Manchester City

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Manchester United host Manchester City on Sunday, and former players have been talking to BBC Radio Manchester about the derby.

Ex-United midfielder Paul Ince said: "It's a big test for United. We talk about City bringing in some tough midfield players but they've also got 30-goals goalscorer Erling Haaland, [Phil] Foden looks like he's starting to find his feet and they look exciting again.

"So, that's probably the test for United to see how far they've come. But like any Manchester derby - it doesn't really matter whether you won the game before, you've got to win that game. Form goes out of the window.

"It will show where both teams are at at this stage of the season."

While former City striker Uwe Rosler told BBC Radio Manchester: "I understood straight away the magnitude of those games and what it meant for our supporters.

"The biggest advantage for City is that they played the Champions League game on Tuesday and United played on Thursday. City had more time for recovery, more time to prepare and coming in off the back of a winning streak.

"But in the end it's a team against a team, men against men on the pitch and we all know United have world-class players. It will not be a walkover.

"But I'm pretty sure we will win the match."

Hear more from Ince on BBC Sounds here

Listen to Rosler's derby day memories here

Find full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds on Sunday

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

The Manchester City squad is "buying into the idea" of new manager Enzo Maresca, says new captain Ruben Dias.

City spent a Premier League record £458m during the recent transfer window, with incomings including midfield trio Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.

But there weren't only major changes to the playing squad. Maresca replaced the legendary Pep Guardiola, who stepped down at the end of last season after 10 years in charge.

Maresca was previously assistant to the Spaniard at Etihad Stadium, before spells at Leicester City and Chelsea.

Dias said Guardiola's departure was not an "easy moment for the club", while Maresca was the "perfect person for the job" as he "knew the house so well".

Asked how the Italian is doing things differently to his predecessor, Dias said: "There's obviously many things from training session to some details about the way we press, details about the way we defend and that make all of these Enzo's idea.

"I feel like everything is making a lot of sense. Everyone is buying into the idea. Everyone's excited about it and there is a lot of joy in training, which is massively important."

Read more here

Watch The Football Interview on BBC iPlayer

Paul Birch
BBC Sport journalist

The 199th Manchester derby takes place with City travelling to Old Trafford looking for a win which would extend their lead over rivals United to eight points after just four games. BBC Sport takes a look at the key themes going into Sunday's fixture.

For the first time in 28 Manchester derbies, dating back to March 2016, Pep Guardiola will not be prowling the touchline. The former Manchester City boss enjoyed a host of famous victories in this fixture, including seven at Old Trafford alone, but the tide had turned in more recent times, with City winning just one of their past six matches against their bitter rivals.

Guardiola's successor, Enzo Maresca, knows all about what this match means, having served as the Spaniard's assistant during City's Treble winning season in 2022-23.

His side come into Sunday's game in fine fettle, having made it four wins in a row with a professional victory in Porto on Wednesday.

With such a heavy turnover of players during a busy summer of ins and outs at Etihad Stadium, Maresca must have been apprehensive that his new-look midfield in particular may take time to settle, but they have hit the ground running.

The 143 passes Elliot Anderson completed against Coventry City last week was more than the whole Sky Blues side managed, while his overall tally of completing 122 passes under high pressure is more than any other top-flight player this season.

And then against Porto, teen sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi sparkled on his first start for the club, producing a mature and assured performance that led to praise from his manager and team-mates.

"He did a really good game," Erling Haaland said of the most expensive teenager in Premier League history. "The past couple of weeks in training, he has been amazing. I think we have got a gem there, to be honest."

Haaland is in pretty decent form himself, having scored five in his past three games. He also loves facing Manchester United, with his tally of eight goals in seven Premier League appearances against the Red Devils only bettered by Mohamed Salah (13) and Alan Shearer (10).

Carrick looking to continue superb home form

Michael Carrick featured in 23 Manchester derbies as a player and enjoyed a memorable first one as a manager last season as his second spell as the Red Devils' interim boss got off to a dream start with a 2-0 win.

A repeat of that success would see Carrick become only the third United boss to win both of his first two league games against their cross-city rivals, after AH Albut in 1895 and John Bentley in 1913.

It would also be the first time that they have beaten Manchester City in successive league games at Old Trafford since a run of three under Sir Alex Ferguson from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

They have enjoyed a superb run at home since Carrick took over, winning nine of 10 league games and scoring at least twice in all of those victories. However, the past three of those wins have come despite the Red Devils conceding two themselves in each game.

And their habit of letting in two goals per game is becoming a recurring theme. They have conceded twice in all three of their top-flight games so far, and in 10 of their 20 league games under Carrick.

