Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United (3-2 agg): City progress to Carabao Cup final despite second leg defeat

The 3-2 aggregate outcome was enough to secure City a third consecutive final in this competition.

Nemanja Matic scored the only goal of the second leg at the Etihad Stadium but was later sent off as City, the better team throughout the tie, prevailed overall.

That holders City did not add to the 3-1 lead they established in the first leg at Old Trafford was remarkable as they spurned numerous gilt-edged chances.

But David De Gea produced several outstanding saves to keep United in the tie and Matic gave them hope with a sweet strike 10 minutes before the break.

It was ultimately not enough but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side did restore some pride after their humbling in the first leg.

The atmosphere was fiery, with City fans responding to manager Pep Guardiola's recent rallying cry.

There was no concerted chanting towards Woodward but there were tensions between the two sets of fans with a missile appearing to be thrown from the United end towards home supporters at one point.

On the field, City were soon into their stride and United were thankful that De Gea was able to keep them at bay.

De Gea made a superb one-handed save to his right to deny Sergio Aguero as the Argentinian deftly headed an Ilkay Gundogan cross towards goal.

Moments later De Gea saved again, this time with his feet, from Riyad Mahrez and then clawed out another effort from Aguero that seemed destined for the top corner.

Kevin De Bruyne created another chance but shot over and Raheem Sterling raced into the area only be thwarted by a fine tackle from Harry Maguire.

Maguire turned to rally his team-mates after that challenge and moments later that paid off as United grabbed a shock lead.

Fred's free-kick from the left skimmed off Bernardo Silva's head and bounced towards Matic at the far post. The Serbian swivelled and struck a powerful left-foot half-volley that flew into the bottom corner.

Sterling should have put City level on the night just before the hour as he raced clean through on goal from a De Bruyne pass but delayed his shot too long. That allowed defenders to retreat and Sterling ended up firing over as he checked his run and tried to go round De Gea.

Kyle Walker tried his luck from distance 19 minutes from time but De Gea was equal to his well-struck attempt.

United then had another escape as a Maguire clearance was deflected and fell straight to David Silva but Gundogan could not finish. Aguero then lashed wide as City again failed to kill off the game.

United were reduced to 10 men when Matic received a second yellow card for a tactical foul on Gundogan after 76 minutes.

The visitors did win a free-kick in a dangerous position late on but City - who saw a late Aguero effort ruled out for another offside - resisted further damage.

Opta facts

• Manchester City are just the third side to reach three consecutive League Cup finals after Liverpool (four in a row between 1981 and 1984) and Nottingham Forest (1978 to 1980).
• Only Liverpool (12), Aston Villa (9, including this season) and Manchester United (9) have reached the League Cup final on more occasions than Manchester City (8).
• Manchester United have been eliminated at the semi-final stage of the League Cup on six occasions – indeed, only Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham have been knocked out at this stage of the competition on more occasions (seven each).
• Man Utd have won consecutive away matches against Man City for the first time since winning four in a row between November 1993 and November 2000, with all wins in that run coming in league games.
• In all competitions, the home side has won just two of the last 12 matches between Man City and Man Utd (W2 D2 L8).
• Manchester United are the first side to beat Manchester City in domestic cup competition (League Cup and FA Cup) since Wigan did so during the 2017-18 FA Cup, ending City’s 19 game unbeaten run in such fixtures.
• Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is just the third manager to win two away matches against Pep Guardiola in his managerial career, after José Mourinho and Jürgen Klopp.
• Nemanja Matic was the first Manchester United player to both score and be sent off in a game since Wayne Rooney against West Ham in the Premier League back in September 2014.
• Nemanja Matic’s winner was just his fourth goal for Manchester United in all competitions and first since Boxing Day 2018 against Huddersfield, 399 days ago.

LIVE BLOG

By Tom Carnduff, from the Etihad Stadium

City - 0 (3)

United - 1 (2)

Matic 36'

Matic sent off 76'

⌚️ FT: CITY 0-1 UNITED

United win on the night but it's Manchester City who hang on to progress to the Carabao Cup final at Wembley!

They'll meet Aston Villa in early March.

🔄 90' - CITY SUB

Aguero is off. Jesus replaces him in a like-for-like substitution.

