De Bruyne strike fires City to third - and a step closer to the Champions League

The Belgian – who will leave City this summer after a decade’s wonderful service – struck on 35 minutes to settle what was an absorbing and fiercely fought Friday night encounter.

The visitors, who had arrived at the Etihad on the back of six straight league wins made Pep Guardiola’s side fight all the way.

And they twice hit the woodwork through Rayan Alt-Nouri and Matheus Cunha either side of the break.

But thanks to De Bruyne’s strike – which made it 250 career goal involvements under Guardiola - City held firm to make it four Premier League wins in a row and so leapfrog Newcastle into third place in the table

What happened

There was a glorious sunny backdrop at the Etihad as City stepped out for a rare Friday night Premier League assignment with the men from Molineux – our first on home soil since way back on Boxing Day, 2008.

Ruben Dias sought to get an eagerly-awaited contest off to a memorable start by unleashing an ambitious early sighter as he tried his luck from 25 yards but saw his shot arrow wide.

It was similar tale at the other end where Wolves danger man Matheus Cunha also let fly before the five-minute mark but his radar was also found wanting.

In a fast-paced and fiercely competitive first 20 minutes, City bossed much of the possession but Wolves also proved their quality and confidence on the back of six straight league wins with the speed and precision of their counter-attacks.

Vitor Pereira’s side were also well drilled at the back though City did craft a 20th minute opportunity w=only for Omar Marmoush to send a half volley over the bar.

Within a minute there was a huge let-off for the Blues after Jean-Ricner Bellegrade was played in behind the City back line.

As he bore down on goal with only Ederson to beat he instead chose to cross to the onrushing Marshall Munesti only to overhit the pass – much to the Etihad’s relief.

There was an even bigger escape for the hosts on 27 minutes.

The dangerous Rayan Alt-Nouri latched onto a loose ball on the left edge of the City box and first saw a 15-yard effort ricochet back off the foot of the post.

Josko Gvardiol then had the presence of mind to clear Alt-Nouri’s follow-up off the line.

Guardiola’s side almost summoned up a perfect riposte, a neat Doku pass allowing Nico O’Reilly the time to drill in a powerful effort with Wolves’ keeper Jose Sa did will to parry over.

City were not to be denied though – and Guardiola’s men made the all-important breakthrough on 36 minutes through that man Kevin De Bruyne.

Ilkay Gundogan made the initial inroads, driving into the heart of the Wolves area before teeing up the advancing Doku.

The Belgian skipper sprinted to the byline before executing a perfect weighted pass to his waiting compatriot who fired home from 12 yards for his fourth Premier League goal of the season.
 

Wolves though still remained a potent threat, and it needed a timely intervention from Matheus Nunes four minutes after the restart to shut the door on the advancing Munetsi after a spot of pinball midway in the City half.

City were then indebted to the woodwork once more on 55 minutes when dangerman Cunha rifled an 18-yard powerful shot against the bar with Ederson beaten.

City too enjoyed plenty of the ball and territory and also saw a potential red card for Alt-Nouri for a foul on Bernardo turned down by VAR with Wolves well drilled and organised as they sought to frustrate the hosts with clearcut chances at a premium.

And as the clock wound down, the tension ratcheted up given how crucial the three points were.

However City held firm to claim another priceless win and further step up our drive for that all-important Champions League spot.

Teams

CITY XI: Ederson, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly (Akanji 58), Kovacic (Nico 91), Gundogan (McAtee 82), De Bruyne (C) (Foden 82), Bernardo, Doku, Marmoush (Lewis 82).

Subs: Ortega, Haaland, Grealish, Savinho.

WOLVES XI: Sa, Semedo, Doherty (Sarabia 64), Agbadou, Toti Gomes, Ait-Nouri, Joao Gomes, Andre (Guedes 80), Munetsi, Bellegarde (R. Gomes 64), Cunha.

Subs: Bentley, Bueno, Hwang, Doyle, Dijga, Lima

Star player

A landmark Friday night for Bernardo Silva and a player of the match display to boot.

In starting against Wolves, the Portuguese playmaker clocked up his 400th appearance for City since joining the Club in 2017.

And the 30-year-old once again impressed enormously with his talent, technique and industry – qualities which have been the hallmark of his superb City career right from the word go.

250 up

Another goal and another dazzling career statistic for the irrepressible Kevin De Bruyne.

The brilliant Belgian marked what his penultimate Etihad appearance for City in fitting fashion by opening the scoring to make it 250 career goal involvements for City since Pep Guardiola’s arrival in 2016.

It also elevated the City skipper into special company – only Lionel Messi had achieved such a feat prior to tonight.

What’s more, it further extended King Kev’s brilliant individual record against Wolves, taking him to six goals and five assists from 10 appearances against the men in old gold.

Pep’s verdict

If you analyse the result we have improved but analyse the performance and there is still a long way to come.

We are better than [we were] weeks ago and we have done five, six games winning and other teams have dropped points.

If we play like we did today, it is really good but we cannot relax. Winning in that way is good because it will make us realise that we still need to work.

We have another game here [with Kevin De Bruyne]. Hopefully there will be another one.

With his goal, it lifted our spirits and the spirit for the fans and at the end he makes an incredible action from Jeremy [Doku] and he scores.

KDB verdict

It was a hard game today but we found the way to win. Now we can just relax a bit and see what the other teams do this weekend.

It has been tough year but we are finding a bit of a groove. We are winning the games that we need to so let’s hope we can end the season like that.

We pressed good and then it was Jeremy [Doku] with the great action. He found me in the right spot and I could finish it.

What it means

Tonight’s result sees City move back up into third place in the Premier League table.

It means we have 64 points from 35 games. 

Fourth placed Newcastle have 62 points from 34 games whilst Chelsea (fifth) and Nottingham Forest (sixth) both have 60 having also played 34 matches.

Aston Villa are seventh with 57 points with four games left to play.

Premier League

		Team		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Form
2			Arsenal Arsenal	35	18	13	4	64	31	33	67	DDWDL
3			Manchester City Man City	35	19	7	9	67	43	24	64	DWWWW
4			Newcastle United Newcastle	35	19	6	10	66	45	21	63	WWLWD

What’s next

City are next in action eight days’ time on Saturday, May 10, when we make the long journey to face Southampton in our penultimate Premier League away fixture.

Kick-off at the St Mary’s Stadium is slated for 15.00pm (UK).