Traveling to Newcastle this Saturday, Manchester City won, thanks in particular to the thunderous entry into play of the returning Kevin De Bruyne (2-3, 21st day of the Premier League).
“ You miss a being, and everything is depopulated », wrote Lamartine. This Saturday on the Newcastle pitch, Kevin De Bruyne showed that when this being returns, joy and success immediately follow. Absent since last August after hamstring surgery, the Belgian reappeared during his team’s trip to Manchester City, as part of the twenty-first day of the Premier League. And in the space of a quarter of an hour, he swung the match in favor of his team (2-3).
It all started pretty well for the Skyblues, first saved by the referee on a goal by Sean Longstaff for Newcastle canceled for offside (2nd), then taking command of operations with Bernardo Silva’s opening score (0-1, 26th). But the Mancunian machine suddenly seized up when the locals scored two goals in two minutes. First with the equalizer from Alexander Isak (1-1, 35th), then on this second goal of the Magpies signed Anthony Gordon (2-1, 37th). Trailing at the break, Pep Guardiola’s men were wondering how to get back on track.
One goal, one assist
For a long time, they did not succeed, until the Spanish coach decided to remove Silva and replace him with Kevin De Bruyne. First minutes in the Premier League for the Belgian international for more than five months, and a return to the rhythm which did not drag on for the player, scorer five minutes after coming into play (2-2, 74th). And the De Bruyne festival was not going to stop there since in stoppage time, the Red Devil turned into a passer for the twirling Oscar Bobb, author of a goal full of technique and dribbling (2-3 , 90th+1).
While waiting to recover Erling Haaland, who is still absent for a ninth match in a row, Manchester City can congratulate itself on having found its Belgian playing master. This success allows him to come back to within two points of Liverpool, still leader. For Newcastle, it’s yet another setback which is starting to worry. THE Magpies conceded their fourth consecutive defeat in the league and remain stuck in tenth place, ten points from first place in Europe.
