In a very entertaining game, Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 5-2. Although the Eagles took an early 2-0 lead, City came back into the game with a brace and then overran the visitors.
ManCity manager Pep Guardiola made three changes following the goalless draw in the Manchester derby at Manchester United. Lewis, Nico and McAtee, who made his Premier League starting lineup debut, started instead of Matheus Nunes, Foden and Bernardo Silva. On the opposite side, Palace manager Oliver Glasner made just one change to the starting lineup that beat Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton 2-1. Guehi was missing due to a yellow card. Richards started in the back three for him.
Palace takes an early 2-0 lead
The game actually started fairly evenly, but then ManCity revealed huge gaps in their defense in the 8th minute. The visitors took full advantage: Sarr found Eze with his cross and the Englishman converted for an early 1-0 lead. That was very poorly defended by Manchester. Shortly afterwards, however, the home side could have equalized, because Marmoush was suddenly through on the counterattack, but he failed with his attempt at a tunnel against Palace keeper Henderson; the second shot from De Bruyne, who was playing at the Etihad Stadium for the first time since his farewell announcement, went just wide (13′).
The game remained entertaining after this double chance, and Crystal Palace extended their lead in the 21st minute. Ederson punched the ball wide during a corner and Richards headed the ball over the line from close range. But Manchester were not at all shocked by this. Three minutes later, De Bruyne hit the post with a long-range shot. But the City defense continued to be far too open. In the 26th minute, the Skyblues could be happy that Sarr shot just over and only two minutes later, Eze was just offside when he scored the 3-0.
City came back into the game within a few minutes
But then the Skyblues turned it up: De Bruyne scored the first goal with a free kick in which Henderson did not look good in the Palace goal (33′). Right after that, McAtee could have equalized with a header, but his shot went just wide (34′). And just three minutes and 17 seconds after the 1-2, Marmoush was in the right place to head in a cross from De Bruyne to make it 2-2 (36′). After that, Pep Guardiola’s team pushed for the 3-2 and Crystal Palace only trembled towards the half-time whistle. In added time, De Bruyne fired a powerful shot on the short corner that flew just over the bar (45.+2). After that, after a breathtaking first 45 minutes, it was time for a break.
Ederson with his fourth assist of the season
The second half started just as the first had ended, with the Skyblues enjoying plenty of attacking opportunities. They turned the game on its head in the 47th minute. De Bruyne laid it off for Kovavic, who scored from the edge of the box next to the left post. Palace were completely out of it during this phase, so McAtee could have made it 4-2 just four minutes later, but he missed the open shot. Shortly thereafter, however, the youngster was able to celebrate: Ederson sent him on his way with a strong high ball. McAtee went past Henderson and slid the ball into the empty goal (56th minute) – it was the City keeper’s fourth goal assist this season. The Eagles were still in shock even after conceding a goal, and Marmoush almost punished this in the 60th minute with the 5:2, but he failed to score against Henderson.
After that, the game slowed down a bit because the flow of play was disrupted by injury breaks. Ederson had to leave the field with adductor problems and was replaced by Ortega Moreno. Palace were actually just waiting for the final whistle, but City didn’t do the guests the favor of stopping playing football: In the 79th minute, O’Reilly converted a cross that was cleared too short with his first Premier League goal to make it 5-2. There was another emotional moment when De Bruyne left the pitch. The spectators at the Etihad Stadium rose to their feet and chanted De Bruyne’s name. Nothing more happened in the game. The win sees ManCity jump to 4th place for the time being. Palace lose for the first time since February 15 and remain in the middle of the table.
City’s next game is at Everton on Saturday at 4 p.m. Crystal Palace are guests at Newcastle United on Wednesday evening at 8:30 p.m. for the catch-up game.
