Dunepost, April 12, 2025
At the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, Manchester City overcame an early deficit to thrash Crystal Palace 5-1 in a show of championship mettle. Kevin De Bruyne led an attacking football masterclass that kept City firmly in the running for the Premier League title.
The Champions’ First Shock
Pep Guardiola’s team had a bad start to the afternoon when Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta took advantage of a rare defensive lapse by shocking the home crowd with a clinical finish in the seventh minute. Eberechi Eze intercepted the Portuguese defender’s misplaced pass and threaded a perfect through ball for Mateta to slot past Ederson.
The goal stunned the Etihad and briefly put City’s hopes of winning the title in jeopardy, as they went into the game four points behind Arsenal with six games left.
De Bruyne Assumes Leadership
But City’s response, spearheaded by their Belgian maestro, was forceful. With a virtuoso performance that started with an equalizer in the 23rd minute, De Bruyne, who has struggled with injuries throughout the season, demonstrated why he is still regarded as one of the best midfield players in the world.
Dean Henderson could only watch as De Bruyne’s thunderous right-footed strike nestled into the top corner after he received a pass from Rodri on the edge of the box.
“There’s simply no one better when Kevin plays like that,” Guardiola stated during his press conference following the game. “This season, we’ve missed him a lot because of his technical skill and understanding of space.”
Second-Half Attack
Although the teams were tied 1-1 at the half, City’s offensive prowess was on full display in the second period. Erling Haaland scored his 29th league goal of the season with a forceful header after De Bruyne supplied a perfectly weighted cross in the 52nd minute.
Seven minutes later, after Henderson had parried Phil Foden’s attempt, the Norwegian striker pounced on a rebound to double his score. This season, Haaland scored his 30th Premier League goal, becoming the first player to do so in back-to-back seasons.
De Bruyne said, “Erling’s numbers are ridiculous,” following the game. “I know it’s going to be a goal sometimes, I just need to put the ball in his vicinity.”
When Jeremy Doku, who had replaced Jack Grealish, used his incredible speed to sprint down the left wing and then cut back for De Bruyne to slot home his second goal of the game in the 68th minute, Palace’s defense completely crumbled.
When he was substituted five minutes from time, the Belgian’s performance earned him a standing ovation. In the 76th minute, he completed his hat-trick with a magnificent free-kick from 25 yards out that curled beyond Henderson’s reach.
Implications of Title Race
With the win, Manchester City is now just one point behind league leaders Arsenal, who play Liverpool in a pivotal match at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Guardiola remarked, “We accomplished our goals for the day.” “We now watch the game tomorrow and get ready for the rest of our schedule. If we win our games, we still have a chance to win the title race.
Despite the crushing loss that drops Crystal Palace to 14th place, manager Oliver Glasner remained upbeat about the outcome.
The Austrian coach acknowledged, “City demonstrated today why they are champions.” “We got off to a strong start, but you have to be flawless for ninety minutes when playing against a team this good. This experience will teach us something.
The Renaissance of De Bruyne
The game marked a critical turning point in De Bruyne’s comeback to his best. The 33-year-old midfielder has had a difficult season, missing 19 games because of groin and hamstring strains.
“For me, it’s been a challenging season,” De Bruyne acknowledged. “You feel powerless when you’re observing from the sidelines. With the crucial matches approaching, now is the ideal moment to rediscover my rhythm, and today felt like the Kevin of old.”
With just 21 appearances across all competitions, his hat-trick brought his season total to eight goals and fourteen assists, which is impressive given his sparse playing time.
Looking Ahead In an attempt to guarantee mathematical safety in the Premier League, Palace will host Bournemouth the following weekend, while Manchester City will focus on their Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
City’s hopes of winning an unprecedented second straight treble are still very much alive if De Bruyne can continue to play this well. The Belgian’s performance today was a welcome reminder that he is still the best playmaker in world football when healthy and playing at his best.
“Kevin De Bruyne, he’s one of our own,” the Etihad supporters sang as they praised their midfield maestro, sending a clear message to their title rivals: the champions are finding their rhythm just when the season needed it.