De Bruyne inspires stunning five-star City fightback

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Manchester City F.C.

·12 aprile 2025

De Bruyne inspires stunning five-star City fightback

A Kevin De Bruyne-inspired City staged a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to overwhelm Crystal Palace 5-2 at the Etihad and so step up our charge for a Champions League place.

In what was a remarkable, incident-packed game, the Eagles had soared into an early two-goal lead through Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards and saw a potential third by Eze ruled out by VAR for offside.

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But, in his first appearance at the Etihad since confirmation that he is to leave City this summer after 10 glorious years, skipper De Bruyne helped spark a quite magnificent comeback.

The Belgian first narrowed the deficit with a trademark first half free-kick before then being involved in Omar Marmoush’s leveller before the break.

De Bruyne it was who then set up Mateo Kovacic a minute after the restart to fire City ahead before James McAtee – on his first Premier League start for City – extended the advantage via a stunning Ederson assist.

Nico O'Reilly then got in on the scoring, registering his first Premier League goal to set the seal on what was a result to remember.

The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s side back up into fourth place in the Premier League table with six games of the season remaining.

What happened

Against an inviting Etihad backdrop of mid-April sunshine and blue skies, it made for a perfect backdrop to the contest.

And it was City who carved out the game’s first real opportunity on five minutes.

Kovacic dinked in a perfectly weighted ball behind the Palace defence for McAtee to run onto.

However, though on target, the City youngster’s shot lacked the necessary purchase to really trouble Palace keeper Dean Henderson.

It was Palace though who struck first as Eberechi Eze fired the visitors ahead with what was their first meaningful attack of the game on eight minutes.

Daniel Munoz played a first-time pass down the right wing to the onrushing Ismaila Sarr who, in turn, delivered a low inviting low cross across the face of goal for the unmarked Eze to guide in.

City though almost conjured up an instant response.

A quickfire 14th minute counter-attack saw De Bruyne provide a pinpoint ball into the path of the onrushing Omar Marmoush who was denied by the onrushing Henderson.

From the resulting rebound, De Bruyne’s follow up was then diverted behind much to the visitors’ relief.

City though were then rocked on our heels once more when Palace doubled their advantage on 22 minutes.

A well-executed in-swinging corner from Adam Wharton into the heart of the box was met by Eagles defender Chris Richards who jumped highest to head home from close range.

The action didn’t let up with De Bruyne then seeing a superb right-footed shot ricochet back off the post on 24 minutes as Guardiola’s men sought to summon up a fightback.

Palace though remained a huge threat on the break and another swift attack ended with Ismaila Sar seeing a powerful strike just evade the target.

Palace then had the ball in the City goal once again when Eze executed a superb finish from another teasing Munoz – however fortunately the England international was a fraction offside, a decision confirmed by the advent of the semi-automated VAR check which was being implemented for the first time in a Premier League game.

City then responded in the best fashion possible as De Bruyne - who else? - struck to narrow the deficit on 33 minutes with a trademark free-kick.

Stepping up 25 yards out after Nico had been fouled by Daichi Kamada, the Belgian delivered a wonderful set piece strike that beat Henderson at his near post to instantly transform the mood and the contest.

Within seconds McAtee had sent a header flashing agonisingly wide with Palace suddenly being asked serious questions.

City didn’t have to wait long for a leveller though as Marmoush struck on 36 minutes to dramatically restore parity and really get the Etihad rocking.

McAtee found De Bruyne lurking at the far-right post with an intelligent cross.

Though Ilkay Gundogan couldn’t connect with KDB’s delicious nod back, the onrushing Marmoush needed no second invitation to slam home his seventh goal since joining City in January.

And it almost got even better a minute into first half added time when an intricate passing move put De Bruyne in space on the edge of the box only to fire a shot over.

It was City now in the ascendancy and the Blues maintained momentum by roaring into the lead 90 seconds after the restart through Kovacic.

De Bruyne was this architect this time, feeding O’Reilly’s cutback into the path of the waiting Kovacic who drilled home a fine finish from 18 yards to complete a remarkable turnaround.

And the atmosphere was then ramped up even more when McAtee then further extended City’s advantage on 56 minutes – after another quite remarkable Ederson assist.

The City keeper picked out McAtee’s intelligent run with a stunning 80-yard assist.

And the Academy graduate then demonstrated his skill and composure, evading Henderson’s challenge before converting with his left foot, the goal upheld after a VAR check for offside.

It really was party time now with only a Henderson wonder save denying Marmoush after another sublime KDB assist.

And the sight of a late cameo from Oscar Bobb from the bench only set the seal on what was an afternoon to savour.

Teams

CITY XI: Ederson (Ortega 65), Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Nico, Kovacic (Doku 85), Gundogan, De Bruyne (C) (Grealish 85), McAtee (Savinho 82), Marmoush (Bobb 82).

Subs: Bernardo, Reis, Nunes, Khusanov

CRYSTAL PALACE XI: Henderson (c), Munoz, Richards, Lacroix (Clyne 63), Lerma, Mitchell (Chilwell 63), Wharton, Kamada, Sarr, Eze, Mateta (Hughes 45)

Subs: Matthews, Ward, Franca, Umeh, Devenny, Kporha

Star player

It had to be Kevin De Bruyne.

His influence was everywhere, be it dragging City back into the game via that fine free-kick, helping set up goals for both Marmoush and Kovacic or inspiring and cajoling his colleagues from minute one.

The deafening Etihad ovation when he came off late on spoke volumes as to Kevin's standing.

Truly one of the Premier League's all-time greats.

Stat zone

A superb free-kick and two assists helped maintain De Bruyne’s magnificent record against Palace.

The Belgian made his first ever Premier League appearance for City against Crystal Palace, as a 25th minute substitute in September 2015.

After today’s exploits the City skipper has now been involved in 14 goals against the Eagles (5 goals, 9 assists).

Further evidence, as if any were needed, of his game-changing impact down the years for City.

KDB reaction

I want to go away with a Champions League for this team because they deserve it.

We've been in the Champions League for the nine, ten years that I've been here so I hope we can do that for the team next year and I'll just try to play good football like I've always done.

I think we started well, had a couple of chances and out of nowhere we're 2-0 behind and it could have been three.

The response was good. I thought overall we played pretty much a good game but we gave chances away and they pounced on it.

The reaction was really good and in the end I think we deserved to win.

Pep’s reaction

I would say we played really good all game. We were 2-0 down and we created a lot and I said at half time we were playing good.

Our momentum was sparked with a free-kick from Kevin and after that we played a really good game considering we were 2-0 down and considering how Crystal Palace have been in the past games.

[It was] the Kevin we have known for many years. I know he's struggled the last year and a half. He's free without pain and completely different. The way we played helped him a lot with incredible runners, the young lads, the full-backs.