Manchester City won their fourth successive Premier League game to put themselves in a great position to qualify for the UEFA Champions League (UCL) next season.
Manchester City continued their impressive end-of-season form with a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium, moving up to third in the Premier League standings and taking a big step toward UEFA Champions League qualification. Kevin De Bruyne was the difference-maker, scoring the only goal in a match filled with end-to-end action and missed chances.
City’s fourth win in a row came in front of a buzzing home crowd, with De Bruyne’s name ringing around the stadium after he slotted home what could be one of his final goals in a City shirt. The Belgian maestro, who is set to leave at the end of the season, delivered yet another moment of quality to keep Pep Guardiola’s side firmly in the race for a top-two finish.
The game began with both teams showing attacking intent. Rúben Dias and Matheus Cunha tried their luck from distance in the opening minutes, but both efforts flew off target. Wolverhampton then had two golden opportunities to take the lead. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde beat the offside trap but failed to square cleanly to Marshall Munetsi, who was inches away from converting. Moments later, Rayan Aït-Nouri danced into the City box and saw his left-footed shot hit the post, before his follow-up on his weaker right foot was cleared off the line by Joško Gvardiol.
Despite those early scares, City slowly wrestled control of the game. The breakthrough came just before halftime. Jérémy Doku beat his man on the wing and cut the ball back to De Bruyne, who placed a composed low finish into the bottom corner. It was a goal soaked in emotion, with the Etihad faithful fully aware that they may be watching their midfield icon in one of his final home games.
@JeremyDoku @KevinDeBruyne pic.twitter.com/zOXrIhx2Yz
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 2, 2025
Wolves didn’t back down, though. Matheus Cunha came close again early in the second half, smacking a low shot off the post from a tight angle. But City, true to form, tightened their grip as the game wore on. Omar Marmoush and Mateo Kovačić both came close to extending the lead, but their efforts failed to hit the target.
City’s defensive unit held firm when it mattered, with goalkeeper Ederson largely untroubled thanks to solid work from Gvardiol, Dias, and Kyle Walker. Wolves’ push for a late equalizer never materialized, and the final whistle confirmed another valuable three points for Guardiola’s side, whose home dominance over Wolves now stretches to five straight wins.
For Wolves, the defeat ends a six-match unbeaten run, but the performance showed plenty of resilience, especially in the first half. They created more than enough chances to get something from the game but lacked the finishing touch in front of goal.
At the heart of it all was Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian’s vision, movement, and leadership were on full display. With 36 goals and 12 assists already this season, his importance to City’s system cannot be overstated. The appreciation from the home crowd showed just how much he means to the club and how difficult he will be to replace.
With just a few games remaining, Manchester City now find themselves well-positioned to secure another Champions League berth. Guardiola’s side are peaking at the right time, and if De Bruyne continues to deliver like this, they may yet end the season with another flourish.
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