The former England midfielder, though, has enjoyed a superb record against the established 'big six' and Aston Villa, recording seven wins and a draw from his eight in charge, scoring 18 and conceding just eight.

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford (kick-off 16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nico O'Reilly is "100% available" but Jeremy Doku "needs a few more days" to return.

• Maresca said the Manchester derby is "important for different reasons" and is a "special" game in the city.

• He was asked if his side have an "advantage" given they have had two more days to rest than United: "It happened last season when the club played Napoli and played Arsenal two days later. It happened last season with us, this season with them. Next season it will happen to someone else."

• Maresca agreed that Phil Foden raises his game for the derby because of his Mancunian connection: "The feeling for him is probably different to rest of the players. It's normal. For him, it's a different game."

• Elliot Anderson described City as the "kings" of Manchester when he joined, which Maresca says is normal: "The reason why Elliot said that is because he grew up when Manchester City were unbelievable and dominant."

• On Enzo Fernandez's evolution under his coaching: "In the past two years with us, he has become more of an attacking midfielder. In the past, he was more deep. He is unbelievable around the box in terms of goals and assists, and also in terms of leadership."

• On opposition manager Michael Carrick: "He has been doing a fantastic job since last season. He took over a complicated situation, finished well and is more or less starting in the same way."

Hit play above to hear more from Maresca or listen here on BBC Sounds

Listen to full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds on Sunday

Follow all of Sunday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Man City? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

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The Premier League has announced it will stage seven matches on Boxing Day this year after releasing its festive schedule.

Four fixtures will be staged at 15:00 GMT, with further matches played at 12:30, 17:30 and 20:00.

The fixture programme for 26 December, which falls on a Saturday in 2026, is considerably bigger than last year, when one game was held.

Three matches will be played on Sunday, 27 December, while three further rounds of games will be held over a period up to Thursday, 7 January.

A round of evening midweek fixtures will staged on 29-30 December, while Leeds will host Everton (20:00) for the only match on New Year's Day.

The remainder of that round will be held over the weekend of 2-3 January, with the fourth round of games spread across the evenings of 5-7 January.

The Premier League has brought forward the announcement of fixture scheduling over the Christmas and New Year period after consultation with both broadcast partners and the Football Supporters' Association and representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards.

Television scheduling for Premier League fixtures has been announced up to Monday, 2 November, with broadcast selections for the remaining games in November and December to be announced in the weeks commencing 21 September and 19 October respectively.

The Premier League has guaranteed clubs at least a 60-hour break between fixtures over the festive period to address the concerns over a congested festive schedule that follows recent expansions of the European and international calendars.

Premier League Christmas and New Year schedule

Saturday, 26 December

12:30 Aston Villa v Leeds

15:00 Everton v Sunderland

15:00 Fulham v Brighton

15:00 Ipswich v Brentford

15:00 Spurs v AFC Bournemouth

17:30 Hull v Liverpool

20:00 Newcastle v Manchester City

Sunday, 27 December

14:00 Coventry v Chelsea

16:30 Manchester Utd v Nottingham Forest

19:00 Crystal Palace v Arsenal

Tuesday, 29 December

19:30 Hull v Leeds

19:30 Spurs v Brighton

20:15 Everton v Manchester City

Wednesday, 30 December

19:30 Coventry v Brentford

19:30 Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth

19:30 Fulham v Arsenal

19:30 Manchester United v Sunderland

19:30 Newcastle v Nottingham Forest

20:15 Aston Villa v Liverpool

20:15 Ipswich v Chelsea

Friday, 1 January

20:00 Leeds v Everton

Saturday, 2 January

12:30 Brighton v Manchester United

15:00 Arsenal v Ipswich

15:00 Brentford v Crystal Palace

15:00 Liverpool v Coventry

15:00 Nottingham Forest v Fulham

15:00 Sunderland v Hull

17:30 AFC Bournemouth v Aston Villa

Sunday, 3 January

14:00 Chelsea v Newcastle

16:30 Manchester City v Spurs

Tuesday, 5 January

19:30 Arsenal v Brentford

19:30 Brighton v AFC Bournemouth

19:30 Everton v Aston Villa

19:30 Nottingham Forest v Hull

20:15 Sunderland v Liverpool

Wednesday, 6 January

19:30 Crystal Palace v Chelsea

19:30 Fulham v Spurs

19:30 Ipswich v Coventry

20:15 Leeds v Manchester City

Thursday, 7 January

20:00 Manchester United v Newcastle

Atletico Madrid are not planning to sell Spain midfielder Alex Baena, 25, any time soon despite interest from Manchester City. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

We asked for your views after Manchester City opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Primeira Liga side Porto.

