Kevin De Bruyne rolled back the years as Manchester City overcame a shambolic start to come from behind and crush Crystal Palace.
Palace led 2-0 inside 21 minutes with goals from Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards exposing City’s defensive vulnerability.
But De Bruyne inspired an impressive fightback from the Premier League champions as Pep Guardiola’s side moved back into the top four and gave their hopes of Champions League qualification a significant boost.
De Bruyne announced last week that he would leave City at the end of the season when his contract expires after a decade of glittering success at the club.
And it was clear the Belgium midfielder does not intend to go out with a whimper as he picked City up off the canvas and dragged them to victory to the fulsome appreciation of a previously subdued Etihad crowd. A standing ovation followed when he was substituted late on.
De Bruyne pulled a goal back with a laser-like free-kick shortly after hitting a post and setting up Omar Marmoush with a golden one-on-one chance that the Egypt forward missed.
The Belgian was then involved in City’s equaliser when he headed James McAtee’s cross back towards goal. Ilkay Gundogan scuffed his shot but succeeded in directing the ball into the path of Marmoush to score.
City took the lead for the first time two minutes after the restart when De Bruyne received Nico O’Reilly’s cut back to swivel and lay the ball off to Mateo Kovacic to fire into the bottom corner.
McAtee scored City’s fourth from a long speared pass by goalkeeper Ederson, who was later substituted with an injury, and Marmoush should have added a fifth from a trademark De Bruyne low pass across the six yard box into the Egyptian’s path. Dean Henderson saved and neither Gundogan nor O’Reilly could score on the rebound.
O’Reilly added a fifth when his side-foot volley from the edge of the penalty area deflected in off Nathaniel Clyne.
03:02 PM BST
Pep Guardiola’s reaction
Kevin’s free-kick changed the momentum. We started really well but they had a good action for the first goal and they are the best team in the Premier League at set-pieces.
With the chances we had we could easily have scored eight or nine. The work ethic and the way we played was really good.
I know how good [James McAtee] is so I don’t have any doubts about him. He could have scored a hat-trick but it’s not easy when you don’t play regularly. I’m pretty sure today will help him, and we can rely on him.
[Ederson] had a problem 2-3 months ago and it happened again. This season has been a nightmare with injuries. We have six cup finals and the FA Cup left.
02:57 PM BST
Fun in the sun
02:45 PM BST
Kevin De Bruyne talks to TNT Sports
The scoreline didn’t reflect what I thought about the first 20 minutes. Ten years is not going to change in 20 minutes; I’m going to enjoy every minute here for the rest of the season. But we performed well and I’m happy we found a way to change the game.
They pounced on their chances and at 2-0 I was like, ‘Okay, what’s going on here?’ But the reaction was really good and scoring two quick goals changed the feeling of the game. I think overall we played really well.
We need to keep performing like we did today. We were aggressive – this time has always been good when we are aggressive. Of course we’ve struggled this year but we have to find a way to win these games. The most important thing is that the club plays in the Champions League next season.
[On City’s next generation] As a young player you need to grow into a team. At the beginning you can be a bit shy but then your confidence grows and now these guys are with us. There’s no difference between me and Rico (Lewis); he does his job like I do mine. They feel comfortable with us and that’s the most important thing.
It’s been a hard year. Having a hernia wasn’t fun but I’ve been basically pain-free for the last six weeks and that makes a massive difference. I don’t know what’s gonna happen but I want to play on. We’ll see where I end up.
I don’t know how I’ll feel at the end of the season. I’ve been here ten years, my kids were born in Manchester and have lived their whole lives here. It’ll be something different for them. I think they’re a bit scared, excited. It’s a bit unknown because we don’t know what will happen. For now I just want to play good football like I did today.
I’ll be fine. If I can play football and my family’s happy, I’m good.
02:35 PM BST
A £59m bargain
He was superb, again, and his goal threat from wide positions has given City a new dimension.
02:34 PM BST
James McAtee’s reaction
I don’t think we deserved to be 2-0 down. The game got away from us but we were playing well and creating chances. We showed good character to come back.
[On his goal and celebration] I’m frustrated because I could’ve had more goals, but one’s enough and I’m happy.
