LONDON: Sergio Aguero’s goal ensured Louis van Gaal’s first Manchester derby ended in defeat as Manchester City beat 10-man Manchester United 1-0 at Eastlands on Sunday.

United manager Van Gaal’s side had to play more than half the match a man down as defender Chris Smalling was sent off in the 39th minute after collecting two needless yellow cards, having charged down goalkeeper Joe Hart’s clearance kick before a reckless foul on James Milner.

City had several penalty appeals rejected by referee Michael Oliver before Aguero fired City into a 63rd-minute lead after finishing from close range to crown a superb one-touch move involving Yaya Toure and Gael Clichy.

The Argentinian striker’s 10th league goal of the season left him top of the Premier League scoring charts after he had been tied on nine goals with Chelsea’s Diego Costa heading into this weekend’s round of matches.

Hart then saved well from Angel di Maria to deny United an equalizer 14 minutes from time before Marouane Fellaini wastefully headed wide when well-placed to make it 1-1.

Toure, however, could have made it 2-0 in the first of five minutes of added-on time but headed over the top from close range.

Victory saw Premier League champions City move to within six points of leaders Chelsea but still remain third, two points adrift of second-placed Southampton.

United’s third league loss of the season meant they dropped to ninth on goals scored and remained 13 points off the summit.

Sampdoria beats Fiorentina 3-1 to move 3rd

Sampdoria moved back into third place with a hard-fought 3-1 win at home to Fiorentina as the visiting side missed a penalty, while Udinese lost 4-2 to Genoa in Serie A on Sunday.

Sergio Romero saved Gonzalo Rodriguez’s penalty after Angelo Palombo had converted a spot kick for Sampdoria.

Luca Rizzo scored his first Serie A goal to make it 2-0 and, although Stefan Savic got one back just before halftime, Eder secured the points for Sampdoria with a stunning solo effort.

Udinese captain Antonio Di Natale scored his 199th league goal after just 23 seconds but Genoa rallied for its third successive victory.

Sassuolo was held to a goalless draw at bottom club Chievo Verona and Atalanta also drew 0-0 at Torino.

AC Milan hosts Palermo later and can move level with Sampdoria with a win, as can Lazio when it entertains Cagliari on Monday night. Earlier Monday, Hellas Verona visits Genoa.

Sampdoria was keen to get back on track after a dip in form had seen it fail to win any of its past three matches.

It took the lead in the 27th minute when Palombo drove a penalty into the right side of goal after Alberto Aquilani had clumsily pushed over Roberto Soriano.

Palombo gave away a penalty five minutes after converting one when he brought down Khouma Babacar but Rodriguez’s spot-kick was weak and Romero managed to smother it.

Rizzo doubled Sampdoria’s lead two minutes from the break, dribbling past two defenders at the byline before sending in a low drive to set club president Massimo Ferrero dancing in the stands.

There was still time before the break for Savic to get Fiorentina back in the match with a towering header from a corner.

Fiorentina was further boosted when Mario Gomez made his comeback from injury, coming on in the 69th minute for his first appearance since September.

But Eder made sure of the points 12 minutes from time after starting his run in his own half and beating three Fiorentina players.

Sampdoria moved a point above Napoli and three behind second-placed Roma.

Genoa is also a point behind Sampdoria and leapfrogged Udinese in the table.

It went into the match full of confidence after inflicting a first defeat of the season on Serie A leader Juventus midweek, but found itself behind after less than a minute when Di Natale beat the offside trap to latch onto Panagiotis Kone’s assist and drove the ball past Mattia Perin.

However, two goals in as many minutes saw Genoa on top.