The 2025 edition of the Manchester Derby ended in frustration for both sides, with Manchester City and Manchester United playing out a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday. For Pep Guardiola, it was a case of two points dropped in the race for a top-four finish, as his side failed to find a breakthrough against a United team that remains mired in mid-table mediocrity.

Despite controlling large portions of possession, City looked a shadow of their dominant selves, with the front line struggling to convert control into clear-cut chances. Speaking after the match, Guardiola didn’t hide his disappointment.

“We were not in the right positions to hurt them more than we did,” said the City boss. “We have to be more clinical. These are the moments where small margins make the difference.”

The first half was devoid of real quality, with both teams tentative and cautious. City's Omar Marmoush came closest to breaking the deadlock, but his curling effort was brilliantly parried by United goalkeeper Andre Onana. On the other end, Joshua Zirkzee tested Ederson with a sharp half-volley, though the City keeper stood firm.

The game’s most controversial moment arrived in the second half when Ruben Dias appeared to handle the ball in his own box. Manchester United players and fans were incensed, but after a brief VAR check, play resumed with no penalty awarded a decision that left the home crowd fuming.

Amid the subdued affair, the match carried extra emotional weight as it marked Kevin De Bruyne’s final Manchester Derby. The Belgian maestro, who will depart at the end of the season, received a warm tribute from City supporters but had little influence on a game that never truly ignited.

Following the final whistle, discontent spilled over at Old Trafford as a section of United fans staged a sit-in protest against the Glazer family, once again calling for ownership change amidst continued underperformance and lack of clear direction.

From a league perspective, the draw leaves Manchester City in fifth place, just one point behind fourth-placed Chelsea but with a game in hand. For United, the point does little to boost their league campaign as they remain stuck in 13th, with their hopes for success now pinned on their Europa League quarterfinal clash against Lyon.

The derby, which once stood as a showcase of English football’s elite rivalry, this time ended not with fireworks, but with Guardiola ruing missed opportunities and both clubs reflecting on what could have been.