Kevin De Bruyne stole the show as Manchester City ended their miserable recent run with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Etihad.
The Belgian, returning to the starting line-up for the first time in more than two months, grabbed a goal and an assist as Pep Guardiola’s side claimed their first win in seven games in all competitions.
Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku were also on the scoresheet on a night the Premier League champions looked more like their former selves.
It is now 31 matches unbeaten for Guardiola’s team when De Bruyne has started, although there were still signs of defensive frailty in the City ranks.
Forest had very few clear cut chances, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side dropped to seventh in the table.
FULL-TIME | Victory! 🤩
🩵 3-0 🌳 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/RSTIgt65w4
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 4, 2024
How it happened
A light show preceded the clash between fifth and sixth in the table on a drizzly evening in Manchester.
And it was a sign of things to come as City’s returning star shone brightest at the Etihad.
Haaland took aim inside five minutes but his right-footed strike could only find the palms of Matz Sels in the Forest goal.
Just moments later, however, City’s early pressure paid off when Ilkay Gundogan’s run into the box wasn’t tracked. The German clipped a cross found De Bruyne who sent his header back across goal where Bernado Silva was waiting to bundle the ball home.
The goal seemed to inject City with confidence. Spearheaded by De Bruyne, and flanked by Silva and Jack Grealish, the hosts were beginning to purr.
Silva’s cross found the head of Josko Gvardiol but the Croatia international missed the target when he perhaps should have done better.
Gvardiol was then at fault as Forest went close to levelling things up when he was dispossessed on City’s left-hand side. The ball found its way to Morgan Gibbs-White but his effort was palmed away by Ortega.
Gvardiol was again at the centre of the action when he was slipped through by Haaland but the marauding defender could only skew his shot past the post.
De Bruyne then saw his effort skid wide as City started to dominate. For all their attacking threat, however, Guardiola’s side failed to shake the defensive vulnerability they have shown of late.
And they were lucky to remain in front when Forest’s in-form Chris Wood, bearing down on goal, sent his shot wide of the target.
A goal to go with his assist!
Kevin De Bruyne back to his best for Man City 👏#PLonPrime #MCINFO pic.twitter.com/7snxvQhDRI
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 4, 2024
But the miss would prove costly. Seconds later, Guardiola’s side doubled their lead when Jeremy Doku fed compatriot De Bruyne just inside the box and the Belgian made no mistake by rifling the ball into the top corner of the net.
Both teams made changes at the break but it was the visitors who flew out of the traps in the second period. Murillo sent a long-range effort just over the bar as Forest showed no signs of rolling over.
But succumb to a third they did when on 56-minutes Haaland found Doku who cut inside and bent a fine finish into the far corner.
City were now in cruise control but the spectre of the recent 3-3 draw with Feyenoord loomed large.
De Bruyne went close to bagging a brace but Sels did well to tip his shot round the post.
That finesse finish 🤩
Jeremy Doku has Pep Guardiola’s side on track for a massive win #PLonPrime #MCINFO pic.twitter.com/tGIx739I04
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 4, 2024
Sels again held firm when he saved from Grealish before De Bruyne was substituted to a raucous ovation from the home crowd.
Anthony Elanga curled an effort over the bar while Elliot Anderson’s strike was saved by Ortega.
It was about all Forest could muster as Doku, meanwhile, dazzled his way through the visitor’s defence but failed to keep his shot down.
Nathan Ake was forced off with a suspected muscle injury but it was an otherwise pleasing night for the champions.
And maybe, just maybe, a turning of the tide.