Here are some of your comments:

Paul: We were brilliant. Porto rarely concede goals or lose at home and we controlled the game for the most part. We silenced a vociferous home crowd, we didn't concede a single shot on target, and Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi looked the part. I'm a delighted Blue!

Harry: It wasn't a perfect performance, but I never expected it to be. While this team grows, we will concede chances and we will lose games but, going off this performance, we will dominate too. We made the Portuguese champions play like non-league opposition, diving for any hint of favour. To do what we did - away from home - was gutsy. I'm so proud of the lads. Bring on Manchester United!

Barrie: It was a win, but this squad is going to struggle during the long season ahead. For starters, we need a goalkeeper who inspires confidence. When Enzo Maresca studies the game, he will kick the wall with frustration at the aimless meandering in front of him.

Brian: Mission accomplished. Message sent. Manchester City mean business in the Champions League. We are a team now with the belief and will to win. A clean sheet is good news and everyone played their part in controlling the victory. The depth in the squad is exciting.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Ayyoub Bouaddi belied his age with a mature Champions League performance on his first Manchester City start to showcase why the club were so intent on signing the 18-year-old.

And after two substitute appearances for City, he was handed his first start against Porto and did not look out of place during the 2-0 victory.

Erling Haaland will take the plaudits for his two goals, but it was Bouaddi who caught the eye with a tidy and assured performance in the middle of the park, signalling early signs that Rodri may not be too sorely missed after his departure.

"His age, his game – he looks absolutely born to do it," former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 Live during the game.

"I cannot take my eyes off Bouaddi, he looks very special. The City fans had the fear of losing Rodri - I watched Bouaddi playing against Scotland at the World Cup, he has been very impressive so far."

Aged 18 years and 341 days, Bouaddi became the fourth-youngest player to start a Champions League match for City.

Question marks were raised around the size of the fee for a position on the pitch where players can be exposed, but Bouaddi seems to have settled in immediately and showcased why he will be a valuable option this season.

"He is very good," said manager Enzo Maresca. "Against Coventry, he lost two balls and after that he was inside our box and calm. Other players may have panicked but at 18, he is a fantastic player.

"Tonight, he was very good. He speaks French, English, Spanish perfect. He is different in how mature he is. This is why the club has made the effort for him to be with us."

Bouaddi completed 54 of his 55 passes, while he also topped the metrics across players of both sides for most dribbles (4), most times possession won (7) and contesting more duels (13).

"He did a really good game," said Haaland. "The last couple of weeks in training, he has been amazing. I think we have got a gem there, to be honest."

Read more on Bouaddi's impressive performance

Image source, Getty Images

Former defender Nedum Onuoha says Enzo Fernandez's already established working relationship with Enzo Maresca is proving key at Manchester City.

The £125m summer signing from Chelsea has adapted quickly to life at City, helped by being reunited with former Blues boss Maresca.

He provided a fine assist for Erling Haaland and produced an assured midfield display in Tuesday's Champions League win over Porto.

"The fact that Maresca wanted to bring him in from Chelsea means a lot because you can see Fernandez really trusts the coach and the coach really trusts the player," Onuoha told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"It's a quality player, a real high level player - someone who has been one of the best players for Chelsea across these last few years. So, when he comes in - you have lots of players around him who don't necessarily know what the manager is like in certain moments and situations throughout the season. But, Enzo Fernandez does.

"He knows exactly what the training will be like, how Maresca wants his team to play, and all the little details that some of the City players are starting to pick up on a day-to-day basis through training and in-game repetitions. Fernandez already knows those.

"When Fernandez goes out onto the pitch, he is the one that has got the clear vision for what the manager wants. He has to create that with the team-mates around him but it's a great signing to have when you know the player can fit in with their ability anyway, but also with their understanding of what the coach wants that takes them to another level."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Reuters

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Apart from a tense 10-15 minute spell when they were 1-0 up.

"Man City were by some distance the better side. They had so many chances. Had this ended five or six, you wouldn't have raise an eyebrow.

"They are so dangerous going forward and the big thing for Man City fans is they can be much better than this.

"Ayyoub Bouaddi is an absolute no-brainer. He's brilliant. You get him at that age, and you don't think he might work, he is a class act.

"He tired in the second half, but before that he just looked as if he was playing a different game from everyone else because he developed so much time for himself.

"They couldn't get near Erling Haaland. He looked like a different type of species. It was fabulous to see someone like that.

"I thought his attitude was perfect from start to finish. He is special. If he stays fit, that's it, there's nothing else. If he stays fit he will break records like you wouldn't believe.

"I liked his attitude that he didn't just take it easy when the game was won."

