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Kevin De Bruyne stole the present as Manchester Metropolis ended their depressing latest run with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on the Etihad.
The Belgian, returning to the beginning line-up for the primary time in additional than two months, grabbed a aim and an help as Pep Guardiola’s aspect claimed their first win in seven video games in all competitions.
Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku had been additionally on the scoresheet on an evening the Premier League champions appeared extra like their former selves.
It’s now 31 matches unbeaten for Guardiola’s crew when De Bruyne has began, though there have been nonetheless indicators of defensive frailty within the Metropolis ranks.
Forest had only a few clear reduce possibilities, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s aspect dropped to seventh within the desk.
FULL-TIME | Victory! 🤩
🩵 3-0 🌳 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/RSTIgt65w4
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) December 4, 2024
The way it occurred
A light-weight present preceded the conflict between fifth and sixth within the desk on a drizzly night in Manchester.
And it was an indication of issues to come back as Metropolis’s returning star shone brightest on the Etihad.
Haaland took intention inside 5 minutes however his right-footed strike might solely discover the palms of Matz Sels within the Forest aim.
Simply moments later, nonetheless, Metropolis’s early stress paid off when Ilkay Gundogan’s run into the field wasn’t tracked. The German clipped a cross discovered De Bruyne who despatched his header again throughout aim the place Bernado Silva was ready to bundle the ball residence.
The aim appeared to inject Metropolis with confidence. Spearheaded by De Bruyne, and flanked by Silva and Jack Grealish, the hosts had been starting to purr.
Silva’s cross discovered the pinnacle of Josko Gvardiol however the Croatia worldwide missed the goal when he maybe ought to have finished higher.
Gvardiol was then at fault as Forest went near levelling issues up when he was dispossessed on Metropolis’s left-hand aspect. The ball discovered its technique to Morgan Gibbs-White however his effort was palmed away by Ortega.
Gvardiol was once more on the centre of the motion when he was slipped via by Haaland however the marauding defender might solely skew his shot previous the put up.
De Bruyne then noticed his effort skid broad as Metropolis began to dominate. For all their attacking menace, nonetheless, Guardiola’s aspect did not shake the defensive vulnerability they’ve proven of late.
They usually had been fortunate to stay in entrance when Forest’s in-form Chris Wooden, bearing down on aim, despatched his shot broad of the goal.
A aim to go together with his help!
Kevin De Bruyne again to his finest for Man Metropolis 👏#PLonPrime #MCINFO pic.twitter.com/7snxvQhDRI
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 4, 2024
However the miss would show expensive. Seconds later, Guardiola’s aspect doubled their lead when Jeremy Doku fed compatriot De Bruyne simply contained in the field and the Belgian made no mistake by rifling the ball into the highest nook of the web.
Each groups made adjustments on the break nevertheless it was the guests who flew out of the traps within the second interval. Murillo despatched a long-range effort simply over the bar as Forest confirmed no indicators of rolling over.
However succumb to a 3rd they did when on 56-minutes Haaland discovered Doku who reduce inside and bent a superb end into the far nook.
Metropolis had been now in cruise management however the spectre of the latest 3-3 draw with Feyenoord loomed giant.
De Bruyne went near bagging a brace however Sels did properly to tip his shot around the put up.
That finesse end 🤩
Jeremy Doku has Pep Guardiola’s aspect on monitor for an enormous win #PLonPrime #MCINFO pic.twitter.com/tGIx739I04
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 4, 2024
Sels once more held agency when he saved from Grealish earlier than De Bruyne was substituted to a raucous ovation from the house crowd.
Anthony Elanga curled an effort over the bar whereas Elliot Anderson’s strike was saved by Ortega.
It was about all Forest might muster as Doku, in the meantime, dazzled his method via the customer’s defence however did not maintain his shot down.
Nathan Ake was pressured off with a suspected muscle damage nevertheless it was an in any other case pleasing evening for the champions.
And possibly, simply possibly, a turning of the tide.
