In a match that will go down in history as one of the most lopsided Manchester derbies ever, Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Manchester United to a resounding 5-0 victory over their bitter rivals Manchester City. The Portuguese superstar netted an awe-inspiring hat-trick, while Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes added to the rout.In a match that will go down in history as one of the most lopsided Manchester derbies ever, Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Manchester United to a resounding 5-0 victory over their bitter rivals Manchester City. The Portuguese superstar netted an awe-inspiring hat-trick, while Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes added to the rout. From the onset, United were the more aggressive team, pressing high and unsettling City’s usually composed defense. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a clinical finish after being played through by Fernandes. Just six minutes later, he doubled United’s lead with a powerful header from a Telles cross. City struggled to contain Ronaldo’s relentless movement and were forced into a series of fouls. On the stroke of half-time, Pogba stepped up to take a free-kick and curled a sumptuous effort into the top corner, making it 3-0. The second half followed a similar pattern, with United dominating possession and creating chances. Ronaldo completed his hat-trick in the 63rd minute, tapping in a rebound after Phil Foden’s shot was saved by De Gea. Fernandes then put the icing on the cake with a stunning long-range effort in the 81st minute. City, who had been expected to challenge for the title this season, were simply outplayed by a rampant United side. The victory was a statement of intent from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team and sent shockwaves through the Premier League. Ronaldo’s performance was particularly impressive, as he showed that he is still a force to be reckoned with. His hat-trick was his 59th for Manchester United, moving him ahead of Wayne Rooney as the club’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League. The result was a major setback for City, who dropped to third place in the standings. United, on the other hand, moved up to second, just two points behind leaders Chelsea. The derby victory will give Solskjaer’s team a huge boost of confidence as they look to challenge for the title this season.
