Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero put the dagger in Manchester United again, even if it did not create quite the effect it did on the last day of last season, as the reigning champions ran out 2-1 winners in the English Premier League at Old Trafford.
The Argentine forward, who was the hero for City when they won the title by the narrowest of margins last season, scored the all-important winner in a tense Manchester Derby, after a Vincent Kompany own goal had given United a way back minutes after James Milner had made it 1-0.
The three points for City sees them cut the gap at the top to 12, but with just seven games remaining it will not really make much of a dent in United's march to their 20th league title.
Both teams put out strong starting XIs, with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie coming back to the starting lineup for United. The first half was a pretty open affair, albeit bereft of too many clearcut chances.
However, there was quite an intensity to the game and a couple of strong challenges led to both Rooney and Kompany cautioned in the first half.
When it came to the chances, Rafael probably went closest, when his effort, off a Van Persie layoff, clipped the woodwork, while the Dutchman himself fired just wide with a left-footed strike.
The second half was a different story though as City took the lead just six minutes in. Gareth Barry stole the ball away from Ryan Giggs before giving the ball to Samir Nasri, who, despite some close attention from Rafael, found Milner just outside the box. The midfielder fired in powerful left-footed drive which beat David De Gea in the United goal, after taking a slight deflection.
The lead, however, did not last too long as United levelled the scores at 1-1 in the 59th minute. Van Persie fired in a freekick, with Phil Jones left alone at the far post only needing to head into an empty net from two yards out. However, the defender completely miscued his effort, but much to the relief of the youngster, his header struck Kompany's back and deflected in.
Mancini soon brought on Aguero, who is just returning from an injury, and it took a moment of brilliance from the Argentine to fire in the winner. Yaya Toure found his teammate on the left-edge of the box, with Aguero racing his way past three United defenders before slamming home a right-footer into the top corner with just over ten minutes remaining.
United did their best to make it 2-2, but City held fort to come away with a victory from the Theatre of Dreams for the second straight season.
