Bernardo Silva: Six of the best | OneFootball

As Bernardo Silva celebrates his 31st birthday, we take a look back at six of his most influential appearances in a City shirt.

Our new captain is entering his ninth season at the Etihad Stadium and what a remarkable player he’s been throughout his time here.

Bernardo has made more than 400 appearances for the Club, winning 17 trophies and scoring 73 goals.

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But one characteristic that is not captured by statistics is his breathless energy and drive in every single one of those appearances.

A relentlessness that has helped pushed us to incredible success and secured his status as a City legend.

Here’s a look back at half a dozen of those unforgettable performances – a snapshot of a glittering eight years ahead of a campaign where the Portuguese will again lead; this time wearing the armband.

WATCH: Watch: The best of Bernardo after 400 City appearances

City 4-0 Real Madrid

Wednesday 17 May 2023 | Champions League | Etihad Stadium

There have been many memorable nights at the Etihad Stadium and our Champions League semi-final victory over Real Madrid is right up there with the best of them.

Bernardo featured at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg 1-1 draw in Spain but wasn’t happy with his own performance.

He more than compensated in the return in a magnificent victory that was one of the greatest performances in the history of the tournament.

Thibaut Courtois somehow kept the scoreline goalless until the 23rd minute when brilliant Bernardo beat him at his nearpost.

The little genius then doubled our advantage with a clever header before goals from Manuel Akanji and Julian Alvarez secured a thrilling 4-0 win and a place in the final.

“I had to do better for my teammates and the fans, and that’s what I tried to do,” he said modestly. “I’m very happy to help them. I’m very good with my head! I’m small but very good with my head.”

City 2-1 Liverpool

Thursday 3 January 2019 | Premier League | Etihad Stadium

City and Liverpool went head-to-head in an epic title race in 2018/19 that we eventually triumphed in, on the final day of the season.

We were seven points behind Jurgen Klopp’s unbeaten side when they arrived in the New Year and in need of a victory to pull ourselves closer.

There were some unforgettable moments – John Stones’ remarkable goalline clearance and brilliant strikes from Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane.

But it was an all-round team performance with everyone making a huge contribution with Bernardo certainly among them.

He ran 13.7km, the most any player had in a Premier League that season – beating his own mark of 13.65km set against Tottenham.

Pep Guardiola reflected: “He is incredible. I haven’t seen a performance like that in a while. It was clean and clever.”

City 8-0 Watford

21 September 2019 | Premier League | Etihad Stadium

Bernardo scored his only hat-trick for the Club when City set a new milestone for our highest ever win in the top-flight.

The Hornets were possibly bruised from a record 6-0 FA Cup final defeat months earlier when we secured all four domestic trophies in the 2018/19 season.

And City were rampant again, scoring inside 52 seconds and leading 5-0 after just 18 minutes.

Bernardo headed home the fourth, before converting David Silva’s pass for a sixth after the break.

He completed his hat-trick on the hour when he converted Kevin De Bruyne’s cross to claim the matchball.

“I’m going to get all the players to sign my ball and then I’ll take it home to Portugal and keep it in a special place,” he said.

City 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain

Wednesday 24 November 2021 | Champions League | Etihad Stadium

Guardiola’s side secured a place in the last-16 with Bernardo simply flawless against the French side.

Goals from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus turned the game on its head after we had fallen behind to Kylian Mbappe’s second half-strike against the run of play.

And Bernardo was unstoppable as he completed 100% of his 47 passes in a game we dominated despite the narrow scoreline.

Those passes included an exquisite assist for Jesus to claim the win with 13 minutes of the match remaining.

Bernardo had featured in every game of the season up until that point and many pundits were raving about his performances including ex-City defender Micah Richards.

“He can do everything,” he said. “I love his attitude and watching all the work he puts in for the team. You don't often get flair players who are great out of possession too, but it doesn't seem to bother Silva because he just does not stop running.”

Manchester United 0-3 City

Sunday 29 October 2023 | Premier League | Old Trafford

Bernardo described this Manchester derby victory as one of the best performances he’d been involved in during his time at City.

After an unforgettable Treble year, it showed that the desire was still burning throughout the squad.

Erling Haaland scored twice and Phil Foden added a third, but it was Bernardo who took the man of the match award despite not being on the scoresheet.

“To win here 3-0, with this crowd, I think it’s one of the best performances we’ve done in the past,” he said.

“When we come to these types of places, Anfield, Old Trafford, we know what teams are waiting for. For us to lose the ball and counter.”

It was a mentality that would take City to incredible heights as we became the first ever men's team to win four top-flight titles in a row.

Aston Villa 1-2 City

Wednesday 1 December 2021 | Premier League | Villa Park

The 2021/22 season was another titanic tussle with Liverpool where every dropped point seemed highly significant.

So going to a lively Villa Park on a midwinter’s night is always going to be a tough test.

And there was extra spice added with former Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard in charge of the Villans and still unbeaten as manager.

The perfect opportunity then to unleash one of the most outstanding team goals of the season to secure victory.

A sublime attack, started in our own box, was deftly rounded off by Bernardo’s exquisite side-footed volley into the top corner.

“He has a special ability to do whatever he wants with the ball. Against a good goalkeeper it was an incredible finish,” Guardiola said.