[On Ederson’s assist] He’s got a great pass. When I saw the defence high up I tried to get between them and through on goal.
02:29 PM BST
FT: Manchester City 5 Crystal Palace 2
A genius called Kevin De Bruyne inspired Manchester City to come from 2-0 down to hammer Crystal Palace in a richly entertaining game.
Palace led 2-0 and almost made it three when Eberechi Eze became the first player to have a Premier League goal disallowed after the use of semi-automated offside technology. City had already had chances but they needed a goal to change the mood; De Bruyne provided it with a classy free-kick and for the last hour of the game it was all city.
Omar Marmoush equalised, Mateo Kovacic scored just after half-time from a fine pass by De Bruyne. Ederson pinged an even better pass for James McAtee to score on his full Premier League debut for City, and the young left-back Nico O’Reilly finished it off with a deflected volley.
02:25 PM BST
90+4 min: City 5 Palace 2
Palace appeal for a penalty, thinking Rico Lewis has handled the ball. Play continues and the VAR check is complete. He chested it onto his arm which is why it wasn’t given, I think.
City break and Lerma is booked for a foul on Doku.
[Edit: it actually hit Lewis in the face and ricocheted onto his arm. Same difference though - because it didn’t hit his arm directly it doesn’t count as handball, I think.]
02:24 PM BST
90+3 min: City 5 Palace 2
Huge applause as Kevin De Bruyne is announced as the player of the match. He faded towards the end, though by then his work was done - City’s comeback from 0-2 to 4-2 was driven by De Bruyne’s brilliance and hunger.
02:21 PM BST
90 min: City 5 Palace 2
There will be seven minutes of added time. Tell you who has had a good game today: Marc Guehi. As well as City have played, Palace’s defence is nowhere near as secure without him.
02:20 PM BST
89 min: City 5 Palace 2
Man City’s next match is at Everton a week today. Palace have another tough away game, at St James’ Park, on Wednesday.
02:18 PM BST
87 min: Man City 5 Crystal Palace 2
Double substitution for City Kevin De Bruyne, who was close to his magnificent best today, walks off to a standing ovation. Mateo Kovacic, excellent himself, also leaves the field. On come Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish.
02:17 PM BST
85 min: City 5 Palace 2
Palace almost pull one back. Devenny’s chip over the top is controlled neatly on the run by Franca near the byline. He drags a cross shot towards Sarr, who would have had an open goal but for the slightest touch from Ortega. Good goalkeeping.
02:15 PM BST
84 min: City 5 Palace 2
There have been too many false dawns this season for anyone at City to get carried away. But this does feel like a huge result - and performance - in the context of the Champions League race. With three of their last six games against teams in the bottom six, and none against those in the top six, you’d fancy them to get the job done.
02:12 PM BST
82 min: City 5 Palace 2
Double substitution for City Oscar Bobb and Savinho replace Omar Marmoush and James McAtee. Marmoush was excellent; McAtee had a mixed day but with a moment to remember.
02:11 PM BST
80 min: City 5 Palace 2
Double substitution for Palace Matheus Franca and Justin Devenny replace Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze. Palace have been really disappointing in the second half.
02:10 PM BST
Goal!
79 min: City 5 Palace 2 (O’Reilly) Palace are definitely a beaten team now. McAtee’s chip from the right was headed to the edge of the area, where O’Reilly opened his body to sidefoot a languid volley towards goal. It took a deflection off Clyne and beat Henderson in the corner.
02:06 PM BST
76 min: City 4 Palace 2
City have played 116 successful passes in the final third to Palace’s 10. That shows how dominant City have been (obviously) but also how clinical Palace were in the first half an hour.
02:04 PM BST
74 min: City 4 Palace 2
You can never be sure but right now Palace look a beaten team. City want more, though, both for their goal difference and to make a statement to all their Champions League rivals.
02:01 PM BST
71 min: City 4 Palace 2
City substitution Playmaker-keeper Ederson is replaced by Stefan Ortega. Let’s have another look at his pass, eh.
02:00 PM BST
70 min: City 4 Palace 2
Now Ederson is down with what looks like a groin injury. Stefan Ortega is getting ready to replace him.