⌚️ 90' - ADDED TIME!

FOUR minutes added on. Will we see another goal?

A defensive change from City as John Stones replaces De Bruyne.

E WHISTLE

You could blame Kevin Friend for blowing the whistle when Bernardo Silva was through on goal but the linesman is clearly signalling for a foul throw by Juan Mata a couple of moments before.

By the letter of the law, it's the right call...

88' - STRAIGHT AT THE WALL

Fred hits it but it's straight at the wall and United will have to start the attack again from halfway.

🔶 87' - OTAMENDI BOOKED

He brings down Maguire at the edge of the City area.

It's not the card that's the biggest worry there, it's the fact that United now have a free-kick in a very dangerous position.

De Bruyne is furious with the defender's choice to dive in there. I don't think many can blame the City captain.

84' - GOAAAAAA....NOOOOO!

Aguero has the ball in the net but the flag is up.

The second time tonight they have been denied by offside.

Neat finish though...

🎥 MATIC IS SENT OFF

🔄 79' - UNITED SUB

Solskjaer makes an attacking sub. He brings Mata on for Shaw.

🔴 76' - MATIC OFF!

The midfielder gets his second yellow of the game and United are down to ten!

He brings Gundogan down as City look to break forward. Not the best decision that considering Aguero was going to get to that ball, not the player he stopped.

United still need a goal but now have their first goalscorer off the pitch. He'd been warned a few times about these challenges tonight by the referee. He's had enough, Matic is off.

73' - WHAT A WASTED OPPORTUNITY!

Oh dear United, oh dear City...

United looks to play out from the back but give possession away in their own area as Aguero gets a touch on it. City pounce, pass it around before Gundogan's effort from close range is hit straight at Maguire.

What a chance!

72' - WALKER GOES CLOSE!

United clear a corner in from De Bruyne and the ball falls to Walker. The right-back unleashes a fierce effort that looks like it moves through the air and De Gea plays it safe by punching away from danger.

🔄 68' - SILVA ON

City make that substitution to bring Silva on. He replaces Mahrez. Presumably now, Bernardo Silva goes out to the wing with Silva sitting behind the front three.

66' - CITY SUB INCOMING

David Silva is being readied by the home side. Some more quality from the bench.

🔄 65' - UNITED SUB

Andreas Pereira is coming on for Jesse Lingard, who hasn't done an awful lot this evening.

59' - THE TIDE TURNING?

Now it's United turn to be frustrated.

They attempt to play it out from the back but end up giving away a throw-in deep in their own half.

That's given the home crowd a big lift who have now found their voice again.

58' - STERLING MISSES ANOTHER GREAT CHANCE!

Again, like the first-half, De Bruyne plays the England winger in.

He storms into the box and looks to cut back to get past De Gea and Lindelof.

That gives some time for the United defence to get back and with players on the line, Sterling hits it over.

Solskjaer is furious on the touchline. Presumably about how easy United were cut open then. He's screaming at his players.

🔶 57' - RODRI BOOKED

The City midfielder is in the book after he takes down Lingard with the United man looking to break forward.

No complaints about that one.

55' - YOU CAN SENSE THE NERVES

The crowd are tense and it looks like it's affecting the City players. Passes are loose and they're giving possession away. Big test of this City's team character right now.

🔶 51' - MATIC BOOKED

The goalscorer is shown a yellow card as he leaves one in on Mahrez.

49' - UNITED GO CLOSE

Fred whips the ball in from a free-kick that was given after James was brought down.

Maguire gets up, wins the header, but it's well over the crossbar.

⌚️ 46' - SECOND-HALF UNDERWAY

A huge 45 minutes of football to come at the Etihad.

Daniel James has come on for United at the break, he replaces Mason Greenwood.

UNITED STILL NOT FANCIED...

The bookies still fancy City to progress here.

Sky Bet have City at 1/66 to make the final, with United at 12/1 despite holding a lead on the night.

HT: CITY 0-1 UNITED

A sweet strike from Matic gives the visitors the lead at half-time.

City have had four great chances to score but De Gea and the offside flag have kept them out.

This tie is back on. Can United complete the comeback?

🎥 WATCH THE GOAL!

42' - GOOOOOOO....NO!

