Manchester City demonstrated their title aspirations in emphatic fashion as Kevin de Bruyne celebrated his 100th goal for the club in a thrilling comeback against Crystal Palace.
In a captivating encounter, Palace stunned City with an early strike from Jean-Philippe Mateta, only for De Bruyne to restore parity with a sublime finish in the first half.
Mateta capitalized on a pass from Adam Wharton to find the net just three minutes into the game, sending the crowd at Selhurst Park into a frenzy.
However, De Bruyne responded brilliantly with a curling effort to level the score just 10 minutes later. City manager Pep Guardiola hailed De Bruyne’s “incredible” impact on the game, emphasizing his vital role in the team’s success.
“For many years, he has been a key figure for our club,” Guardiola praised. “His contributions to English football have been exceptional, with numerous goals, assists, and unwavering consistency. Despite a period without him, his presence has been indispensable as we approach the business end of the season.”
While Palace threatened with Jordan Ayew’s effort hitting the crossbar, City asserted control in the second half. Rico Lewis’ early goal after the break put City ahead, before De Bruyne set up Erling Haaland for another goal. De Bruyne then sealed his milestone with a thunderous strike.
Although substitute Odsonne Edouard pulled one back for Palace late on, City secured a crucial victory in a fiercely contested title race. The win saw City draw level on points with leaders Liverpool, who faced Manchester United the following day, with Arsenal taking on Brighton later that Saturday.