01:59 PM BST
68 min: City 4 Palace 2
McAtee is booked for a lunge at Lerma.
01:58 PM BST
66 min: City 4 Palace 2
Eze is back on, which suggests it was just an impact injury.
01:56 PM BST
64 min: City 4 Palace 2
Eze is struggling after being caught by De Bruyne. He might not be able to continue.
While he receives treatment, here’s our refereeing expert Keith Hackett’s verdict on the first big SAOT decision.
This first big decision using semi-automated offsides - and the clarity of the reproduced image - showing Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze as just offside will inform the fans and start to build confidence.
It’s vital this weekend that the system operates with speed, accuracy and, with this decision, it did. A positive start.
01:53 PM BST
63 min: City 4 Palace 2
Double substitution for Palace Ben Chilwell and Nathaniel Clyne replaces Tyrick Mitchell and Max Lacroix, who has been well and truly De Bruyned.
01:52 PM BST
61 min: City 4 Palace 2
Great save by Henderson! Kovacic releases De Bruyne in the inside-right channel with a fine pass. De Bruyne screws a stunning low pass across the face of goal, the kind we’ve seen hundreds of times in the last decade, and Marmoush’s shot draws a superb reaction save from Henderson. Gundogan’s follow-up is blocked.
In the circumstances, from 2-0 down and under serious pressure in the Champions League race, this might be City’s best performance of the season. At times they’ve been awesome.
01:47 PM BST
Goal!
56 min: City 4 Palace 2 (McAtee) James McAtee has scored on his full Premier League debut for City! Half of the team have gone to congratulate McAtee, who drove a stunning flat pass over the Palace defence. McAtee timed his run, went round Henderson to score and celebrated with a Peter Beagrie-style backwards somersault.
That’s Ederson’s fourth assist of the season!
01:46 PM BST
55 min: City 3 Palace 2
This game has turned completely on its head. Now it’s Palace who are being cut open at will. McAtee should have hit the target there from Marmoush’s pick out to make it 4-2.
01:45 PM BST
54 min: City 3 Palace 2
Lacroix is booked for a late challenge on Kovacic. It feels like Palace are hanging on a bit. The resulting free-kick is headed to the edge of the area, where Kovacic hits a sizzling volley that is blocked.
01:43 PM BST
54 min: City 3 Palace 2
01:43 PM BST
53 min: City 3 Palace 2
Palace’s shape is actually closer to 3-5-2 now, with Eze and Sarr as split strikers. That’s an intriguing change because Sarr caused City big problems down the right in the first half. Conversely, Palace were being overrun in midfield so you can see why Oliver Glasner wants an across man in there. It hasn’t made much difference so far.
01:42 PM BST
51 min: City 3 Palace 2
Chance for McAtee! City are rampant now. Marmoush runs at the backpedalling Richards and flicks a beautiful square pass to find the unmarked McAtee, 15 yards out. He should score but whips a shot over the bar. McAtee could have had a hat-trick on his Premier League debut.
01:39 PM BST
Goal!
47 min: Man City 3 Crystal Palace 2 (Kovacic) City have from 2-0 down to lead, already! O’Reilly broke into space on the left and pulled the ball back towards De Bruyne 15 yards out. The pass was slightly behind De Bruyne, who improvised beautifully to take a touch and tee up the onrushing Kovacic. He rammed a low shot into the bottom corner. Terrific goal.
01:36 PM BST
46 min: City 2 Palace 2
Palace get the second half under way. That Marmoush goal, incidentally, was his sixth in the Premier League since joining City; only Mo Salah has scored more in that period.
01:36 PM BST
Palace substitution
This is interesting: Will Hughes, a midfielder, is replacing Jean-Philippe Mateta. It looks like Eberechi Eze will now play as a false nine, with Kamada moving from central midfield to the left-sided No10.
01:21 PM BST
HT: Man City 2 Crystal Palace 2
It’s all square at the Etihad after a sensational first half. Palace, cool and clinical on the break, roared into a 2-0 lead through Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards. Eze had a goal ruled out by the new semi-automated offside technology, a moment of Premier League history, and within seven minutes City were level.
