Kevin De Bruyne rolled back the years with a stunning performance, as Manchester City came from behind to record a 5-2 victory over Crystal Palace in Saturday afternoon's Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Palace led 2-0 in Manchester, with Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards on the scoresheet, but the response from Man City was excellent, with De Bruyne and Omar Marmoush registering in quick succession to teams level at the break.
Mateo Kovacic and James McAtee then found the back of the net in the second period to complete the turnaround, before Nico O'Reilly struck late on, with Pep Guardiola's side claiming a huge three points in their battle to secure Champions League football for next season.
The Citizens have moved above Chelsea into fourth spot in the Premier League table, now two points above sixth-placed Newcastle United, while Palace remain 11th, boasting 43 points from their opening 31 matches of the season.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Iconsport
Man City entered Saturday's match in sixth spot in the table, with the reigning champions involved in a huge battle for the Champions League positions, so there was no downplaying the importance of this contest.
Palace arrived having won six of their last seven games in all competitions during a brilliant run, and alarm bells would certainly have been ringing when the Eagles raced into a two-goal lead at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City desperately needed a star to step forward, and that proved to be De Bruyne, with the Belgian rolling back the years to put in a wonderful performance.
De Bruyne finished with a goal and an assist, but he also had a major role in his side's second of the match, and Palace found it incredibly difficult to deal with him when he dropped into space.
Man City are far from the team that dominated English football for an extended period, but it is absolutely vital that Champions League football is secured for next season, and this will go down as a very important result, especially considering that it arrived after such a strong start from a confident Palace outfit.
MAN CITY VS. CRYSTAL PALACE HIGHLIGHTS
Eberechi Eze goal vs. Man City (8th min, Man City 0-1 Crystal Palace)
Crystal Palace strike early ⚽
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 12, 2025
Eberechi Eze finds himself in acres of space to open the scoring!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/mupSJqIV90
Palace make the breakthrough in the eighth minute of the contest, as Eze turns a cross from Ismaila Sarr into the back of the net from close range - not sure about the defending from the home side there.
Chris Richards goal vs. Man City (21st min, Man City 0-2 Crystal Palace)
"Once again, it's really poor defending." 😬
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 12, 2025
Crystal Palace double their lead following confusion at the back between Ederson and Dias.
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Palace double their advantage in the 21st minute of the match at the Etihad Stadium, and it is a scramble inside the Man City penalty box from a corner, with Richards getting the final touch to make it 2-0 to the visitors.
Kevin De Bruyne goal vs. Crystal Palace (33rd min, Man City 1-2 Crystal Palace)
Vintage Kevin De Bruyne 😮💨
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 12, 2025
The skipper with an incredible free-kick to pull a goal back for the hosts 🎯
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/erIP0IgCbl
Man City get themselves back in the match in the 33rd minute, as De Bruyne's free kick from distance finds the bottom corner of the net - it is an excellent set piece from the Belgian.
Omar Marmoush goal vs. Crystal Palace (36th min, Man City 2-2 Crystal Palace)
Man City have turned the game around in just a matter of minutes 😳
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 12, 2025
Omar Marmoush with his sixth Premier League goal 📈
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/TjCnAaJAWL
It is absolutely raining goals in Manchester, as the home side get themselves back on level terms, with Marmoush firing into the back of the net from inside the penalty box after a knockdown from the influential De Bruyne.
47th min: Man City 3-2 Crystal Palace (Mateo Kovacic)
Man City have turned this game around early in the second period, and it is Kovacic on the scoresheet, with the Croatian midfielder firing into the bottom corner of the net following another clever pass from De Bruyne.
James McAtee goal vs. Crystal Palace (56th min, Man City 4-2 Crystal Palace)
Ederson has just assisted McAtee on his first Man City start in the Premier League 😳👏
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 12, 2025
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/AzhGzOujEm
Man City score their fourth in the 56th minute of the contest, with McAtee getting in on the act, as the attacker collects a long pass from Ederson before rounding the Palace goalkeeper and finding the back of the net.
79th min: Man City 5-2 Crystal Palace (Nico O'Reilly)
Man City have their fifth of the match in the 79th minute of the contest, and it is a first Premier League goal for O'Reilly, as the youngster volleys into the bottom corner from just inside the penalty box.
MAN OF THE MATCH - KEVIN DE BRUYNE
© Imago
This was a vintage performance from De Bruyne and one which he would have been proud of at his very best.
The 33-year-old was sensational on Saturday afternoon, scoring and providing an assist in his side's 5-2 success, and Palace just could not deal with him due to the clever positions that he continued to occupy on the pitch.
De Bruyne has found it difficult at times this season, but this was a seriously impressive display from the playmaker.
MAN CITY VS. CRYSTAL PALACE MATCH STATS
Possession: Man City 68%-32% Crystal Palace
Shots: Man City 21-7 Crystal Palace
Shots on target: Man City 9-3 Crystal Palace
Corners: Man City 1-3 Crystal Palace
Fouls: Man City 10-15 Crystal Palace
BEST STATS
Ederson has now assisted FOUR goals in the Premier League this season 🤯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 12, 2025
No other keeper has ever recorded more than 2 in a single campaign. pic.twitter.com/bK7Csaw7OQ
A first Premier League goal for Nico O'Reilly 👏
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 12, 2025
He scores Man City's FIFTH goal of the match against Crystal Palace!#MCICRY pic.twitter.com/k8NIzPGdac
WHAT NEXT?
Man City will be bidding to give their top-four hopes another boost when they continue their Premier League campaign with a trip to Goodison Park next Saturday to tackle Everton.
As for Palace, the Eagles will be bidding to bounce back from their first defeat since the middle of February when they head to Newcastle United on Wednesday night.
Matt Law
