After an incredible derby evening of football, Manchester United and Juventus have both clinched 2-0 victories in their important derby matches.
There are different stories in the two derbies though they have the same score eventually.
The Manchester derby victory keeps United well in touch with Chelsea in the race for the top four and marks the Red Devils‘ first league double over the Sky Blues for an entire decade.
Having initially been postponed till the middle of May, the clash between Juventus and Inter Milan was brought back to this weekend but the decision to play all Serie A matches behind closed doors has been criticised and reduced the passion both of fans and players.
What did we learn from these two derbies?
Man Utd 2-0 Man City
1. Bruno reclaims Old Trafford
Bruno Fernandes has quickly become a talismanic figure at Old Trafford because he has lifted the mood around the club by being the iconic playmaker that United have been crying out for since Paul Pogba‘s first season ended in Europa League triumph.
Fernandes didn’t get United the win with goals as Pogba did, but instead through a mesmeric bit of ingenuity. After winning a free-kick with some canny play, the Portuguese then faked out the Man City defence with a gorgeous, utterly spellbinding chipped pass behind a sleeping Man City defence that Anthony Martial ran onto and volleyed home.
After five years, United have finally got their stadium back and it’s thanks to Fernandes. Both for his individual genius in creating the first goal and his talismanic impact in terms of lifting the Red Devils up and giving them their swagger back.
2. Martial echoes the greats
Martial has always been an inconsistent player, despite the individual genius he has never managed to score more than 11 goals in a Premier League campaign. Today he scored his 11th goal of the season so far, which means that with nine games left he has already equalled his best-ever tally and is ready to make new records.
That 11th goal essentially won the game on Sunday. Now whilst it definitely had an element of luck to it as Ederson should have saved the shot which went straight at him, hitting the volley so sharply was impressive enough of a feat – especially as it was the Manchester derby.
The last player to do before Martial managed the feat on Sunday was Cristiano Ronaldo. Martial also became the second United player to score in three consecutive Manchester derby starts in the Premier League – who did it before him? Eric Cantona.
Equalling Ronaldo and Cantona with one single goal, a single goal that essentially won a Manchester derby, is a phenomenal achievement. When Marcus Rashford went down injured, Martial had to step up and become a great goalscorer rather than a scorer of great goals. On Sunday, he took yet another colossal step to finally coming close to fulfilling his potential at Old Trafford.
3. Solskjaer vs Guardiola: differing priorities
Not to excuse Man City getting tuned up by United for the third time this season, because that is absolutely ridiculous and beating Guardiola three times in a single season is not something that is done.
Man City played with a lack of sharpness and focus that they have shown in other competitions, such as when they obliterated United at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup. Ederson’s two goalkeeping mistakes were uncharacteristic for him and showed that Man City weren’t completely on it.
Aguero didn’t look too bothered, Guardiola didn’t rush Kevin de Bruyne back from injury and Man City didn’t exactly beat David de Gea’s door down when trying to get back into the match.
And then you look at how United fought tooth and nail to pick up the win, desperately clawing for every inch they could get. They needed this win to keep pace with Chelsea and finish in the top four. His priority was getting a win on Sunday, and by hook or by crook, he got what he wanted.
Juventus 2-0 Inter
1. Regret on Ronaldo's 1000th match
Juventus ace Cristiano Ronaldo has finished his 1000th senior match in career after the Derby d'Italia victory over Inter.
Despite turning 35 last month, Cristiano Ronaldo looks as hungry and determined as ever and he rose from severe criticisms earlier in the season to churn out some of the best performances of his career.
The Portuguese international has scored sixteen goals in his last consecutive 11 fixtures, seeing him equal the feat of Gabriel Batistuta and Fabio Quagriarella and knowing Ronaldo's penchant for setting and breaking records, it came as no surprise that he was eager to have the record all to himself.
However, a resolute Inter defence held out, ensuring the five-time Ballon d'Or winner did not get a sniff at goal but their resilience was broken deep into stoppage time when Ronaldo had not one but two clear chances to cement his Serie A legacy.
Ronaldo's failure to convert means that he would have to settle for joint-top.
2. Ramsey and Dybala settle the battle
Juventus have been criticized for their lack of mobility in midfield and Maurizio Sarri made radical changes to his starting lineup, with the big news being that Blaise Matuidi and Aaron Ramsey were handed starts in place of Adrian Rabiot and Miralem Pjanic.
The two men justified their coach's faith, with Matuidi running with the ball down the left touchline 10 minutes into the second half and his excellent pass was finished off by Aaron Ramsey in front of Samir Handanovic after a Cristiano Ronaldo shot had rebounded into his path.
This opened the scoring in what had been a cagey affair and set Juventus on their way to claiming an 84th league win over their biggest domestic rivals.
Another surprise decision taken by Sarri was leaving Paulo Dybala out of the starting lineup but in hindsight, this proved to be a masterstroke, as the 25-year-old turned out to be an impact substitute.
With Inter Milan already behind, Antonio Conte's men were noticeably playing a high line in a bid to force the equalizer and Sarri summoned his Argentine magician to take advantage of the spaces left behind.
It took him just seven minutes to do so, picking up a lovely diagonal from Leonardo Bonucci far on the left flank, with his excellent first touch evading the close marking of Nico Barella before he embarked on a trademark mazy run at the Inter goal.
A beautiful combination with Ronaldo put him into the Inter box and Dybala showed dainty footwork to turn Ashley Young inside out before putting the result beyond Inter Milan to ensure that Maurizio Sarri became only the second Juventus manager after Antonio Conte to win their first two matches against Inter in the last four decades.