Kevin De Bruyne, who has been almost feral and involved in everything, curled a free-kick in off the post and played a key part in the move that led to Omar Marmoush’s emphatic equaliser. De Bruyne also hit the post and missed a terrific chance in injury time; for the neutral, that first half was a rare treat.
01:18 PM BST
45+2 min: City 2 Palace 2
Great chance for De Bruyne! McAtee, on the right, slides a crisp pass across the face of the area. De Bruyne takes it beautifully in his stride and dances between Lacroix and Kamada to move through on goal. The rest feels like a formality - but De Bruyne leans back and spanks his shot over the bar.
01:16 PM BST
45 min: City 2 Palace 2
City will only have three more home games after Palace this season and De Bruyne, who is due to leave the club at the end of the season, looks hellbent on ensuring he is not going to go out with a whimper. He’s dragged his team back on level terms here, pulling one back with a free-kick and then playing a role in the equaliser by Marmoush. He’s hit a post too, set up Marmoush for a good chance spurned and generally tried to shake the champions into life. The Etihad have responded to his urgings and the home supporters have, finally, found their voice. Game on.
01:14 PM BST
43 min: City 2 Palace 2
City are bossing the game, though we’ve already seen enough changes of momentum to know there will be a few more moodswings. De Bruyne, especially, is pressing and attacking with an aggression we haven’t seen for a while.
01:11 PM BST
40 min: City 2 Palace 2
Nico Gonzalez is booked for pulling back Mateta.
01:10 PM BST
39 min: City 2 Palace 2
01:08 PM BST
Goal!
36 min: City 2 Palace 2 (Marmoush) What a pulsating game this is! McAtee stands up a dangerous cross that is kept alive by the leaping De Bruyne at the far post. Gundogan misses his kick but Marmoush is on the scene to rattle a shot through the crowd and into the net. Pep Guardiola immediately turns round, cups his ear to the fans and waves for them to make more noise.
01:05 PM BST
34 min: City 1 Palace 2
Great chance for City! De Bruyne’s shot is superbly blocked by Lacroix. Marmoush retrieves the ball on the left and teases a cross towards the unmarked McAtee, who heads wide of the far post from eight yards!
01:03 PM BST
Goal!
33 min: Man City 1 Crystal Palace (De Bruyne) Kevin De Bruyne gets City back in the game! It was a good free-kick but strange goalkeeping from Dean Henderson. He set up the wall to give De Bruyne that side of the goal - to his right and De Bruyne’s left. De Bruyne whipped it into the net off the post with Henderson strangely flat-footed. Maybe he slipped, I don’t know, but it didn’t look quite right.
01:03 PM BST
31 min: City 0 Palace 2
Kamada is booked for an inept sliding tackle on Nico Gonzalez. The free-kick is about 25 yards out, and you don’t need to be a genius to know who’s going to take it.
01:02 PM BST
30 min: City 0 Palace 2
City are a complete shadow of the side that won six titles in seven seasons. Both goals highlight their defensive vulnerability from open play and set pieces. De Bruyne is doing his best to get City going - a lovely through ball released Marmoush that the Egyptian could not convert and the Belgian midfielder has hit a post - but the champions are so fragile.
01:01 PM BST
28 min: City 0 Palace 2
Eze has a goal disallowed for offside! It was a beautiful finish after another burst down the right by Sarr, but he was given offside on the field and the semi-automated technology confirmed the decision. It was very close, mind, and once again Palace cut City open with frightening ease. Sarr got away and passed the ball square to Eze, just outside the area on the far side. He walked inside Dias and curled the ball into the bottom corner.
12:59 PM BST
27 min: City 0 Palace 2
This is such an entertaining game. It could easily finish 5-2 to either side, given how open it is.
12:58 PM BST
27 min: City 0 Palace 2
Chance for Sarr! Kamada gets to the byline on the right and cuts the ball back to Sarr at the near post. It’s fractionally behind him and he screws a first-time shot over the bar. Not a sitter, but still a very good chance.
12:57 PM BST
25 min: City 0 Palace 2
O’Reilly, City’s young left-back, gets out of trouble in his own penalty area by producing a Zidane-style roulette. I bet Paul Power never did that.
