Manchester United vs Manchester City: Jose Mourinho vs Pep Guardiola a bitter and vicious historic rivalry

From Barcelona vs Inter Milan to the La Liga battles and their final Super Cup encounter, the Premier League is about to witness what Mourinho vs Guardiola really means

Callum Hosier
Thursday 08 September 2016 09:32 EDT
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Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho have a long and bitter rivalry
Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho have a long and bitter rivalry (Getty)

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Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola will meet this weekend in the Manchester derby to add another episode to their ferocious rivalry.

The divide between Manchester United and Manchester City is bigger than ever with the two managers preparing to battle it out in a clash of footballing philosophies.

As the encounter approaches, we look back at the long-fought battle between two of the games greats.

16 September 2009

Inter 0 -0 Barcelona

Champions League

Guardiola and Mourinho’s first managerial encounter came in cagey 0-0 Champions League group stage match at the San Siro.

What it meant

Barcelona had the title of European Champions to defend but a 0-0 was all they could produce on their travels, although they would have another chance when the two sides met at the Nou Camp.

24 November 2009

Barcelona 2 – 0 Inter

Champions League

In the second encounter, Barcelona gave Inter a master-class in how to play passing football. Goals from Gerard Pique and Pedro sealed the deal for Guardiola’s men.

What it meant

The victory pushed Barcelona a step closer to qualification to the knock-out stages of the competition, having shown no sign of giving up on their hopes to earn back-to-back Champions League trophies.

Mark Ogden: Mourinho vs. Guardiola is one of the best things to happen in the Premier League

20 April 2010

Inter 3 -1 Barcelona

Champions League

The third time these two giants clashed as managers came in the 2009/10 Champions League semi-final in Milan. On the night, Mourinho’s team grasped a shock 3-1 victory over reigning European Champions Barcelona.

What it meant

Pep’s side had it all to do going back to the Camp Nou for the second leg but many still favoured the Guardiola’s team.

28 April 2010

Barcelona 1 – 0 Inter

Champions League

In the second-leg between Mourinho’s Inter and Guardiola’s Barca, the game turned into the battle of defence v attack. When Thiago Motta was sent off after just 28 minutes, Mourinho’s side simply dug in with 10-men behind the ball for most of the game. Inter’s striker Samuel Eto’o could be seen playing at left-back for parts of the match, showing the loyalty and belief in their manger's defensive tactics. Pique’s goal was not enough for Barcelona who fell to Mourinho’s Milan.

What it meant

Inter went on to become European Champions beating Bayern Munich 1-0 in the final, giving Mourinho is second Champions League trophy.

Mourinho's celebration at the Nou Camp after Inter's victory remains one of his most memorable
Mourinho's celebration at the Nou Camp after Inter's victory remains one of his most memorable (Getty)

29 November 2010

Barcelona 5 – 0 Real Madrid

La Liga

Mourinho’s first El Clasico against Guardiola came in a 5-0 thrashing at the Nou Camp. At the time, Guardiola’s Barcelona were stunning the world with slick football and Mourinho's men could not stand up to their Catalan counterparts. Goals from Xavi, Pedro, David Villa (2) and Jeffren crushed Real Madrid in an embarrassing result for the Portuguese manager.

What it meant

Guardiola’s team sent out a message to their age old rivals that they were the best team, not just in Spain but in the world and that the quality of the two sides was miles apart.

16 April 2011

Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona

La Liga

Mourinho decided to play Portuguese defender Pepe in midfield to stop Barcelona’s dominance in the middle of the pitch. It seemed to work with the scoreline a much closer affair than the reverse fixture earlier on in the season. A penalty each for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo led to a score draw and a point apiece for Guardiola and Mourinho.

The Real Madrid and Barcelona battles proved the most controversial of their rivalry
The Real Madrid and Barcelona battles proved the most controversial of their rivalry (Getty)

21 April 2011

Barcelona 0 – 1 Real Madrid

Copa Del Rey

In the final of the 2011 Copa Del Rey, Mourinho finally got a taste of victory in a Clasico, beating Guardiola for the first time as Real Madrid boss. The man he had to thank was Real Madrid talisman Ronaldo who leapt to head the ball home and give Real a late victory.

What it meant

Mourinho got his tactics spot on playing Pepe in midfield and Ronaldo up front, showing Barcelona could be beaten.

27 April 2011

Real Madrid 0 – 2 Barcelona

Champions League

After his first defeat to Mourinho in Spain, Guardiola bounced back in style as his side managed to keep their cool in a heated Champions League clash. Both Pepe and Mourinho were shown red cards leading to a meltdown by Real, topped off with two crushing goals from Messi.

