Maresca makes flawless Man City start to leave Man Utd trailing

Enzo Maresca took on the seemingly impossible job of succeeding Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager, but the Italian is off to a perfect start after his team earned a 1-0 Manchester derby win over Manchester United at Old Trafford despite being reduced to ten men for most of the game.

Maresca sprinted down the touchline to celebrate in front of the travelling City fans at full-time on Sunday, fully aware of the significance of winning his first Manchester derby in dramatic circumstances.

Phil Foden's red card after 23 minutes left City with a mountain to climb.

But Maresca's new-look side rose to the challenge as the midfield pairing of Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson showed why they cost nearly £250 million ($340 million).

City also got the benefit of a highly contentious decision being awarded in their favor.

Erling Haaland's winner was awarded after a lengthy VAR review that deemed Fernandez was not interfering with play as he tried to head in before the ball reached the Norwegian.

United were left furious, with Red Devils defender Lisandro Martinez branding that decision an "injustice".

City were the more dominant side and it can be argued that they deserved the win.

Maresca explained how he won the tactical battle against United boss Michael Carrick with the hosts' attack blunted without space to counter-attack.

"I think the game with 10 players became more difficult for us, but also for them," said Maresca.

"They are a team that love transition, they love space in behind.

With 10 players we just dropped, waiting for them, so we didn't concede any transition, we didn't concede any space in behind." After a 3-0 thrashing by Arsenal in the Community Shield, many expected a season of struggle for City after Guardiola's trophy-laden decade in charge ended at the conclusion of last season.

Maresca's men have responded with four consecutive wins to keep pace with the Gunners at the top of the Premier League and earned an impressive 2-0 victory in Porto to kick off their Champions League campaign.