Sterling finds the back of the net as he connects with a De Bruyne cross.

The City forward is clearly offside though and it won't stand.

38' - CAN UNITED GET ANOTHER?

How one goal changes an entire atmosphere...

City looked comfortable before that goal. Now, it's the United fans who can be heard and the frustration is present in all four home areas of the stadium.

37' - MATIC FIRES UNITED AHEAD!

The free-kick comes in from the left. City get a head on it but it falls to Matic. From the edge of the area, the midfielder hits a sweet half-volley into the very bottom corner of the net.

The United fans are obviously bouncing after that. Can City respond? They've had opportunities.

⚽️ 36' - GOAL UNITED!

MATIC!

32' - DE GEA CARRIES ON

De Gea is up and it looks like he's going to carry on. He doesn't look comfortable right now though. Sergio Romero is the substitute goalkeeper for the visitors this evening.

30' - HUGE CHANCE STERLING!

Another great chance for the hosts to take the lead.

De Bruyne plays in Sterling who beats Maguire for pace. He's through and running towards De Gea but there's just one too many touches in the move and Maguire gets back to make the sliding tackle.

Some concern for United now with De Gea down and receiving treatment following a collision with Otamendi. Looked a painful fall that.

29' - UNITED PENALTY?

No, and referee Kevin Friend was certain in his decision.

From a United free-kick into the box, Matic looks to get between the City defence but gets caught between two players and goes over.

Replays show that Friend was right to wave away the appeals.

20' - PEP'S NOT HAPPY

Pep Guardiola is certainly an animated character on the sideline. He's furious with Claudio Bravo as Maguire wins a header from his goal-kick.

The City boss furiously slaps his chest, he wants his goalkeeper to cancel out the height difference between City's front line and United's defence by playing it into the body.

17' - DE GEA AGAIN!

City break forward through Aguero. It looks like they lose possession as Aguero's touch is too strong but Sterling flicks it back to him on the edge of the area.

As we've seen so many times, Aguero sprints through the box before unleashing a fierce effort towards the top corner.

The United stopper is there though to make a great save and tip it over and United clear the resulting corner.

🎥 CITY COME CLOSE

10' - PENALTY?

Raheem Sterling goes down under the challenge of Maguire. It's a tad clumsy from the England defender but it would be a harsh one.

VAR, as ever, takes a look but decides not to award it.

8' - BIG SAVES DE GEA!

City so close to an opener but De Gea stops them on both occasions.

The first sees Gundogan dink the ball over the top for Aguero to get his header towards goal.

Another shot comes in from Mahrez a minute later from close range, and through traffic, De Gea makes the save with his legs.

5' - CITY GETTING SETTLED IN

Decent play again from City in the middle but the final ball was lacking from Bernardo Silva there. His attempt to find Sterling out wide is off for a throw-in. In usual fashion, Guardiola's arms are up and hands on head. A similar reaction from Solskjaer, although you imagine there's a bit of relief there from his point of view.

2' - BACK-FIVE FOR UNITED

As expected, it's a back-five for United. Wan-Bissaka on the right; Lindelof, Maguire and Shaw in the middle; Williams out on the left. Can they keep this City attack quiet tonight? It's one hell of a task...

⌚️ 1' - KICK-OFF!

We're underway at the Etihad!

⌚️ FIVE-MINUTE WARNING!

Five minutes to go until kick-off.

Can United defy the odds or will it be another routine City victory?

We're about to find out...

🗣 GUARDIOLA AHEAD OF KICK-OFF

🤝 UNITED AGREE KEEPER DEAL

Like buses, United fans wait for signings and then two come along at once...

Southend goalkeeper Nathan Bishop is close to completing a move to Manchester United, the PA news agency reports.

The 20-year-old came through the ranks at Roots Hall, where he has made 39 appearances since making his debut in December 2017.

Southend boss Sol Campbell confirmed Bishop's absence from the squad that fell to a 3-1 defeat at Doncaster on Tuesday was due to the goalkeeper having a medical at an unnamed club.

It is understood that club is United, with the keeper set to join up with the development squad.

