Manchester City have inflicted plenty of pain on their neighbours in recent years, and they did it again on another big day at Old Trafford.

Another victory. Another song to sing.
The cast may have changed, but the story remains familiar: City in blue, United in red and the balance of power seemingly unchanged.
Yet this was a victory with controversy running right through it.

Phil Foden was sent off after just 23 minutes for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes. The City forward had been provoked by a sly kick from Fernandes that itself appeared to warrant punishment, but no sanction followed.
Foden, however, was reckless. He reacted, and he paid the price.

The bigger controversy came with the winning goal. Erling Haaland poked the ball in at the far post midway through the second half, only for the linesman’s initial offside decision to be overturned by VAR.

City’s Enzo Fernández, a constant nuisance to United throughout the afternoon, did not make contact with the ball as it flashed across the six-yard box. But he clearly attempted to play it and, given that he appeared to be a yard offside, United will feel that should have been enough for the original decision to stand.

Why wasn’t it?
We may have to wait until Howard Webb next appears in front of a television camera to find out.

United therefore have every reason to feel aggrieved, and doubtless they will. But the uncomfortable truth for Michael Carrick’s side is that, from the moment Foden walked down the tunnel, City were the more intelligent and composed team.

United hit the post twice from distance through Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo, while Gianluigi Donnarumma produced perhaps the save of the season to deny Bryan Mbeumo deep into five minutes of added time.

No wonder his teammates raced towards the Italian goalkeeper at the final whistle.
Donnarumma has endured a difficult spell of late, but this was a timely reminder of his quality and star power.

City, meanwhile, were clever, patient and in control. They drained the sting and energy from United, who were repeatedly drawn into playing a game that did not suit them.

In midfield, Fernández was a defining influence and looks destined to become a favourite in this part of Manchester.

Elliot Anderson, meanwhile, gave Kobbie Mainoo a midfield lesson that underlined why he plays for England while his United opponent does not.
England manager Thomas Tuchel was in the stands ahead of naming his squad on Friday, but no trained eye was needed to appreciate the quality Anderson displayed across the pitch.
United had tried to sign him, too.
Ouch.

At full-time, City’s joy was unconfined. New manager Enzo Maresca raced down the touchline like a man possessed. It was not quite José Mourinho at his most theatrical, but it carried the same unmistakable energy.

With Arsenal setting a furious pace at the top of the Premier League, City cannot afford to drop many points. That made this a significant result for reasons extending beyond the mood of Manchester the following morning.

From the outset, it felt like a big afternoon for both clubs. But then, when is it not when the Manchester derby comes around?
For all the fakery and manufactured narratives of the Premier League’s corporate machine, this remains a rivalry that feels very real.

City are only a few games into Maresca’s evolution, while United remain a curious mixture of optimism and self-inflicted damage.
The four goals Carrick’s team scored in the Champions League last Thursday would have boosted confidence. But this was different.
This was a genuine test against a formidable opponent.

Maresca rolled the dice with his attacking line-up and clearly instructed his players to take the game to United. The approach had served City well at Old Trafford before, but it had to be tempered once Foden made that long walk across the pitch and disappeared down the famous corner tunnel.

It was a shame to see him go.
Not only because Foden’s gradual resurgence had gathered momentum this autumn, but because his dismissal changed the complexion of the game.
The opening quarter had felt like a street fight — not pretty, but intense and charged with adrenaline.

The sending-off drained some of that energy. City dropped deeper, settled into their shape and invited United to find a way through.
That was never guaranteed to suit the home side.

For all their attacking ambition, United remain at their most dangerous on the counter-attack. They had shown signs of that early on, particularly when Rashford was given the opportunity to stretch City down the left.
But once City had an extra man and their own attacking ambition was curtailed, United were forced to play a different kind of football.
And that, ultimately, played into City’s hands.