De Bruyne is in fine form as City end their unbeaten run

Kevin De Bruyne stole the present as Manchester Metropolis ended their latest marketing campaign with a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on the Etihad.

The Belgian, again in motion for the primary time in additional than two months, grabbed a aim and an help as Pep Guardiola’s facet gained for the primary time in seven video games in all competitions.

Bernado Silva and Jeremy Doku had been additionally on show on an evening when the Premier League champions seemed like their former selves.

It’s now 31 video games unbeaten for Guardiola’s facet when De Bruyne began, regardless of some defensive indicators at Metropolis Corridor.

Forest had few clear probabilities, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s facet dropped to seventh within the desk.

ALL TIME | Success! 🤩

🩵 3-0 🌳 #ManCity | | @okx pic.twitter.com/RSTIgt65w4

– Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) December 4, 2024

The way it occurred

An excellent show led the conflict between fifth and sixth within the desk on a dark night in Manchester.

And it was an indication of issues to return as Metropolis’s returning star shone brightly on the Etihad.

Haaland took the lead inside 5 minutes however his right-footed strike solely discovered the arms of Matz Sels within the Forest aim.

Moments later, Metropolis’s early stress paid off when Ilkay Gundogan’s run into the field was unmarked. The German flicked the ball to De Bruyne who despatched his header behind the place Bernado Silva was ready to take the ball house.

The aim appeared to have injected Metropolis with confidence. Led by De Bruyne, adopted by Silva and Jack Grealish, the group was beginning to go downhill.

Silva’s cross discovered the top of Josko Gvardiol however the Croatia worldwide missed when he ought to have achieved higher.

Gvardiol was the issue as Forest nearly made issues proper when he was dispossessed on Metropolis’s left. The ball went to Morgan Gibbs-White however his effort was saved by Ortega.

Guardiol was as soon as once more on the heart of the sport when he was put by way of by Haaland however the tyrannical defender simply flicked his shot previous the publish.

De Bruyne then noticed his effort enhance as Metropolis started to dominate. For all their threats, nevertheless, Guardiola’s facet did not shake the hazard they displayed late on.

They usually had been fortunate to remain in entrance when one among Forest’s Chris Wooden, kneeling in aim, despatched a shot on course.

The aim is to go along with his assist!

Kevin De Bruyne is again to his finest at Man Metropolis 👏#PLonPrime #MCINFO pic.twitter.com/7snxvQhDRI

– Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 4, 2024

However lacking out might be expensive. Seconds later, Guardiola’s facet prolonged their lead when Jeremy Doku fed De Bruyne contained in the field and the Belgian made no mistake as he fired the ball into the highest nook of the online.

Each groups made modifications on the break however it was the guests who got here out of the lure within the second half. Murillo despatched a long-range effort over the bar as Forest made it clear there was no turning again.

However the defeat within the third quarter he did when within the 56th minute Haaland discovered Doku who reduce inside and completed within the far nook.

Metropolis had been now in sea energy however the latest 3-3 draw with Feyenoord seemed enormous.

De Bruyne nearly grabbed a brace however Sels did properly to shoot across the publish.

The tip 🤩

Jeremy Doku has Pep Guardiola’s group on the highway to victory #PLonPrime #MCINFO pic.twitter.com/tGIx739I04

– Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 4, 2024

Sels was stable once more as he saved from Grealish earlier than De Bruyne substituted to loud cheers from the house crowd.

Anthony Elanga had an effort on the bar as Elliot Anderson’s shot was saved by Ortega.

It was as near all of the woods as Doku might come throughout as Doku, at this level, seemed carefully on the alien’s defenses however did not land his shot.

Nathan Ake was compelled off with a hamstring harm however it was a implausible evening for the professionals.

And possibly, simply possibly, the tide is popping.