12:55 PM BST
24 min: City 0 Palace 2
De Bruyne hits the post! A glorious, trademark effort. City took a quick free-kick and worked the ball to De Bruyne, 22 yards out. He sat Kamada down majestically and whipped a curling shot that beat Henderson and clattered off the left-hand post. Marmoush couldn’t react quickly enough as the rebound flew towards him.
12:52 PM BST
Goal!
21 min: Man City 0 Crystal Palace 2 (Richards) Crystal Palace are doing it again! Their remarkable away record is on course to get even better. The second goal was about as simple as they come: Wharton curled a lovely corner under the crossbar, Ederson got stuck behind Mateta and Richards leapt to head in from four yards. It’s a really bad goal to concede.
12:48 PM BST
17 min: City 0 Palace 1
Palace break quickly and Gvardiol has to make a vital lunging tackle to stop Sarr running clean through on goal. City have looked good on the ball but are really jittery when Palace attack.
12:46 PM BST
14 min: City 0 Palace 1
As semi-automated offside checks an clears that Palace goal, Telegraph Sport refereeing expert Keith Hackett explains: “The Premier League have opted not to use the tried-and-tested semi-automated offside system used by UEFA and FIFA which has reduced the time it takes to make offside calls.
“Hopefully with the hybrid Genius Sports System they have chosen, it will be equally successful. The Genius System uses Apple Cameras not Sony and does not have the patented chip developed and used by the Adidas ball in Europe and around the world.
“The system uses a ball-tracking system which, if it is to deliver, must immediately determine when the ball is played and judge the position of attacking and defending players. Questions have already been asked in Europe about the real accuracy of the system.”
12:45 PM BST
13 min: City 0 Palace 1
Double chance for City! De Bruyne leads a City break and plays a superb pass through to Marmoush. He gets his shot off - City thought he was being pulled back by Richards and was therefore off balance - and Henderson saves with his, a-hem, inner thigh. The ball runs loose to De Bruyne, whose follow-up is blocked by a defender.
Pep Guardiola isn’t happy. On TNT Sports, Ally McCoist thinks City should have had a penalty (and also a red card). Team VAR disagree.
12:43 PM BST
12 min: City 0 Palace 1
Sarr gets away down the right again, but this time his cross deflects through to Ederson.
12:40 PM BST
Goal!
8 min: Man City 0 Crystal Palace 1 (Eze) Palace take the lead with a clinical team goal. Munoz knocks a pass down the line to Sarr, who times his run to beat City’s crooked offside trap and rolls a gorgeous ball across the face of goal. Ederson can’t get there and Eze arrives at the far post to pass it into an empty net.
12:39 PM BST
7 min: City 0 Palace 0
12:36 PM BST
5 min: City 0 Palace 0
Chance for City A superb cross from O’Reilly is headed away really well by Lacroix, diving towards his own goal. Moments later McAtee runs onto a fine clipped pass from Kovacic and shoots straight at Henderson. The bounce made it slightly awkward - he was trying to lob Henderson - but it was still a decent chance.
12:34 PM BST
4 min: City 0 Palace 0
Mateta heads Munoz’s cross wide from about 15 yards, though he was offside so it wouldn’t have counted. Even so, it’s a sign that Palace have come to play.
12:33 PM BST
2 min: City 0 Palace 0
“Oh, Kevin De Bruyne” is echoing round the Etihad Stadium in the early minutes. It looks like City have started without an orthodox centre-forward: De Bruyne is roaming, essentially a false nine, McAtee is on the right and Marmoush is playing from the left.
12:31 PM BST
1 min: City 0 Palace 0
After the players take a knee, City kick off on what is a glorious Manchester afternoon.
12:27 PM BST
A reminder of the teams, who are about to take the field
Manchester City (possible 4-2-3-1) Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gonzalez, Kovacic, McAtee, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Marmoush.
Subs: Ortega, Grealish, Doku, Silva, Vitor Reis, Savio, Matheus Nunes, Khusanov, Bobb.
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1) Henderson; Richards, Lerma, Lacroix; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta.
Subs: Matthews, Ward, Franca, Clyne, Hughes, Chilwell, Umeh, Devenny, Kporha.
