Manchester Metropolis did not capitalise on Chelsea’s slip-up within the race for Champions League soccer because the derby with Manchester United led to a forgettable 0-0 draw.
Metropolis have been searching for revenge for United’s smash-and-grab win on the Etihad Stadium in December, however Pep Guardiola’s males by no means provided a major risk at Outdated Trafford.
Certainly, the well-known fixture shortly developed right into a disappointing spectacle, with neither aspect crafting a lot in the best way of clear-cut goalscoring alternatives.
Regardless of Metropolis being the crew nonetheless with one thing to play for within the league, it was United who completed the stronger, however the goalless scoreline epitomised a season wherein each golf equipment have fallen nicely wanting expectations.
Metropolis would have moved into the highest 4 with a victory. As an alternative they will now be leapfrogged in a crowded Champions League race by Newcastle United, who go to relegation-threatened Leicester Metropolis on Monday.
Manchester United v Manchester Metropolis
Although United threatened a quick begin when Ruben Dias bundled over Alejandro Garnacho simply exterior the world within the first minute, the sport shortly settled into a really uninspiring spectacle.
Bruno Fernandes, clearly one of the best participant on the pitch, was lowered to remonstrating with teammates as promising build-up play was usually wasted by poor execution within the closing third.
Metropolis, in the meantime, have been lowered to long-range efforts as they struggled to interrupt down the hosts, Bernando Silva flashing one previous the submit, although Andre Onana at all times had it coated.
Omar Marmoush stung Onana’s palms a few occasions within the second half, but it was United who continued to look the extra more likely to break the impasse.
Fernandes at all times appeared the favorite to be the architect of an opener, although Patrick Dorgu’s left-wing cross nearly proved telling as substitute Joshua Zirkzee’s first-time shot pressured Ederson into motion.
There was to be no decisive late sting within the tail, with United’s lack of vitality maybe related to ideas of Thursday’s quarter-final conflict with Lyon within the Europa League, which represents their sole hope of salvaging a trophy from the season and their solely doable route in the direction of Champions League soccer subsequent season.
The dearth of danger employed by Metropolis was extra perplexing, although with 4 of their closing seven video games going down at residence and with simply one of many away video games in opposition to a aspect within the high half, they are going to nonetheless anticipate to have sufficient to safe the fifth-place end that ought to guarantee they keep their place at Europe’s high desk.
