Rooney’s overhead kick, Hinchcliffe’s bullet header, Balotelli’s T-shirt – and Owen’s dramatic late winner: The greatest Manchester derby moments in history as Enzo Maresca’s side gear up for huge clash at Old Trafford

United host Manchester City on Sunday in the 199th Manchester derby – 135 years after the clubs first faced off, way back in 1891.

With both sides hoping to add another memorable chapter to one of the most storied rivalries in English football, here, Daily Mail Sport’s writers recount their favourite moments so far…

The biggest shock of them all? 

I was in the Platt Lane End at Maine Road with the United fans when Sir Alex Ferguson’s team went there on September 23rd 1989. Few expected City to win but they battered United 5-1. 

It was the sense of shock about the scale of the victory I remember most. City’s left back, Andy Hinchcliffe, scored the fifth right in front of us, a bullet header from a David White cross, still the best goal I’ve ever seen in a Manchester derby. 

OLIVER HOLT 

Last-gasp Owen 

Michael Owen’s winning goal in Man United’s 4-3 win in 2009. By his own admission, Owen’s career was on the decline by this stage. This, then, was a rare sighter of the supreme talent that he had been 10 years previous, and he produced it on the biggest stage. The pass from Ryan Giggs to set him clear was also a reminder of his class, at 35 years old.

CRAIG HOPE

Another vote for a seven-goal thriller… 

I’ll go with the Manchester derby at Old Trafford in 2009. A seven-goal thriller that was all about the strikers. Wayne Rooney scored after two minutes. Carlos Tevez, booed on every touch, was the architect of the Gareth Barry equaliser. Craig Bellamy scored a screamer to make it 2-2, and then punished Rio Ferdinand for his second and City’s third. Then came one of the most iconic Manchester derby goals ever scored… by Michael Owen.

NATHAN SALT 

And it was a birthday treat …

Sunday September 20, 2009, was notable largely because it was my 40th birthday weekend but there was also a thrilling football match at Old Trafford that day.

Manchester City were only a year into Abu Dhabi ownership but were already making their presence felt and nowhere was that noise being heard more than across town.

Mark Hughes brought his new look team to the place he once called home and gave United the scare of their lives. Rio Ferdinand in particular will never forget the day that Craig Bellamy took him to the cleaners with two goals.

But with a thriller locked at 3-3 six minutes into added time, Ryan Giggs picked out Michael Owen with a pass that was controlled with one perfect touch and finished with another. For a day at least, the Stretford End had a new an unlikely hero.

And I was late for my own party.

IAN LADYMAN 

Michael Owen keeps his cool to stroke the ball past Shay Given deep into added time in 2009

Mourinho and milkgate 

The pint of milk being used as a missile during a melee inside the Old Trafford tunnel after the derby in December 2017 will take some beating. Aimed at Jose Mourinho but splattering over another member of United’s staff, the culprit has never been found and reprimanded. Mourinho had been irked at City’s celebrations outside their dressing room and it kicked off from there.

JACK GAUGHAN 

Why always Mario? 

Mario Balotelli’s ‘Why Always Me?’ T shirt during City’s 6-1 win at Old Trafford in 2011. You could write a book on Balotelli at City and he made a ton of mistakes, but I miss his unpredictable, unvarnished presence in today’s Premier League.

TOM COLLOMOSSE 

Mario Balotelli’s ‘Why Always Me?’ T-shirt was typical of his unpredictable nature

Rooney’s overhead kick

Wayne Rooney. The bicycle kick. 2011. I wasn’t there but we all remember it. Easier to forget with time was the context – this was a few months after Rooney said he wanted out. Not only that, he was entertaining the idea of crossing to City. Hooligans in balaclavas went to his house to share a few feelings on the situation. This goal was the most perfect bookend imaginable to that saga. It doesn’t matter that it came off his shin. 

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI 

Wayne Rooney’s acrobatic effort in 2011 got the nod from Riath Al-Samarrai

A Cup final classic

Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick? Michael Owen’s last-gasp winner? For me, it’s Kobbie Mainoo’s goal in the 2024 FA Cup final. United fans returned to Wembley fearing a repeat of their club’s defeat to City a year earlier, but a vibrant performance was encapsulated by the move which ended with Bruno Fernandes cleverly teeing up Mainoo to score. 

CHRIS WHEELER 

Kompany’s winning goal  

I interviewed Vincent Kompany in 2023 and spent the chat thinking about how that forehead single-handedly won City the Derby in 2012. I remember the goal like it was yesterday, watching in my mate Alex’s living room (he is a United fan). It was a goal that defined the next 15 years and nearly as important as Sergio Aguero’s against QPR a few weeks later. If not for that, there was no ‘Aguero moment’ and who knows how many titles City would go on to win. 

LEWIS STEELE 

Vincent Kompany’s headed goal in 2012 effectively ensured City would wrest the title from United