What it meant

The victory put Barcelona back on track, again exerting their dominance over Mourinho’s Madrid.

Pepe is sent-off in the April 2011 defeat by Barcelona
Pepe is sent-off in the April 2011 defeat by Barcelona (Getty)

3 May 2011

Barcelona 1 – 1 Real Madrid

Champions League

At the Nou Camp, Guardiola’s men managed to see out a 1-1 draw knocking Real Madrid and Mourinho out of the competition. Pedro scored first for the home side before Marcelo equalised for Real.

What it meant

Guardiola’s side went on to claim the La Liga title, beating Mourinho’s Real by four points. Barcelona also went on to Champions League glory, beating Manchester United at Wembley.

14 August 2011

Real Madrid 2 – 2 Barcelona

Spanish Super Cup

In a match which saw Madrid take the role of the passing team and Barcelona hitting back on the counter attack, both teams got a share of the points. Mesut Özil scored first for Real but Barca struck back through Villa and Messi before Xabi Alonso equalised for Madrid.

What it meant

Despite the points being shared, Real’s change in style was a significant sign that Mourinho had changed his tactics to try and outplay Guardiola’s brilliant Barcelona.

17 August 2011

Barcelona 3 – 2 Real Madrid

Spanish Super Cup

In another thriller of goals and red cards, Barcelona managed to edge their bitter rivals to victory after Real had battled back to come from behind twice. Andres Iniesta scored first for Barcelona, only for Ronaldo to even the score five minutes later. Messi then gave Barcelona the lead but Karim Benzema quickly cancelled out the Argentine’s goal. However, it was Messi who had the last laugh when he volleyed the ball home to give Barcelona the victory.

The match then turned ugly with Marcelo being sent off for a horrible tackle on Cesc Fabregas causing an off-pitch scuffle between both sides. Villa and Özil both saw red having already been substituted.

What it meant

The victory gave Guardiola his second Spanish Super Cup trophy in as many seasons adding to the five trophies that Barcelona won in 2011 including the La Liga, Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup.

10 December 2011

Real Madrid 1 – 3 Barcelona

La Liga

Benzema scored within the first minute to give Mourinho’s men the lead, only for Pep’s side to bounce back scoring three goals through Alexis Sanchez, Xavi and Fabregas to give them the victory.

What it meant

The victory meant Guardiola’s Barcelona went equal on points with Madrid in the La Liga, though Mourinho’s men still had a game in hand.

18 January 2012

Real Madrid 1 – 2 Barcelona

Copa Del Rey

Ronaldo’s opener was cancelled out by two second-half Barcelona goals scored by Carlos Puyol and Eric Abidal.

What it meant

Another defeat for Mourinho’s men at the hands of Barcelona and another violent incident involving Pepe started to show the cracks in the Real Madrid dressing room, with Jose’s time at Madrid drawing to a close.

25 January 2012

Barcelona 2 – 2 Real Madrid

Copa Del Rey

When Barcelona struck twice in the first half through Pedro and Dani Alves, the Catalan giants looked set to cruise past their rivals from Madrid yet again. Yet, two second half goals from Ronaldo and Benzema resulted in a nervy 18 minutes for the Catalan faithful.

What it meant

Barcelona would go on to win the Copa Del Rey, however, would be knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea.

21 April 2012

Barcelona 1 – 2 Real Madrid

La Liga

Real Madrid claimed a vital three points in the race for the title, beating Barcelona 2-1. Real’s first goal was scored by Sami Khedira before Sanchez levelled the score. However, it was Ronaldo who stole the show and the points for Real just three minutes after Sanchez had equalised, providing a damning blow to Barcelona’s title hopes.

What it meant

Mourinho’s Real Madrid would go on to win the league for the first time under the Portuguese manager by nine clear points and spark the beginning of the end for Guardiola at Barcelona.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Real Madrid powered to the La Liga title
Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Real Madrid powered to the La Liga title (Getty)

30 August 2013

Chelsea 2 - 2 Bayern Munich ( 2 - 3 on penalties)

Uefa Super Cup

Guardiola’s Bayern Munich managed to overcome 10-man Chelsea on penalties, having scored a late equaliser in the dying stages on extra-time.

What it meant

Bayern Munich went on to win the Bundesliga by 19 clear points, whilst Mourinho’s Chelsea finished third, six points of leaders Manchester City. Guardiola seemed to have had the last laugh, whilst Mourinho was left with a poor record of three wins in 16 against his rival.

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