( CNN ) -- Defending champions Manchester City salvaged a large chunk of pride when beating runaway Premier League leaders -- and city rivals -- Manchester United 2-1 to register consecutive wins at Old Trafford for the first time in 41 years . The game was played on the day that former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died at the age of 87 , with Premier League officials choosing not to hold a minute 's silence in her honor . After a difficult season in which they failed to build upon their first title since 1968 , City will treasure a victory , with strikes from James Milner and Sergio Aguero either side of a Vincent Kompany own goal , that will make coach Roberto Mancini sleep a little easier . `` I think we showed we do n't deserve to stay 15 points behind , '' the Italian told Sky Sports after the game . `` They have had more consistency in this championship because they won more games . `` Instead we lost points when we probably deserved to win . We showed we deserved to stay closer to the title but it is finished . '' The Italian had claimed before the game that United were no better than his side , even if he did concede that they will deserve their title when it arrives , and will feel that the win justified his comments . However , he may still have to appease some fans after saying that his failure to land his top five transfer targets before the season - including United 's very own Robin van Persie , Chelsea 's Eden Hazard , Javi Martinez ( Bayern Munich ) , Lazio 's Daniele De Rossi and Daniel Agger of Liverpool - had cost his team its chance of glory this year . The defeat means that the earliest United , whose lead at the top was reduced to 12 points by second-placed City , can wrap up the title is Monday 22 April , when Alex Ferguson 's men host Aston Villa . Having been crushed 6-1 at home by their long-standing rivals last season , United had been expected to not only avenge that humiliation but also confirm with a convincing display that the balance of power had definitively shifted back in their favor . Prior to the game , former United defender Gary Neville had told United Review media that City 's handsome derby victory and dramatic title had led to erroneous claims in the media . `` Reports of [ a power shift ] misunderstood Manchester United , '' said the former full back . `` Here is a manager and players who do n't understand phrases like 'power shift ' . They just make them more determined to ram such phrases back down people 's throats . '' Disregarding Monday night 's disappointment , United -- who can no longer break the 100-point barrier -- certainly have shown an emphatic desire to reclaim a title they have already won 19 times . In fact , there is a direct parallel with two other major European leagues where traditionally dominant powers have rebounded from league failures to reclaim the title in convincing fashion . On Saturday , Bayern Munich -- who were pipped to the German championship by Borussia Dortmund last year -- beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 to mark the earliest clinching of the league title in Bundesliga history , 20 points clear with six games still left to play . In Spain , Real Madrid hit the magical 100-point mark when beating great rivals Barcelona to the 2011-2012 title -- a failure which has focused the latter to such extent that they lead La Liga by 13 points with eight rounds left . With Montpellier way off the pace in the French league , the only one of the top five European leagues where the champion looks set to defend their trophy is in Italy , where Juventus boast a nine-point lead with seven games to go . Monday night 's anticipated Rome derby was overshadowed by pre-match violence , with two Roma supporters stabbed -- an incident which prompted Rome 's mayor to make a public appeal for calm . On the pitch , Brazilian Hernanes gave Lazio an early lead prior to missing a penalty in the second half , with Roma legend Francesco Totti making no mistake from 12 yards when handed a spot-kick of his own . Despite the dismissal of Lazio 's Giuseppe Bavia with 21 minutes to go , seventh-placed Roma could not find a winner that would have moved them above their city rivals into fifth place in Serie A . Reflecting on a calmer derby in England , victorious Manchester City captain Kompany feels that his side 's victory could play a pivotal role in the race for next season 's English championship . `` A derby is always a special game for us and to be able to win is massive , '' said the Belgian . `` I do believe the way we finish this season will have an impact on how we do next season . `` This is a good win to have under our belt and we will take it into the next season . ''
Manchester City win 2 - 1 at home of great rivals after goals from James Wade and Jorge Aguero . Victory means City have won successive away games at Manchester United for first time in 41 years . In Italy , drawn Rome derby is overshadowed by murder of two Roma fans .