The Crystal Palace players took some time to understand they were merely supporting roles in The De Bruyne Show. What a display from the finest midfielder in the Premier League.
Oliver Glasner dismissed claims that he might depart Crystal Palace for RB Leipzig after the season prior to this match, and the basis for the Bundesliga club's interest became strikingly clear after thirty minutes at the Etihad. The city was shattered by rapid changes while attempting to penetrate the tight defense, with those two crucial elements of Palace’s play, which have propelled them into European contention and helped them start strong here, also defining the top Leipzig squads.
Whether strategized based on a match-up with Nico O’Reilly, who was entering just his third Premier League start, or merely because he was the clear choice, Palace ensured the ball reached Daniel Munoz as swiftly as possible. Although the wing-back is outstanding, he didn't have to be exceptional to cut through City, as the absence of pressure on the ball and a high, uneven defensive line made his job incredibly easy.
Ruben Dias hesitated to step forward as Munoz fed Isamaila Sarr behind the defense, which allowed Eberechi Eze to score the first goal with a simple finish. In that initial phase, there were at least four other occasions where a few passes helped Palace generate scoring opportunities.
It was incredibly effortless, yet it's also accurate that the breakdown of City appeared more straightforward than it truly was, due to Adam Wharton, who possesses this remarkable tendency of delivering the passes we frequently urge midfielders to attempt but are often overlooked for being overly daring. We couldn't help but make an involuntary sound when he sent both De Bruyne and James McAtee off to the shops with a shoulder drop before firing the ball directly to Munoz's feet.
Wharton’s superb corner kick allowed Chris Richards to leap over a struggling Ederson and score Palace’s 15th set-piece goal of the season, extending their lead to 2-0. They nearly added a third when Eze’s fantastic cut inside and shot into the bottom corner was disallowed for a close offside, as semi-automation made its debut in the Premier League.
At that moment, it didn't seem significant since we had witnessed little from City, while Palace's performance indicated it was just a matter of time before the visitors extended their lead. However, although De Bruyne might be departing, he hasn't left just yet.
This was the finest Premier League midfielder performing at his peak as well as we have witnessed all season and perhaps for even longer. Could it be such a coincidence that he delivered this type of commanding performance right after the club informed him that he is no longer needed? He definitely has nothing to demonstrate to us, yet he demonstrated it nonetheless.
After striking the post from near the box without any backlift and gesturing to amplify the noise at the Etihad, De Bruyne made a slight tweak with his precise right foot and curled a free-kick in off the post to score City’s first, after which his superior confidence seemed to activate.
Omar Marmoush equalized for City before halftime, firing a shot beyond Dean Henderson after De Bruyne headed James McAtee’s brilliant floated cross to the back post across the goal, before the Belgian set up Mateo Kovacic to put them ahead early in the second half.
We’re uncertain if we've encountered a match where we thought This Could Be Anything concerning the scoring potential of both sides. It was a ridiculous shift in fortune from Palace to City, primarily due to one individual, though Kovacic, McAtee, and Marmoush served as helpful supporting players in The De Bruyne Show.
The comeback of the midfield legend sparked nostalgia at the Etihad during a match that evolved into a late-season walk typical of Pep Guardiola’s teams in the past ten years. Ederson contributed to that pleasant reminiscence by delivering his fourth assist of the season, sending a powerful pass to McAtee, who then rounded a struggling Henderson to score.
Marmoush ought to have netted his second goal of the match after connecting with the ultimate De Bruyne pass – the type that's just an inch from the last defender's boot and another inch in front of the goalkeeper's reaching hand, which Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling effortlessly finished when they enjoyed playing alongside the playmaker.
There was still an opportunity for O’Reilly to signal that he might be the one to fill the gap when De Bruyne departs at the season's conclusion, as he expertly side-footed an impressive volley from the perimeter of the box, but what became very clear in this match, It’s not that we required a reminder, but rather that there’s only one Kevin De Bruyne, and City face an uphill battle while searching for substitutes this summer.
Comments