Premier League champions Manchester City continued their ascendency in the league as they registered a 3-1 victory over arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday.
United went ahead early, courtesy of a wonder strike from Marcus Rashford from 25 yards. City failed to score till halftime, but, returned to their familiar demeanor in the second half as Phil Foden grabbed a brace, before Erling Haaland netted the third during the final minutes of the derby.
In a stunning display of dominance, City’s midfield maestro, Rodri, not only played a pivotal role in the Citizen’s triumph, but, also etched his name in the history of the Premier League.
The Spanish international broke a record held for 16 years by Chelsea legend Ricardo Carvalho.
During the 1-0 win over Bournemouth last month, Rodri equalized the Portuguese icon's 58 games without defeat. On the back of the success against United, the midfielder surpassed Carvalho, taking his unbeaten streak to 59 games for Manchester City.
Rodri has been a midfield marvel for manager Pep Guardiola, whose tactical awareness and playmaking prowess have become a game-changer for the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.
The 27-year-old has not succumbed to a defeat since City lost 1-0 to Tottenham in February 2023.
He received a red card against Nottingham Forest in September, after he clashed with Morgan Gibbs-White and grabbed his throat during the altercation.
Since the incident, City lost all three league matches where Rodri was absent.
While on the pitch, he has become the mainstay of Guardiola, who can add to the team’s defensive setup as well as provide his playmaking skills during attacks, whenever needed.
The statistics and impact of Rodri's presence on the pitch, showcases how his unbeaten run correlates with Manchester City's string of victories.
Carvalho, the former Chelsea centre-back, set the record between November 2006 and February 2008.
The Etihad Stadium-based outfit’s win on Sunday concluded United’s run of 143 Premier League matches without losing when leading at halftime.
It also marked the first time when City came from behind to beat United, on the 29th occasion of falling behind in the fixture. City lost the previous 15 times in a row when they trailed United in the league.
City maintain their challenge in the title race, with leaders Liverpool and City separated by a solitary point, which makes the encounter at Anfield on March 10 even more enticing.