Football boasts the biggest and most passionate fan base out of any sport in the entire world, and one of the most passionate fan bases in football is the English fan base. Football originally originated in England, and quickly became the most popular sport in the country. The highest class of English football is the famous Premier League, and two of the most popular clubs competing in the Premier League are the two Manchester clubs, United and City. The two clubs have been rivals since they first clashed in the Manchester derby in 1881, and their rivalry has only grown throughout the ages.
Manchester City
Manchester City as a club has existed since 1880, however, at the time the club went by the name St. Mark’s. After a couple of name changes, the club landed on Manchester City Football Club in 1894, and the name has stuck ever since.
Currently, in the 2021/22 Premier League, Manchester City is ranked 1st according to the official Premier League rankings. They are one of England’s best teams, and have won several FA Cups and Premier League titles.
According to betting shops and online sportsbooks listed at BetStation, Manchester City is always in the top 3 teams that are fan favorites to win the Premier League, with a large number of bets placed on them every year.
Manchester United
Manchester United is one of the most popular clubs, not just in England, but the world in general. By number of fans, Manchester United is ranked as the 3rd most popular football club in the world, behind only Barcelona and Real Madrid. Manchester United is also one of the most highly-valued football clubs, with a worth over 4 billion dollars.
According to the official 2021/22 Premier League rankings, Manchester United is ranked 7th out of the twenty teams that compete in the League.
Biggest Games
Over the years, the two Manchester clubs have faced off on numerous occasions. In this section we will take a look at each of their greatest wins against each other.
Manchester United’s Most Famous Win
In September 2009, Manchester United faced off against their long-time rival for the first time in the season. While they would meet on the field an addition three times, to many United fans the first meeting was also the best. What made this game so exciting for fans, was that for a long time, the score was equalized at 3 – 3. It was in the sixth minute of injury time, that Michael Owen got his hands (metaphorically speaking) on the ball, and managed to score the winning goal, putting an end to one of the mostexciting derbies in recent times.
Manchester City’s Greatest Win
In October 2011, Manchester City absolutely dominated their long-time rivals, ending the game with a score of 1 – 6. What made United’s loss all the worse, was that it was played on their own home turf of Old Trafford. This victory clenched Manchester City’s first ever Premier League title, and put them on top of the world, as one of England’s best teams.