Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford won’t just be another fierce city showdown — it marks the Kevin De Bruyne final Manchester derby, adding an emotional and historic twist to what is already one of English football’s most iconic fixtures. After a glittering decade at Manchester City, the Belgian maestro is set to depart at the end of the season, and this clash with Manchester United could be one of his final defining moments in sky blue.
De Bruyne, who joined City in 2015, has made 413 appearances, scoring 106 goals and recording an extraordinary 143 assists — more than double that of David Silva, who is second on the club’s all-time assist chart. With six Premier League titles, five League Cups, two FA Cups, and one Champions League trophy, De Bruyne leaves behind a legacy that has helped shape Manchester City into a modern-day powerhouse.
For Pep Guardiola, Sunday’s encounter presents both a tactical and emotional challenge. Not only must his side reverse their recent poor Premier League form, but they also need to do so in a fixture that will be charged with added sentiment due to Kevin De Bruyne’s final Manchester derby.
City Seek Redemption Amidst Struggles
Despite City’s trophy-laden recent past, the 2024/25 Premier League season has been far from straightforward. Currently sitting fifth, Guardiola’s men are in danger of missing out on European qualification for the first time in his tenure. A run of six defeats in their last 11 away matches has cast doubt over their credentials, and without Erling Haaland, ruled out due to injury, City’s attacking threat may be slightly blunted — though Omar Marmoush has proven a worthy stand-in.
A loss at Old Trafford would deepen City’s crisis and severely damage their hopes of climbing back into the top four. However, they can draw strength from the fact that they’ve won nine Premier League games at Old Trafford, more than any other visiting team, with five of those wins coming under Guardiola — a record unmatched by any other opposing manager.
Manchester United: In Search of Consistency
Manchester United, sitting in 13th, are enduring their own turbulent season under Ruben Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag in a high-stakes mid-season move. Despite having a solid managerial record from his time at Sporting CP, Amorim has struggled to inspire consistency at Old Trafford. His team has conceded 17 goals in just nine home games, giving him the worst defensive record at home of any permanent United manager in Premier League history.
Amorim’s candid admission that managing United feels like “survival” reflects the immense pressure he faces. But despite their league woes, his side has shown they can rise to the occasion. They beat City in the reverse Premier League fixture and also claimed a memorable Champions League victory over Guardiola’s men while he was still managing Sporting.
Should United win on Sunday, Amorim would become only the third manager to beat Guardiola three times in a row, joining elite company in Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel.
Bruno Fernandes: The Key Man for United
While City say farewell to one midfield maestro, United continue to rely heavily on Bruno Fernandes, who has been involved in 21 goals at Old Trafford this season across all competitions (12 goals, 9 assists). If he registers another assist, he’ll become the first player since 1992/93 to record 10+ goals and 10+ assists at Old Trafford in three separate seasons, ahead of legends like Dwight Yorke and Cristiano Ronaldo.
If United are to spoil the Kevin De Bruyne final Manchester derby, Fernandes will likely be at the heart of it.
Head-to-Head: An Evenly Matched Derby
While City have been the dominant force in recent years, United still lead the derby head-to-head in the Premier League era, winning 26 games to City’s 20. Across all competitions, United boast 80 victories, 17 more than their cross-city rivals.
And history suggests goals are almost guaranteed. Only three of the last 40 meetings have ended goalless, with the last 12 fixtures all producing at least two goals. Interestingly, three of those ended 1-0, two of them United wins — a potential script Amorim might hope to follow if his team can finally tighten up at the back.
The End of an Era, the Fight for Survival
This weekend’s clash is more than a derby — it’s a battle of identity, redemption, and legacy. For Manchester City, the Kevin De Bruyne final Manchester derby represents a chance to honor their departing legend with a fitting send-off, ideally with a goal or assist from the man himself. For Manchester United, it’s about pride, breaking a poor home record, and proving Amorim has what it takes to weather the Old Trafford storm.
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Sunday’s clash at the Theatre of Dreams promises to be an emotional, high-stakes affair. Whether it’s a farewell flourish for De Bruyne or a statement win for Amorim, one thing is certain: this Manchester derby will be one for the history books.
