Manchester City delivered a breathtaking performance to overcome a 2-0 deficit and thrash Crystal Palace 5-2 in a Premier League classic on Saturday afternoon. Inspired by a virtuoso display from Kevin De Bruyne, Pep Guardiola’s side showcased their resilience and attacking prowess to keep their Champions League qualification hopes firmly on track.
The match began disastrously for City, as Crystal Palace stunned the Etihad faithful with two early goals. Eberechi Eze opened the scoring in the eighth minute, capitalizing on a slick team move to fire past Ederson. Moments later, American defender Chris Richards doubled the visitors’ lead, heading home from a set-piece to leave City reeling. The hosts, already plagued by injuries to key players like Erling Haaland and Rodri, looked vulnerable against a Palace side riding a seven-match unbeaten streak.
However, the tide began to turn in the 33rd minute when De Bruyne, City’s talismanic midfielder, pulled one back with a clinical finish, igniting hopes of a comeback. Just before halftime, Rico Lewis leveled the score, bundling the ball in after a scramble in the Palace box. The momentum had shifted, and City emerged for the second half with renewed vigor.
Barely two minutes after the restart, Mateo Kovacic put City ahead for the first time, side-footing a precise pass from De Bruyne into the net. The Etihad erupted, sensing a rout. Omar Marmoush, deputizing for the absent Haaland, added a fourth in the 55th minute, latching onto a pinpoint through-ball to slot home his sixth Premier League goal of the season. James McAtee, making his first Premier League start, capped the scoring with a composed finish in the 70th minute, rounding off a dominant second-half display.
De Bruyne was the undisputed star, dictating play with his vision and precision while contributing a goal and two assists. “Kevin was outstanding,” Guardiola said post-match. “We could have scored eight or nine. This team showed character to come back from a tough moment.” The City boss also praised his side’s composure, noting that lesser teams might have crumbled under the early pressure.
For Palace, the defeat ended their impressive unbeaten run, with manager Oliver Glasner lamenting defensive lapses. “We started well, but after their first goal, we lost too many duels,” he admitted, singling out striker Jean-Philippe Mateta’s struggles against City’s backline. Despite the loss, Palace remain comfortably mid-table, with Eze and Mateta’s early strikes a reminder of their attacking threat.
City’s injury woes were evident, with Ederson enduring a shaky performance despite registering an assist, his fourth of the season—a rare bright spot for the goalkeeper. The absence of defenders Manuel Akanji, John Stones, and Nathan Ake forced youngsters like Finn O’Reilly into the fray, yet City’s depth and quality ultimately shone through.
The victory lifts Manchester City into the Premier League’s top four, at least temporarily, as they battle Chelsea and Newcastle for a coveted Champions League spot. With only six games remaining, every point is crucial, and this emphatic win sends a message to their rivals. Palace, meanwhile, will look to regroup ahead of their next fixture against Nottingham Forest.