A disappointing derby between the two big teams of Manchester, both far from their best level, ended goalless with very little football on display. This only adds to the problems of City under Pep Guardiola, who is on the verge of missing out on the Champions League after failing to get the better of Manchester United at Old Trafford, where, with a lot of heart, they deserved a better result.

City looked like a shadow of themselves, showing clear signs that their most glorious cycle is coming to an end. After winning their long-awaited Champions League, the team misses players like Rodri and Haaland. Despite having De Bruyne on the field, City has stopped being able to depend on themselves to secure a Champions League spot in the Premier League, something unimaginable at the start of the season.

An unprecedented fall for Guardiola

City, the pre-season favorite to retain the Premier League title and a top contender for the Champions League, is suffering an unprecedented collapse under Guardiola's leadership. Currently, the team sits in fifth place, just one point ahead of Aston Villa and two points behind Newcastle, who have two games in hand.

In this crucial derby, City couldn’t recover the form they so badly need to stay in the title race. United, despite a poor season, fought hard at Old Trafford, where the fans, even after thirteen league losses, were present and cheered on the team. Bruno Fernandes led the play, with Garnacho being the main threat, although neither team could convert their chances.

The draw reflects the reality of both teams

The match continued with sporadic chances for both teams, but Onana stood out with key saves. In the dying minutes, United pushed for a late goal, but Ugarte and Zirkzee's efforts were stopped by Ederson. Garnacho also had a counterattack opportunity but failed to finish. In the end, the goalless draw reflected the reality of two great Manchester teams having a poor season.