Did we witness Kevin de Bruyne last goal at the Etihad?
Kevin de Bruyne netted in his penultimate home match to sail Manchester City past Wolves and set them to third place in the Premier League.
Midfielder scores in narrow win over Wolves as unbeaten run continues
Manchester City took a major step toward securing Champions League qualification as Kevin De Bruyne first-half goal sealed a 1–0 victory over in-form Wolves on Friday night.
The Belgian midfielder, who announced last month that he will leave the club at the end of the season, converted Jeremy Doku’s low cross in the 35th minute. The win sees City move four points clear of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest, with three games left to play.
Wolves Threaten Early But Fail to Capitalize
Wolves started strongly and looked threatening throughout the first half. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde squandered a golden opportunity after breaking through on goal, opting to square the ball rather than shoot—allowing Marshall Munetsi’s sliding attempt to go astray.
Moments later, Rayan Ait-Nouri came agonizingly close to putting Wolves ahead, striking the far post before Josko Gvardiol cleared his rebound off the line.
City Respond and Take Control
Despite early pressure, City weathered the storm and struck against the run of play. Doku, a constant menace on the left wing, delivered a sharp cross that De Bruyne swept home first-time—marking his sixth goal and fifth assist against Wolves in his 11-year City career.
Though Matheus Cunha struck the woodwork for Wolves in the second half with a curling effort, their six-game winning streak came to an end.
Guardiola’s Men Find Form at Crucial Moment
Manager Pep Guardiola has been critical of City’s overall campaign, citing an early Champions League exit and inconsistent domestic form. However, the team has now reached the FA Cup final and extended their unbeaten run to nine matches.
The Wolves win was only the second time this season City have recorded five consecutive victories, suggesting they may be hitting form at just the right time.
A Final Push for Europe
City will now face already-relegated Southampton, as well as Bournemouth and Fulham, in their final three matches. Wins in those fixtures would guarantee a return to the Champions League, regardless of other results.