Full-time: Manchester United 1-0 Manchester City at EFL CUP
So Manchester United are through to the last eight of the EFL Cup at the expense of Manchester City. Jose Mourinho avenges last month’s Manchester derby defeat and plunges Pep Guardiola into the worst rut of his managerial career.
City are now without a win in six games and are out of their first competition. They were the better of the two sides in the first half, but had little to show for their efforts.
After a presumed talking down by Mourinho, his stars were much better in the second half - especially Ibrahimovic and Pogba, both of whom had endured a rank first half.
It was Mata who broke the deadlock, pouncing on Zlatan’s pullback to slot post Willy Caballero.
That goal was all that separated the sides as experience and star power ultimately came out on top against youth.
By the time Guardiola brought Aguero and Sterling into the fray the game had gone flat and the visitors were unable to mount any sort of comeback.
Pogba and Ibrahmimovic booked
As we enter four minutes of stoppage time, Pogba sees his name go into the book for an unnecessary challenge on Otamendi on the edge of the Manchester City penalty area.
Zlatan doesn’t like that and gets in an argument with Mike Dean.
There was only ever one way that was going to end.
City look like they're out of ideas
This one is threatening to end with a damp squib.
City are seeing plenty of the ball, but just can’t seem to figure out what to do with it, as they struggle to get anywhere near threatening De Gea’s goal.
The Manchester United goalkeeper will have few nights as quiet as this one to be honest.
I can’t even find a picture of him, that’s how involved he’s had to be tonight!
Is Pep's bad run about to get worse?
Mourinho doesn’t often beat Guardiola, but whenever he has, it’s tended to be in cup competition.
If things stay like this, City’s form over their past six games will read: DLDLDL!
Substitution: Lingard replaces Rashford
Jesse Lingard comes on for Marcus Rashford.
A fresh pair of legs in attack, not a bad idea considering it’s all City now, as the hosts drop deeper and deeper and look to see this one out.
Navas has had one of his better games
Despite being on the (currently) losing side, Jesus Navas has been very impressive tonight.
He often struggles to impose himself on games, but tonight he’s had the beating of Luke Shaw and has put in some great balls.
If Aguero had started in place of Iheanacho, you feel City may well have scored by now.
Ibrahimovic proving his critics wrong?
A moment of magic from Zlatan, who turns two City players inside and out before playing a great ball for Rashford down the right, in behind City’s defence.
He races to the touchline before crossing for Pogba, but it’s cut out, at full stretch, by Maffeo.
Great by the youngster.
What's the Mata?
Here’s an interesting stat on the goal hero Juan Mata.
What does he have to do to melt Mourinho’s heart?
Mourinho has a heart to heart with Pogba
Substitution: Schneiderlin replaces goalscorer Mata
Mourinho looks like he’s happy to shut up shop now and make sure that Aguero has no time or space to get the visitors back in it.
The slightly forgotten defensive midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin comes on in place of Mata.
A defensive change as Mourinho looks to shore up the back.
Substitution: Aguero on for Nolito
Here he is, then. City’s last substitution sees their main man enter the fray.
Can he save the day, like he has on so many occasions before?
Juan Mata opens the scoring
Here’s the moment Mata latched onto Ibrahimovic’s pullback to score the opener.
The Spaniard has been one of United’s best players and was heavily involved in their best period, in the build-up to the goal.
Otamendi keeps putting his team in trouble
One player whose been worse than Zlatan tonight is City defender Nicholas Otamendi.
Time and again, he’s abandoned his post and committed himself, only to lose out and place his back line under real pressure.
He’s given away some cheap free-kicks too.
Carragher slams Zlatan at half-time
Read more on Jamie Carragher’s damning half-time verdict on Zlatan IbrahimovicRIGHT HERE.
He was involved in the build-up to the goal, and gets an assist.
But he’s fluffed his lines in front of goal and looks a player low on confidence.
Substitution: Sterling replaces Sane
Leroy Sane had a relatively quiet game. He wasn’t really able to get involved.
Raheem Sterling is on in his place, and looks like he’ll start in the middle.
At the other end, Rashford flashes in a great cross, but Ibrahimovic can’t get on the end of it. He was unmarked at the backpost, but couldn’t adjust his feet in time.
Maybe he thought Kolarov would get a touch and that put him off.
Raheem Sterling’s introduction is imminent for the visitors.
They need a bit more quality in the attacking third if they’re to get back into this one.
United have really taken this second half by the scruff of the neck.
They’ve taken control of the ball and they’ve taken the lead.
Man Utd vs Man City: Possession, 60 mins
When does Guardiola turn to his bench?
How long until we see City introduce their big guns?
Remember, they have Aguero, Sterling and Gundogan on the bench.
Apparently this is the sixth straight game in which City have gone 1-0 down.
Juan nil
Goal! Manchester United 1-0 Manchester City (Mata)
What did Mourinho say at half time? His team have transformed in the second half.
Ibrahimovic again beats Otamendi far too easily then holds up the ball before shifting it into the middle of the penalty area, where the onrushing Mata can fire home.
All too easy for the Spaniard.
That passage of play has just cause United to step up a gear.
First, Rashford beats two and feeds Pogba whose shot goes wide.
Then a moment later, Mata’s cross-cum-shot needs to be fisted away by the City keeper.
Mourinho’s men appear to have City on the ropes at the outset of the second half.
Pogba hits the post!
So much better by United, first with Mata and Herrera combining to work the ball down the right-hand side.
Then, half-time whipping boys Ibrahimovic and Pogba remind us all that they are actually decent players.
The Swede shifts the ball past Otamendi who committed himself before playing in Pogba on the left.
Pogba’s shot is excellently saved by Caballero, who just about tips it onto the post!
That was the best move of the game by some distance.
Mata gifts City a great chance but Iheanacho can't capitalise
This time, it’s Mata who’s careless with his passing.
It was a shocking pass, but Iheanacho returned the favour by dallying for far too long before releasing Nolito, who had strayed offside by the time the pass came.
Poor from both sides at the outset of the second half.
Substitution: Kolarov on for Kompany
There’s a change for City at the break with Kolarov coming on for Vincent Kompany.
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