Subdued Manchester derby ends without goals as City miss top four chance | OneFootball

Manchester City missed a valuable opportunity to move into the Premier League’s top four after playing out a lacklustre 0-0 draw with rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford. On an afternoon that promised plenty but delivered little, both sides lacked cutting edge in a derby that fell flat, and City’s Champions League hopes were dealt another frustrating setback.Pep Guardiola’s side remain fifth in the table on 52 points, one behind Chelsea, and while the result did extend their unbeaten run in the league to six matches, it did little to inspire confidence in their ability to secure a top-four finish. The visitors dominated large spells of possession but failed to create clear-cut chances with any real consistency, a problem that has persisted at key moments this season.United had arguably the best opportunity of the game when substitute Joshua Zirkzee connected well with a low cross midway through the second half, forcing Ederson into a sharp save. City responded with a long-range strike from Omar Marmoush that tested Andre Onana, while Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne also had half-chances, but the lack of precision in the final third was ultimately decisive.Speaking after the match, Guardiola admitted his side lacked the tempo to trouble United in the way he had hoped. “We lost our tempo,” the City boss told reporters. “We were not in the right position to hurt them. Of course, it would be better to win. But Old Trafford is Old Trafford – you always need a good performance to win.”The result marked De Bruyne’s final Manchester derby ahead of his expected summer departure, but the occasion was not matched by the performance. As City’s travelling supporters applauded the Belgian at full time, the mood was more reflective than celebratory.United, who sit 13th with 38 points, offered little in terms of attacking threat but were resolute defensively, keeping their first clean sheet at Old Trafford since early December. Their attention now turns to Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final away to Lyon.City, meanwhile, face a congested run-in. With league fixtures against Crystal Palace and Everton to come, and an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest on the horizon, Guardiola was clear about the path ahead: “Win, win, win – and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”