🔮 PITTS PREDICTS

Time to look at George's preview tonight, and he fancies Manchester United to get on the scoresheet first:

The other goalscorer was Anthony Martial, who could lead the line here in Rashford's absence. The Frenchman got a confidence-boosting goal in the FA Cup thrashing of Tranmere at the weekend and he was a key part of that attacking line which terrorised Man City's defence in that surprise away result.

He averages just under three shots per game in all competitions this term and, in the two Premier League games since Rashford was ruled out, he has had a total of eight shots, so he is clearly trying to fill that void left by the England international.

United have no reason but to go for it and they should score against a City back line that is usually suspect without Aymeric Laporte, regardless of changes made by Pep Guardiola.

With that in mind, and the fact City's players are so short in this market, it could well be worth a small play on Martial to find the back of the net anytime - but the 11/1 on him to get it first is more tempting as United will need to start well.

Best bet: Anthony Martial to score first at 11/1

🔴 UNITED ON THE PITCH

And now United are out for their warm-up.

Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Brandon Williams are all in their starting XI. You'd imagine they will be happy to sit back here and hit City on the counter. They were successful here last month remember.

When the teams were read out, the United squad was delivered in a dull, monotone voice with a 'do we really have to do this' feel to it. Quite amusing.

📊 KEY OPTA STATS

• Manchester City have won just one of their last five home matches against Manchester United (W1 D1 L3), all in the Premier League between 2016 and 2019.
• Man Utd are looking to record consecutive away victories against Man City for the first time since winning four in a row between November 1993 and November 2000, with all wins in that run coming in league games.
• Manchester City are looking to become only the third team to reach three League Cup finals in a row, after Liverpool (four in a row between 1981 and 1984) and Nottingham Forest (1978 to 1980).
• Pep Guardiola has progressed from 23 of the previous 24 knockout ties in his management career when winning the first leg, with the exception coming against Monaco with City in the 2016-17 Champions League last 16.
• Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could become only the third manager to win two away matches against Pep Guardiola in his managerial career, along with José Mourinho and Jürgen Klopp, while only one team has ever beaten Man City twice at the Etihad in a single season, with Arsenal winning two games in 2004-05.

🥶 CITY OUT TO WARM-UP

Manchester City are greeted by a small round of applause which is always expected with over 30 minutes to go until kick-off.

It's a cold night in Manchester but you don't imagine that'll have any impact on the game or the atmosphere here.

🔴 UNITED TEAM NEWS

Starting XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Williams, Fred, Matic, Lingard, Greenwood, Martial

Subs: Romero, Bailly, Dalot, Jones, Pereira, James, Mata

🔵 CITY TEAM NEWS

Starting XI: Bravo, Walker, Rodrigo, Otamendi, Cancelo, Gundogan, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero

Subs: Ederson, Stones, G Jesus, Zinchenko, D Silva, Foden, Garcia

🤔 PREDICTIONS...

Will City cruise into the final? Or can United overturn a two-goal deficit?

The bookies are confident of the home side progress. Sky Bet are currently offering 1/100 on Pep Guardiola's men reaching Wembley, United are huge 16/1 outsiders!

🤝 UNITED AGREE FERNANDES DEAL

A boost for United fans ahead of kick-off...

Manchester United have agreed a deal with Sporting Lisbon to sign Bruno Fernandes as their long-running pursuit of the Portugal midfielder nears a conclusion.

United confirmed a deal was in place, subject to a medical and personal terms, a day after making a significant breakthrough in talks with Sporting over a fee for the 25-year-old, who is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's number one target in the January window.

"Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with Sporting Clube de Portugal for the transfer of Bruno Fernandes," a club statement said. "A further announcement will be made in due course."

United will pay an initial 55 million euros (£46.6million), with a further 10 million euros (£8.5million) dependent on Champions League qualification and appearances by the player.

Fernandes has 19 caps for Portugal and helped them win the Nations League last summer.

The final bill could rise by a further 15 million euros (£12.7million) based on a number of further clauses based on Fernandes' achievements over the long term.

👋 WELCOME!

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of tonight's Manchester derby between City and United.

We're in position at the Etihad stadium and will be keeping you updated with all the major incidents from this Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.

Of course, as ever with our live blogs, we'll be putting in highlights of the goals as they happen. Please remember to refresh your page for the latest update.

Odds correct at time stated

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