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Pep Guardiola's dominance prevails over his biggest rival Jose Mourinho as Man City beat Man United by 2-1 to extend their perfect start to the Premier League season at an action-packed encounter at Old Trafford.

Pep, who handed a debut to goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and started with young sensation Kelechi Iheanacho in place of the suspended Sergio Aguero, dominated the early exchanges with United looking entirely nervous and out of sorts in the first half.

City grabbed the early lead in the 15th minute in an unusual way. A long ball from left-back Aleksandar Kolarov was headed on by Iheanacho into the way of Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian took full toll of a careless mistake by Daley Blind.

City continued to control the game and the Red Devils, who started with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard in place of in-form Juan Mata and Anthony Martial, could not live with the high-tempo style of the arch rivals. Especially, Lingard, who seemed to be completely out of sorts.

De Bruyne's clever movements and use of the ball was central to a City side which looked sharper and hungrier than the home side, it was the Belgium international's work rate that created a second goal for City after 35 minutes.

Turning into space into the box he took a shot across the face of goal and struck the inside of the post. Iheanacho, played onside by Blind, pounced on the rebound opportunity to double City's advantage and give them a crucial lead.

United came back strongly as a defensive mistake from City gave United the hope before half-time. Bravo, clashing with team mate John Stones, who fumbled a long free kick from Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic accurately volleyed home through a crowd of City players to reduce the deficit. Indeed a great finish by the Swedish legend.

In added time at the end of the half, United showed their confidence was rising when a cross from Rooney found Ibrahimovic unmarked but his header was collected by Bravo.

And within 60 seconds Rashford's announced his arrival at the start of the secons half, Sagna before crossing for Ibrahimovic to shoot over as United made a high-octane start to the second half, pressing and harrying City in an attempt to stop the possession game that had seen them take the upper hand in the first half.

Guardiola was forced to replace Iheanacho for defensive midfielder Fernando, leaving City without an orthodox striker as the game became a frantic end-to-end encounter.

Having made an error for United's first goal, Bravo was forced into a last-ditch tackle on Rooney in order to prevent another, a challenge that left the striker in a heap on the turf. Though the decision of the referee and the attitude of Claudio Bravo on the pitch were criticised by the Man United boss.

United continued to pile forward in search of another goal, which looked to have arrived when Marcus Rashford broke and had the ball in the net only to see it disallowed for Ibrahimovic straying into an offside position in front of the goalkeeper.

City, too, came close with De Bruyne striking the inside of the post for the second time in the match, before the ball rolled agonisingly across the goalline and away.

Despite the efforts neither of the sides were able to find the energy to conjure another dramatic moment, giving Pep the bragging rights over Jose following their first taste of the Manchester derby.

That ultimate result leaves City at the top of the Premier League table with 12 points from four games, three points ahead of 3rd placed United.