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live's analysis of Tuesday's Champions League action below or on BBC Sounds

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca, speaking to Amazon Prime: "I think we could've scored more goals, especially in the first half, but overall I think we deserved to win the game.

"We created enough chances to win the game. We didn't concede a lot. It's normal to come here and concede some chances because it's normal, so overall, I'm happy with the performance.

"I think I am lucky because all the squad is good players. For a manager, it is easy because you can give minutes to all of them, and tonight I think the guys that were inside were very good."

On Ayyoub Bouaddi's performance: "The good thing is that from Erling [Haaland], Ruben [Dias], Mateo [Kovacic] you expect how to manage this game, but he was never in panic, Ayyoub Bouaddi. He was very good, and I think the performance was unbelievable."

Man City forward Erling Haaland, speaking to Amazon Prime: "It was a difficult fight, man against man. They are a top team. Honestly, they are impressive.

"I think honestly we controlled the first half. A bit uncomfortable when they came a bit high, but we created a lot of chances. I could easily have had a lot more goals, but second half we scored, and they pushed us for a good 25 minutes, but again we managed to hold through and then finish the game.

"I think these are the games that we have to win, and we have had a great start to the season. In the Champions League you have to win games because, if not, you suddenly get all the pressure, and then you never know what's going to happen."

On 18-year-old Bouaddi making his debut: "I think he played a very good game. Last couple of weeks in training, I told the chairman that he has been amazing, so I think we have a gem here.

"But to be honest, I think he should have played me through in the second half when I was all alone. I was a bit angry, so I will tell him right now, he played a good game, except that pass."

Did you know?

• Manchester City have won the first match of their Champions League campaign in seven of the last eight seasons (drawn one v Inter Milan in 2024-25) since a 1-2 loss to Lyon in 2018-19.

• Erling Haaland scored his 36th Champions League goal for Manchester City, equalling Sergio Agüero as joint-most for the Citizens in the competition.

Listen to more match reaction from Maresca above or on BBC Sounds

Man City starting XI:

Gianluigi Donnarumma: Booked for catching Pepe when jumping off his line and fortunate when a wayward clearance struck William Gomes and rebounded narrowly wide. 5

Matheus Nunes: Assured performances from the Portugal international in his first start of the season. 6

Ruben Dias: The captain was solid at the back and made more passes than any other player on the pitch. 6

Marc Guehi: Fortunate not to be cautioned when smashing into Gabri Veiga with a leading arm into the face. Made an excellent recovery challenge to deny Gomes. 6

Josko Gvardiol: Booked in the opening period after tugging back Gomes and substituted early in the second half. 5

Ayyoub Bouaddi: Confident showing from the Moroccan on his first City start. Tidy in possession and did not look out of place in the Champions League at 18. 8

Enzo Fernandez: Worked well in tandem with Bouaddi and provided the perfect cross for Erling Haaland's goal. 7

Antoine Semenyo: Threatened from the left and had a curling effort saved by Diogo Costa but often wasteful in possession. 6

Phil Foden: Should have done better with a low strike that was kept out by Costa, but struggled to make an impact from the right. 6

Rayan Cherki: Some neat touches playing in the number 10 role, but struggled to create chances before being taken off. 6

Erling Haaland: Quiet early on and forced the busy Costa into two stunning saves with a towering header and low strike. Was not to be denied with his second-half double. 9

Man City substitutes:

Abdukodir Khusanov (on 48, Gvardiol): Did his job. 6

Iliman Ndiaye (on 62, Cherki): Direct running and had an effort saved by Costa. 6

Elliot Anderson (on 62, Semenyo): Tidy, as expected and forced Costa into tipping a rising strike over. 6

Rayan Ait-Nouri (on 76, Foden): Decent showing off the bench. Could have scored - provided the assist for Haaland's second goal. 7

Mateo Kovacic (on 76, Bouaddi): 6

Subs not used: Marcus Bettinelli, Geronimo Rulli, Vitor Reis, Rico Lewis, Allan, Ryan McAidoo.

Read the match report and see how you rated the players

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Manchester City's performance

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Wednesday for a selection of your replies.

There are six games in the Champions League on Tuesday as the 36-team league phase gets under way, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Club Brugge v Aston Villa (17:45)

• AEK Athens v LASK (17:45)

• Porto v Manchester City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Borussia Dortmund v Villarreal

• Lille V Real Betis

• Real Madrid v Inter Milan

Kick-off times 20:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Champions League commentary on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Porto v Manchester City" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Man City match".

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.

How to follow the Champions League on the BBC

There's also Carabao Cup action happening on Tuesday - follow those games here

New this season: Live match updates

Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.

Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.

Find out more here

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New this season: Match of the Day Predictor

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