Manchester Derby: How Many Times Have Manchester United and Manchester City Met?

The Manchester derby reaches its 199th competitive meeting when Manchester United and Manchester City face each other at Old Trafford in September 2026. Before the latest derby, the clubs had completed 198 competitive meetings, with Manchester United holding the historical advantage.

Using Manchester City’s official counting method, United have won 81 of the first 198 competitive derbies, City have won 63 and 54 have ended in draws. The rivalry stretches back to the nineteenth century and has moved through very different eras, from Newton Heath and Ardwick AFC to title races, cup finals and modern Premier League clashes. For the current match, team news and kick-off information, see our Manchester United vs Manchester City match guide.

How many times have Manchester United and Manchester City met?

Manchester United and Manchester City had played 198 competitive derbies before their September 2026 Premier League meeting. That makes the current Old Trafford fixture the 199th Manchester derby under Manchester City’s official historical count.

That record means Manchester United enter the 199th derby with an 18-win advantage over City in the official all-time series.

READ ALSO: Manchester United: fixtures, results, standings, squad and latest news

Why do some Manchester derby totals differ?

You may see slightly different Manchester United vs Manchester City H2H totals on other football databases. The difference usually comes from how early fixtures are classified. Manchester City counts the 1891 FA Cup first qualifying-round meeting as a competitive derby, while some historical databases exclude that match or handle other early and abandoned fixtures differently.

For consistency, the figures on this page follow Manchester City’s official competitive-meeting count. That is also why the September 2026 match is described as the 199th Manchester derby.

When was the first competitive Manchester derby?

The first competitive meeting recognised in Manchester City’s official derby record was played in 1891 in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup. Manchester United were still known as Newton Heath and Manchester City were known as Ardwick AFC. Newton Heath won the match 5-1 at North Road.

The club names, stadiums and scale of the fixture have changed enormously since then, but the rivalry has remained one of the defining relationships in English football.

READ ALSO: Manchester City: fixtures, results, standings, squad and stats

Who has won more Manchester derbies?

Manchester United have won more competitive Manchester derbies than Manchester City. Before the 199th meeting, United had 81 victories compared with City’s 63, with 54 matches ending level.

United built much of that historical advantage across the twentieth century and the early Premier League era. City’s rise in the modern era changed the balance significantly, producing a far more competitive recent sequence and several emphatic derby wins of their own.

Manchester United vs Manchester City recent results

The five most recent Premier League derbies before the September 2026 meeting were evenly split: two United wins, two City wins and one draw.

United won the most recent derby 2-0 at Old Trafford in January 2026, while City had won the earlier 2025/26 meeting 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium. The 0-0 draw in April 2025 remains the latest goalless league meeting before this season.

READ ALSO: Premier League fixtures, standings, lineups, live and news

Manchester derby record in the Premier League era

Before the September 2026 fixture, Manchester United and Manchester City had met 58 times in the Premier League. United had won 27 of those league derbies, City had won 21 and 10 had ended in draws.

The Premier League record is much closer than the full historical series because it captures the period in which City developed into a sustained title-winning force alongside United’s earlier dominance.

What is the biggest Manchester derby win?

Manchester City have twice won 6-1 at Old Trafford, first in 1926 and again in 2011. The 2011 result remains one of the most famous scorelines of the modern Premier League era.

United’s biggest documented derby win is the 5-0 victory at Old Trafford in 1994. Other heavy City wins include a 5-0 victory away to United in 1955 and a 5-1 home win in 1989.

Who is the Manchester derby all-time top scorer?

Wayne Rooney leads the traditional Manchester derby scoring list with 11 goals for Manchester United. Joe Hayes and Francis Lee are among Manchester City’s leading derby scorers with 10 each, while Sergio Aguero and Bobby Charlton both scored nine.

Longest unbeaten runs in Manchester derby history

Manchester United’s longest unbeaten Manchester derby run lasted 16 matches between 1989 and 2001. Manchester City’s longest unbeaten sequence in the official club records is nine matches between 1952 and 1955.

Those runs came in very different periods, which is part of what makes the all-time H2H useful: the derby has repeatedly shifted from one club’s stronger era to another.

The 199th Manchester derby

The next chapter is the 199th Manchester derby at Old Trafford in the 2026/27 Premier League season. For the current fixture, kick-off time, team news and match build-up, read our Manchester United vs Manchester City preview and match guide.

For live scores, confirmed lineups, goals, cards, substitutions and changing match statistics, follow SP Score. You can also browse current football markets on SportPesa Kenya Football. 18+ only. Bet responsibly.

For more club coverage, visit the Manchester United hub and the Manchester City hub.

Manchester derby FAQs

How many times have Manchester United and Manchester City met?

They had completed 198 competitive meetings before the September 2026 derby. The current match is therefore the 199th Manchester derby under Manchester City’s official counting method.

Who has won more Manchester derbies?

Manchester United. Before the 199th meeting, United had 81 competitive wins compared with Manchester City’s 63, with 54 draws.

Why do some websites show a different Manchester derby total?

Historical databases do not all classify the earliest fixtures in the same way. Manchester City includes the 1891 FA Cup qualifying-round meeting in its official competitive count.

When was the first competitive Manchester derby?

The first competitive meeting in Manchester City’s official record was in 1891, when Newton Heath beat Ardwick AFC 5-1 in an FA Cup qualifying match.

What is the biggest Manchester derby win?

Manchester City have twice won 6-1 at Old Trafford, in 1926 and 2011. Manchester United’s biggest documented derby win is 5-0 in 1994.

Who is the top scorer in Manchester derby history?

Wayne Rooney leads the traditional Manchester derby scoring list with 11 goals for Manchester United.

How many Premier League Manchester derbies have there been?

Before the September 2026 match, the clubs had played 58 Premier League derbies: 27 United wins, 21 City wins and 10 draws.

READ ALSO: Manchester United Next 10 Fixtures: Dates, Opponents and Kick-Off Times

Conclusion

The Manchester derby reaches its 199th competitive meeting with Manchester United still holding the overall historical advantage. Across the first 198 competitive derbies, United recorded 81 wins, City 63 and 54 matches finished level, while the Premier League-era record has been considerably closer.

This page will continue to track the all-time Manchester United vs Manchester City H2H after every derby. For the latest match coverage, follow the current Manchester derby page, use SP Score for live information, and browse more football fixtures, results and news on SportPesa Kenya.