Man Metropolis 1-0 Wolves: Kevin De Bruyne winner takes Metropolis third as in-form Wolves rue missed possibilities

Kevin De Bruyne’s aim was sufficient for Manchester Metropolis to beat Wolves 1-0 on the Etihad Stadium and transfer as much as third within the Premier League desk.

Wolves’ confidence coming into the sport was evident of their enterprising begin, twice going near scoring the opener. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde simply overhit his move to Marshall Munetsi with the aim gaping earlier than Rayan Ait-Nouri hit the put up too.

The guests, chasing a seventh win in a row, paid the worth for his or her profligacy and it was De Bruyne – in his penultimate look in entrance of the house supporters – who punished them. Andre misplaced possession. Jeremy Doku opened it up. De Bruyne completed.

Though Matheus Cunha got here near an equaliser within the second half, Ederson’s put up rescuing the goalkeeper once more. Metropolis managed a lot of it thereafter, securing their fourth Premier League win in a row to tighten their grip on a Champions League spot.

Participant of the match: Kevin De Bruyne

It was the title of De Bruyne that was chanted loud and proud on the closing whistle. Only one extra sport on the Etihad Stadium determined by the appropriate boot of the Belgian, this one serving to take Man Metropolis one step nearer to Champions League soccer subsequent season.

De Bruyne won’t be right here for that. He isn’t fairly the drive that he was however on this proof he doesn’t have to be to make an influence. There’s now just one Metropolis look left at this stadium. He’ll hope to take action as an FA Cup winner but once more.

Participant rankings

Man Metropolis: Ederson (6), Nunes (7), Dias (7), Gvardiol (7), O’Reilly (6), Kovacic (6), Gundogan (6), De Bruyne (7), Bernardo (7), Doku (7), Marmoush (6).

Subs used: Akanji (7), Lewis (n/a), Foden (n/a), Mc Atee (n/a), Gonzalez (n/a).

Wolves: Sa (7), Semedo (7), Doherty (7), Agbadou (7), Toti (7), Ait-Nouri (6), Andre (6), J Gomes (7), Munetsi (6), Bellegarde (6), Cunha (7).

Subs used: R Gomes (6), Sarabia (6), Guedes (n/a), Hwang (n/a), Bueno (n/a).

Participant of the match: Kevin De Bruyne.

De Bruyne: I can nonetheless play

“We found a way to win,” De Bruyne advised Sky Sports activities afterwards.

“Now we can relax and see what the others do. It’s been a tough year, but we’re finding a bit of a groove to find the games we need to win.

“I am simply attempting to play nearly as good as I can. I do know I’ve acquired one sport left right here, however I simply attempt to do my job like I’ve at all times achieved. I am pleased with what I am doing and that is the way it’s at all times been.

“A lot of team-mates have spoken to me, they’re sad also that I’m leaving but sometimes that’s how it goes in life. The way I’m performing and acting is how everyone should be.

“I do not know [what the future holds], sadly. I’ve confirmed I can nonetheless play or I would not do what I’ve achieved within the final 4 or 5 weeks.”

‘De Bruyne still has the quality’

Former Man City defender Micah Richards on Sky Sports:

“Kevin has been a incredible servant for this membership, an excellent participant. Whether or not as a No 10, a false No 9, or off the appropriate.

“He doesn’t have the energy of previous years, but he does have the quality.

“The attention for the aim was sensible, he held his run and put it residence.

“There’s still areas lacking for Man City, lacking a bit of enthusiasm or direction.

“They had been huffing and puffing at instances, however the win was a very powerful factor.”

Speaking level: Ait-Nouri escapes pink card

In a contest that featured no yellow playing cards, Rayan Ait-Nouri did catch Bernardo Silva together with his studs when trying a stepover within the second half. It was checked by VAR however the Wolves wing-back was not despatched off.

“I do not like seeing gamers despatched off, however he is a really fortunate boy there,” stated Jamie Carragher on co-commentary for Sky Sports activities.

“He’s trying to do the skill and once his foot’s rolled, it has to go somewhere. I’m not saying he’s deliberately trying to do it to his shin, but maybe he sees him coming and he’s trying to protect himself.”

Man Metropolis’s win in stats

Manchester Metropolis have received 4 consecutive Premier League matches for the primary time since their 13-match profitable run between April and September 2024.
Metropolis’s Kevin De Bruyne has had a hand in 11 objectives in 10 Premier League appearances towards Wolves (6 objectives, 5 assists), the joint most by any participant in Premier League historical past (Mohamed Salah additionally has 6 objectives and 5 assists towards them).
De Bruyne has scored 30 Premier League objectives since turning 30 – the one gamers to attain extra instances for Manchester Metropolis aged 30+ are Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero (41 every).
Bernardo Silva grew to become simply the sixteenth participant ever to play for Manchester Metropolis 400 instances and the second to hit the milestone this season, after Kevin De Bruyne did so in January.
Jeremy Doku has accomplished 101 dribbles within the Premier League this season, turning into the primary Manchester Metropolis participant to finish over 100 dribbles in a marketing campaign since Shaun Wright-Phillips in 2004-05 (119).