Heading into the game, both teams were level on points having both won four matches in the opening weeks of the season, and big-spending City were seen as a new threat to United, who had been the dominant force in English football for over 15 years.

During the summer transfer window, striker Carlos Tevez had controversially left United to join City, and the match marked his return to face the club he had had much success with during his two-year stint.

Throughout the summer and in the build-up to the match, Alex Ferguson and his former player Mark Hughes, managers of United and City respectively, engaged in a bitter war of words through the media in an attempt to undermine the other.

In the match itself, Wayne Rooney opened the scoring early on, but a mistake from Ben Foster in the United goal allowed Tevez to assist Gareth Barry for City's equaliser.

Tevez played a central role as the rivalry increased, scoring or assisting a goal in each of the first three fixtures, and on multiple occasions clashed with United club captain Gary Neville both on the pitch and through the media.

[18] Writing in The Guardian newspaper, Manchester-based journalist Daniel Taylor described the move as "astonishing"; Owen was a former Liverpool player with a long history of injuries, and had only been linked with clubs in the lower half of the league.

[14][20] After United had scored just one goal in their opening two matches (a 1–0 win against Birmingham City, and a 1–0 defeat to newly promoted Burnley), Ferguson and Owen were criticised by sections of the media and fans.

Paul Scholes was serving a one-match suspension, and Rio Ferdinand was considered a doubt with a calf injury, although he did eventually recover to start the match.

Gabriel Obertan (calf), Rafael (shoulder), Edwin van der Sar (finger) and Owen Hargreaves (knee) were all ruled out through injury.

[45] Leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney, who had scored five times in United's opening five league matches, started in a two-man strike partnership with Dimitar Berbatov.

Park Ji-sung replaced the suspended Scholes as the only change to United's starting line-up from their previous Premier League fixture against Tottenham, when he had been sent-off for two yellow cards.

Robinho (ankle), Michael Johnson (groin), Vincent Kompany (foot) and Roque Santa Cruz (knee) were City's injury absences.

[48] After a quarter of an hour, a long ball by City defender Joleon Lescott looked to be heading straight to Ben Foster, but Tevez managed to get there ahead of the United goalkeeper and set up Gareth Barry for the equaliser.

[52][53] United regained the lead four minutes into the second half, when Darren Fletcher outjumped Barry to head home a looping cross from Giggs.

[48] Instead, a City equaliser came quickly in the 52nd minute from Craig Bellamy, who cut inside United defender John O'Shea and shot into the top corner from just outside the penalty area.

[47][48] Bellamy then received a yellow card in the 59th minute for hacking down Anderson, and United soon made the first substitution of the match, bringing on new signing Antonio Valencia for Park.

[47][53] City manager Hughes was seen by television cameras acting furiously towards fourth official Alan Wiley,[53][48] while Ferguson danced in celebration.

[57] Wiley's actions on the touchline, including appearing to share a joke with Alex Ferguson and ignoring Hughes' questions regarding the timekeeping, were reported to The Football Association (The FA) by City.

[61] The Guardian newspaper conducted a study that revealed United were regularly given additional injury time at Old Trafford in games they were drawing or losing, as compared to when they were leading.

[66] Writing for the BBC, chief football writer Phil McNulty agreed with Ferguson's assessment of the game as a classic, and compared it to Liverpool's 4–3 victory over Newcastle United in 1996.

[87] Unused substitute Gary Neville claimed football had become "too sensitive" after The FA warned him regarding his celebration of the winning goal;[88][89] Hughes had accused him of behaving like "a lunatic" for running onto the pitch and down the touchline towards the away supporters' section.

[105] Ferguson dismissed the spat, saying that players argue all the time,[106] and City manager Roberto Mancini, appointed in place of Hughes in December 2009, hoped the matter was finished.

[114] Officials from The FA held meetings with both clubs to attempt to ensure a peaceful second leg at Old Trafford,[115] while an additional 75 police officers were announced to be on duty.

[119] United faced disciplinary action following incidents of their supporters throwing objects at City's Craig Bellamy, including a coin that struck him on the back of the head, and multiple bottles.

[120] A man from Stockport was charged with the incident, while police confirmed that six men were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and conspiracy to commit violent disorder.

[123] In April, ahead of the return league fixture to be played at the City of Manchester Stadium, police warned both Tevez and Neville not to do anything that could again incite crowd trouble, following their celebrations and comments throughout the season.

[126] Mancini said the game was among the most important in the club's history, as a victory would help them in their attempt to qualify for the UEFA Champions League and would demonstrate that City could be title contenders the following season.

[136][137] Upon being inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2014, Owen himself described it as one of the 10 goals he scored throughout his career to have a "special place" in his heart,[138] and considers it one of the greatest televised games of all time.

[161] When appearing as a guest on Sky Sports programme Monday Night Football in 2018, United midfielder Darren Fletcher also selected the game as his favourite.

[164] Shaun Wright-Phillips echoed Bellamy's opinion during a 2020 interview with website The Athletic, suggesting that the manner of the defeat was not painful as they knew the club would reach new heights.