Most eyes were probably on events in Barcelona’s Nou Camp and Munich’s Allianz Arena last Tuesday evening, but there were happenings of a less-gilded though far more uplifting and important nature unfolding at the same time at the tidy little Tameside Stadium in Ashton-Under-Lyne in England’s north-west.

Hull manager Steve Bruce believes owner Assem Allam will ultimately be successful in his attempt to change the club’s name to Hull Tigers.

Manchester City 4 Manchester United 1

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini remains the overwhelming favourite to succeed Roberto Mancini as Manchester City manager.

The Premier League without Alex Ferguson: it will be like looking out your window one day to savour a familiar view and discovering a whole mountain has disappeared.

Ned English’s Duhallow team play Castlehaven in tomorrow’s Cork SFC final, but that’s only the starter’s gun when you chat to the man from North Cork. The ensuing conversation can stray anywhere.

Has there ever been a more aptly named footballer than George Best?

The euphoria lasted just 30 seconds.

The blue moon has turned to gold all right, but at what cost?

SUNDERLAND boss Martin O’Neill will head into battle with his Manchester City counterpart Roberto Mancini insisting he is not jealous of the Italian’s mammoth spending power.

MICHAEL O’LEARY donned the green shirt yesterday but Keano, Duffer and Big Dunney can rest easy — Micko is not making a late bid for inclusion on the Trapair flight to Poland next summer.

HERE are the Seven Steps, those psychological stages you go through after the ‘bereavement’ of a historic thrashing like Sunday’s.

“AFTER the game, I went straight home, got into bed and put the pillow over my head. A sense of guilt had engulfed me.”

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson described today’s 6-1 home rout at the hands of Manchester City as “our worst ever day”.

THE ghosts of the past did their best to play tricks on Manchester City as they renewed their acquaintance with the European Cup last night but Roberto Mancini declared himself happy with their Champions League debut and promised better to come.

I KNOW it’s juvenile but perhaps my favourite moment this past memorable weekend was hearing BBC Radio reporting live that a stunt mounted by the Red Issue fanzine had succeeded perfectly.

Tottenham today launched a targeted assault on West Ham’s bid for the Olympic Stadium as they finally broke their silence on their own plans to take over the site.

AMIDST all the brouhaha following the separation (pending divorce?) between FC United and Manchester United in 2005, there is one band of intrepid souls who have, in time-honoured fashion, tried to “keep it together for the kids”: those who follow both teams, cherrypicking the fixtures of each and maintaining dual memberships.

YOU’LL have noticed that I wasn’t back for the start of the season.

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson has admitted Manchester City are now one of his club’s major competitors.

Y’SEE?! Y’SEE?! Now you can understand why I always pour so much pre-hype into these encounters.

Arsenal legend Tony Adams has claimed manager Arsene Wenger does not have the backing of the whole of the Gunners' board.

WITH apologies to the so-called Madchester rock scene of the late eighties, when the likes of the Stone Roses and the Happy Mondays first stalked the land, it’s surely past time that the name Mad City entered the football lexicon.

WHEN Manchester United were on the wrong end of a 5-1 mauling at the hands of Manchester City at Maine Road in 1989, it prompted Alex Ferguson to scurry to his home and confine himself to his bed for the weekend, so deep was his disappointment at losing to United’s near neighbours.

Midfielder Garry Flitcroft has been forced to retire due to injury.

A defiant Mick McCarthy is refusing to throw in the towel as Sunderland attempt to bridge the 16-point safety gap against Manchester City at Eastlands tomorrow.

STEPHEN IRELAND will have his own band of brothers willing him on today in the Manchester derby.

Roy Keane has admitted it is "crunch time" in Manchester United’s pursuit of honours.

Manchester City’s debt level has risen to £62.2m (€89.3m) despite positive signs that financially, the club is heading in the right direction.

Joe Royle has launched a furious broadside at his former Manchester City employers, claiming they "lack class" and refuting suggestions of a drink culture during his time at Maine Road.

Manchester City have confirmed manager Kevin Keegan is expected to take training tomorrow following his recent back problems.

Man City 0 Birmingham 0

Man City 1 Blackburn 1

Portsmouth 4 Manchester City 2

Eyal Berkovic lined up for Portsmouth against Manchester City today just two days after his £500,000 (€721,000) switch from Maine Road.

JOHN O’SHEA admitted last night that the mood at Manchester United after last season’s derby-day disaster was so bad it felt like someone had died.

John O’Shea has revealed the mood at Manchester United after last season’s derby-day disaster was so bad it felt like someone had died.

Kevin Keegan is astounded by Ruud van Nistelrooy’s phenomenal goalscoring record – and insisted the Dutchman will get even better.

Man Utd 5 Panathinaikos 0

Man City 1 Portsmouth 1

Manchester City boss Kevin Keegan is convinced he has the players to ensure the club’s new £120m (€170.2m) stadium becomes a place to be feared.