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Published on 2024-04-06 14:11:54
Kevin De Bruyne scored twice in Manchester City’s 4-2 victory over Crystal Palace, reaching his 100th goal for the club and helping City move level on points with Premier League leaders Liverpool. The match at Selhurst Park saw City fall behind early on, but De Bruyne quickly equalized with a beautiful curling shot. Rico Lewis and Erling Haaland also found the net, with De Bruyne assisting Haaland’s goal to end his goal drought.
Pep Guardiola’s decision to rest De Bruyne and Haaland for a previous match against Aston Villa paid off, as City remain on track to defend the treble they won last season. Guardiola made changes to his starting lineup, bringing in John Stones and Oscar Bobb, while key players like Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, and Jeremy Doku were left on the bench.
Despite an early mistake from Stones leading to Palace’s opening goal, City responded strongly with De Bruyne orchestrating their attacking plays. The Belgian maestro added another stunning goal to his tally before assisting in Haaland’s goal. De Bruyne then scored his 100th goal for City with a powerful strike.
The victory over Palace was crucial for City, especially with a Champions League quarter-final match against Real Madrid looming. Guardiola’s squad rotation strategy seems to be working well, with key players stepping up when needed. Grealish’s return to form and fitness is also a positive sign for City’s title ambitions in various competitions.
Haaland, who had struggled to find the net in recent games due to injury, rediscovered his scoring touch with a goal against Palace. De Bruyne’s milestone of 100 goals for City is a testament to his brilliance and importance to the team since joining in 2015. City’s dominant display against Palace puts them in a strong position in the title race, moving them level on points with Liverpool at the top of the table.
Despite Palace managing to score a late goal, City’s overall performance was impressive and showcased their attacking prowess. With Arsenal also in contention at the top of the table, City will need to maintain their consistency in the remaining matches of the season. Guardiola will be pleased with his team’s response to setbacks and will look to carry this momentum forward in the pursuit of more silverware.
