United 1 City 6

Premier League, 23 October 2011

If the FA Cup semi-final victory a few months earlier was the crack in the wall, this was the moment the dam burst. City’s spending had continued in the summer of 2011 with the club signing, among others, a bloke called Sergio Agüero from Atlético Madrid. Although the Argentinian got his goal here, this game will be remembered for Mario Balotelli’s antics: his two goals and that shirt unveiled in celebration: “Why always me?” With David Silva pulling the strings for City, United were reduced to 10 when Jonny Evans was sent off and were ripped to shreds. But the result meant more than just bragging rights, with City taking the points and a 10-goal swing in goal difference. Come the end of the season, City and Agüero would wrestle the title from United on the last day, winning it on goal difference, with a margin of eight goals.