the football.

The football flew to Lingard.

"Oh, you really passed it on to me!"

Lingard, on the other hand, was a little unexpected.

He doesn't care about thirty, seven, twenty,

Jump.

The ball passed over Lingard's head and landed behind him.

Lingard has a question mark.

He looked back and saw that the tiny Rashford was like a Tibetan cat, hiding behind Linga T, just standing not far from the football spot.

“……”

Lingard didn't know how to complain for a while.

Marcus Rashford retreats.

He took advantage of Lingard's catch of the opposition defenders' attention and got the football first.

Stop, smash, turn.

A series of actions were completed in one go, like a second Chu Ge.

Ferguson nodded secretly.

Chu Ge explained the movements to Rashford during training, and Rashford really fully understood and learned.

Pull the football away,

Marcus Rashford dodged the first Manchester City defender and he raced the ball in front of the penalty area.

But when the second defender rushes over,

A familiar voice rang in Rashford's ears.

"Give it to me."

Rashford didn't want to.

Heel knock.

He crashed into the City defender in front of him, and the ball ran behind him.

Followed by.

Rashford heard a crisp thud.

Does it sound good?

A good sound is a good ball!

He looked up,

I just saw a white light rise into the sky like lightning.

Rumble!

Lightning strikes!

White light goes straight to the Manchester City goal!

Anderson jumped.

He stretched out his arm, touching only the air.

The white light hangs unstoppably in the top corner of the goal.

Swish!

Rub into the net.

Call!

The Old Trafford stadium shook instantly.

“GOALLLLLLLLLLLL！”

“GOALLLLLLLLLL！”