Manchester City defeated Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford, thanks mainly to two goals from Erling Haaland, to draw even with Premier League leaders Tottenham.
Midway through the first half, Haaland scored from the penalty spot. Shortly after the break, he headed another goal before assisting Phil Foden for City's third.
With their title defense off to a mediocre start, City entered the match outside the top four.
However, Pep Guardiola's team is still the favorite to win the English Premier League for an unprecedented fourth time. They advanced to third place and demonstrated their superiority over their local rivals.
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United is now in eighth place, 11 points off the top, following its fifth loss in its last ten league games this season.
Before kickoff, legendary players from both teams who faced and partnered with the 1966 World Cup victor were invited onto the field for a minute of applause, honoring United great Bobby Charlton once more.
But as soon as the action started, tensions returned.
United had triumphed in their last three games, but not convincingly, against FC Copenhagen, Brentford, and Sheffield United, following a dismal start to the season.
It took 45 minutes for City to find their rhythm, but this was the actual litmus test for Erik ten Hag's team, and they came up short.
The pivotal moment in Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana's Old Trafford career may have been his late-game penalty save against Copenhagen in midweek to preserve United's Champions League hopes.
However, United's afternoon would have been even more embarrassing for the former Inter Milan goalie.
Harry Maguire cleared off the line after Onana parried Foden's header and denied Haaland's follow-up, but he had to be at his best again to rescue some shoddy defending.
When VAR stepped into award City their first penalty at Old Trafford since 1992, he could not repeat his heroics from the penalty spot.
Although Rasmus Hojlund hauled Rodri back, United will argue that similar incidents frequently go unpunished for jostling inside the box.
Haaland has recently come under fire for falling short of his typically highly high expectations in front of goal.
However, the Norwegian has now scored 11 goals in 10 Premier League games this year, and he immediately gave Onana the wrong impression.
Hojlund pounced on a careless pass from Foden to break free and score a huge opportunity to atone.
However, as he rounded Ederson, the Dane took a heavy touch, and Bruno Fernandes fired the ball back across goal.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of City, was getting frustrated as his team's abysmal passing allowed United to counterattack, and Scott McTominay gave Ederson a severe opportunity to equalize.
However, if Onana hadn't made an incredible save to tip over Haaland's strong header, the visitors would still have led 2-0 at the half.
Four minutes into the second half, City doubled their lead with a carbon copy move, but United disregarded that warning.
