Kevin De Bruyne Makes Stunning Return from Injury to Secure Victory for Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne showcased his immense value to Manchester City in a thrilling 3-2 win against Newcastle, just five months after undergoing surgery for a hamstring injury.
The Belgian midfielder, who had not played in the Premier League since August, came off the bench in the 69th minute and had an immediate impact. In the 74th minute, he scored a fantastic finish just inside the near post to level the score. Then, in stoppage time, De Bruyne provided a perfectly weighted assist for substitute Oscar Bobb to score the winning goal.
De Bruyne expressed his delight at being back on the pitch, stating, “I missed this. I think it was more willpower than anything else… I can put in a shift for 30 minutes at the moment.”
Top Form Boosts Manchester City’s Title Ambitions
This victory marked Manchester City’s sixth consecutive win, boosting their hopes of securing the Premier League title. With De Bruyne back to full fitness, City’s prospects look even brighter, particularly with Erling Haaland currently sidelined.
Manager Pep Guardiola praised De Bruyne’s impact, stating, “When Kevin has the ball and we have runners, Kevin is unique in the world. But the finish by Oscar, I am so, so happy for him.”
Chelsea Defeats Fulham in West London Derby
In another Premier League match, Chelsea secured their fourth consecutive home win by defeating Fulham 1-0. Cole Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City, scored the winning goal from a penalty just before halftime.
Although Fulham manager Marco Silva criticized the referee for not sending off Chelsea’s Malo Gusto, who made a dangerous tackle, the victory cements Chelsea’s positive form under manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Reading Match Abandoned due to Fan Protest
A League One match between Reading and Port Vale was abandoned after home fans invaded the pitch to protest against the club’s owner. The protest stemmed from discontent regarding the owner’s financial mismanagement, which has resulted in point deductions for the team.
The English Football League will now hold discussions with the clubs involved to determine the implications of this incident.
Note: The content of this article is based on information from the Associated Press and has not been independently verified.