There was added motivation and emotion to the derby with the worker bee – a symbol of Manchester's industrial heritage – on United and City's jerseys in respect to those affected by the terror attack in May.
United started out with arguably the strongest 11 featuring the likes of De Gea, Blind, Lingaard, Mykhitarian, Lukaku and Rashford.
While City also came up with their star studded line up comprising, Aguero, De Bruyne, Sterling, Yaya Toure and the newly signed Ederson and Walker.
Ederson was tested early following his arrival from Portuguese champions Benfica, pushing away Herrera's long-range effort for a corner, as United looked sharper and quicker on the ball.
Belgium international Romelo Lukaku, showed just why Manchester United splashed the cash to sign him as he made it two goals in two games with a clinical left foot half volley opening United’s account in the 37Th minute.
City were caught again on the break, by United within minutes. Mkhitaryan nipped in to start a counter and ran straight at City's middle before slipping in Rashford who absolutely larrumped it home from the edge of the box making it 2-0 in 39 minutes.
City however, had their share of chances as United somehow survived going 1-0 down on the half-hour mark after desperately throwing their bodies on the line to block shots from Patrick Roberts and Sterling.
There was a tricky moment for De Gea in the 25th minute after Sterling's shot took a deflection off Smalling – the Spanish goalkeeper scrambling to get a hand to the ball.
The second half brought an influx of changes as Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, and even City outcasts Nasri and Mangala were given minutes.
Mourinho also introduced the likes of Martial, Carrick, Fellaini and Bailly, and the substitutions took the energy and intensity out of the game as United eventually eased to victory in their ICC opener.
United and City are both next scheduled to play against Real Madrid on July 23 and July 26 respectively.