Agueroooo
With eight goals in nine appearances against United, Sergio Aguero is City’s most potent derby day striker in recent times.
From his strike in the 6-1 thrashing to a brace which saw him net his 100th City goal, some of Kun’s strikes against United will remain etched in the memory for the sheer quality of their execution.
Which is your favourite? Will he bag again on Thursday?
Brightwell’s beauty
Ian Brightwell didn’t score many goals but he will never forget the screamer he netted at Old Trafford.
The right-footed defender – 25 yards out – let the ball run across his body and unleashed a rocket with his left into the top corner to rescue a draw.
What a goal!
Centurian
Feed the Goat and he will score! Well, no-one told Gary Neville.
In the last Manchester derby at Maine Road, the United right-back made the terrible mistake of serving up a treat for the one and only Shaun Goater.
Neville attempted to shepherd the ball out of play but was pickpocketed by the hungry Goat, who then curled the perfect finish around Fabien Barthez to restore City’s lead and bag his 99th goal for the Club.
His century would follow after the break, as the forward collected Eyal Berkovic’s lovely through-ball and dinked over Barthez to seal the points for the Blues.
Demolition derbies
Results that will live long in the memory… not just victories – thrashings!
The most recent 6-1 triumph at Old Trafford emerges at the forefront of the memory, but that wasn’t the first time the Blues had defeated their neighbours by that scoreline at Old Trafford.
That feat was first achieved in the 1925/26 season, thanks to Sam Austin and Frank Roberts braces, plus goals from Tommy Johnson and George Hicks.
The repeat result would occur almost 90 years later when Roberto Mancini’s men made the trip across town and screamed a statement of intent for their Premier League title credentials.
Mario Balotelli (2), Aguero, Edin Dzeko (2) and David Silva were on the scoresheet that day – and how pivotal it would prove, with City edging United to the league crown on goal difference on the final day of the season.
(We haven’t forgotten the 5-1! More on that shortly…)
Eriksson’s double
Sven Goran-Eriksson led his City side to Old Trafford in 2008, with the Blues having failed to win there since 1974.
On an emotional day which paid tribute to the victims of the Munich Air Disaster, Darius Vassell opened the scoring before debutant Benjani doubled the lead.
Michael Carrick scored in injury time for the hosts but City held on to complete their first league double over the Reds since the 1969/70 campaign.
Familiar foe
Robbie Fowler will not be the first name that crops up when Manchester derby goalscorers are mentioned but the forward had a decent record.
He had already scored crucial goals against the Reds for Liverpool and bagged more, donning the sky blue of City.
The Scouse striker netted in a pair of wins at home and in an away defeat. His strike in a 4-1 victory arrived after just three minutes and he sealed a 3-1 triumph with a thumping drive in injury time.
Geo, Geo
The 2007/08 home derby arrived early in the campaign – just the third game of the season.
The Blues headed into the clash on the back of two victories and they continued their 100% start to the season with a hard-fought win, thanks to a goal from Geovanni.
Buoyed by his debut goal against West Ham, the Brazilian let fly from distance with the ball spiralling in, courtesy of a deflection off Nemanja Vidic’s back, to hand City the bragging rights.
Hinchcliffe
“Where did Hinchcliffe come from?”
An iconic piece of commentary from the aforementioned 5-1 victory at Maine Road.
The left-back sprinted into the penalty area to power David White’s driven delivery into the far corner.
Slick, rampant and oozing local passion, City sailed into a 3-0 half-time lead through David Oldfield, Bishop and Trevor Morley.
Mark Hughes reduced the deficit but the Blues struck again with Oldfield’s second before Hinchcliffe’s bullet capped one of the Blues’ most famous derby triumphs.
Iheanacho
A record was broken in this season’s clash at Old Trafford, as Kelechi Iheanacho became City’s youngest derby goalscorer of the Premier League era.
Stepping in for Aguero, the Nigerian reacted quickest to convert, after Kevin De Bruyne’s effort struck the post.
The strike proved to be the winner.
Joker
Ever the maverick, Club legend Mike Summerbee teased the United faithful on a visit to Old Trafford.
The home crowd had apparently been winding the City man up with comments about his nose… so Summerbee decided to have some fun and pretended to blow it on a cornerflag!
One of the more light-hearted moments of a Manchester derby…
Kompany’s header
It was fitting that arguably the most important derby goal in history was netted by City’s skipper Vincent Kompany.
The Blues headed into a Monday night derby at the Etihad Stadium needing a victory to keep their title hopes alive.
The atmosphere was electric and the stakes could not be higher… and the game lived up to its expectations.
The captain broke the deadlock moments before half-time, rising to head home a corner, sparking delirium.
City held on for the win and went on to lift their first Premier League crown (in equally dramatic fashion!)
Law’s backheel
One of the few to have represented both Manchester clubs, Denis Law will be remembered fondly in both red and blue.
He was heralded the King of Old Trafford with a return of 236 goals spanning 11 years but turned villain in 1974 when he helped to send the Reds down in incredible fashion on their own turf.
With just eight minutes of normal time remaining, Law received the ball from Francis Lee with his back to goal but employed an excellent piece of improvisation to backheel it through Alex Stepney’s legs.
Understandably, he didn’t celebrate but it was a sweet moment for City and one of the most famous derby moments.
Meetings
Thursday’s encounter will be the 174th occasion the two sides have met.
The Blues have been victorious on 50 occasions, drawing 51.
What will happen on Thursday? Share your predictions on Twitter using #cityview.