Referee Jarred Gillett (Australia)
12:25 PM BST
In the firing line
12:15 PM BST
Semi-automated offsides in use for the first time
"It speeds up the process, especially around those really tight offside decisions." ????
Referee Chris Kavanagh provides a closer look at how semi-automated offsides will work ahead of its Premier League debut at the Etihad ????
???? @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/HOVl18TevK
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 12, 2025
12:10 PM BST
Foden playing with the weight of the world on his shoulders
City are without the injured Phil Foden this afternoon, though on current form that isn’t the loss it would have been a year ago. It’s been a difficult week for Foden, who had to endure abusive chants about his mother during last weekend’s Manchester derby.
James Ducker wrote about his struggles after the game at Old Trafford.
So often he has taken to the pitch looking like a man carrying a weight, unduly burdened. Guardiola talked about seeing “every training session and the passion, the smile on his face” but it has been harder to detect that player on a match day. He has looked lost, tormented even. His City team-mates are known to have worried privately about him.
Foden himself has said he suffered from “mental fatigue” at the start of the season and that his brain had become foggy during training sessions.
12:04 PM BST
Oliver Glasner talks to TNT Sports
I think we had a slow start to the season. We had a lot of players away at the tournaments in the summer, then some late signings, so we didn’t train together until the middle of September. It takes time for everyone to know how we want to play and what they have to do. Since November it has started to grow and the confidence has increased.
We’re facing a very good Man City side, who have had two clean sheets in a row. It’s important that pwe perform at our level and then it’s possible to take three points. When you play as a kid in the cage or in the park, you want to win the game. This is what we want today – we might not achieve it but that’s our ambition.
11:50 AM BST
De Bruyne edges Man Utd legend as PL’s greatest midfielder
This is Kevin De Bruyne’s first game at the Etihad since he announced he would be leaving the club in the summer. His intelligence, skill and mentality - an underrated strength - have made him one of the greatest players of the Premier League era. For our chief correspondent Jason Burt, he is the best midfielder of the lot.
">
11:40 AM BST
Verdict on City’s ‘115’ charges unlikely before summer
By James Ducker
A verdict in the Premier League’s landmark court battle with Manchester City over ‘115’ charges is unlikely before the summer, Telegraph Sport understands.
City have been accused of breaching a series of financial rules over a nine-year period as well as allegations of failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations.
A hearing by an independent commission concluded in December after almost three months of legal argument at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre. It was initially anticipated that a decision in the case could be delivered around this time, in the early spring.
But no hard-and-fast deadline was ever set and the feeling is that an outcome is unlikely before the summer, raising the prospect of there still being quite a wait before a verdict arrives. The 2025-26 Premier League season is due to start on Aug 16.
11:39 AM BST
Palace owner being sued for £6 million by ex-Wolves manager
By Ben Rumsby
Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor is being sued for more than £6 million at the High Court by Bruno Lage after the club appointed Oliver Glasner as manager.
An extraordinary lawsuit, which Textor is contesting, accuses him of signing a contract stating he would use his power as the largest shareholder in Palace and French giants Lyon to offer the role of head coach at one of those teams to former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Lage.
The alleged contract covering the period between January 1 and April 15 last year was signed shortly after Lage, now in his second spell with Benfica, became manager of Textor’s Brazilian side, Botafogo, on a six-month deal in July 2023. The Portuguese was sacked after less than three months in charge in what was his first job since being fired by Wolves in October 2022.
11:37 AM BST
Pep Guardiola speaks to TNT Sports
[On the glorious Manchester sunshine] It’s weird!
It’s very different [fighting for a Champions League place rather than the title]. It’s the first time we’ve done it but we have to accept it; we deserve to be where we are. It’s still in our hands.
[On James McAtee] I’ve wanted to play him in the Premier League for a long time, but for different reasons it hasn’t happened. Today I felt I had to do it. He’s moves well in small spaces, he has a good goal sense and is always arriving in front of keeper. He knows the club, he loves the club.
[On Kevin De Bruyne] He deserves all the [love] he will get for the rest of the season. His legacy will be eternal.
11:22 AM BST
Manchester City team news
Pep Guardiola makes three changes from the goalless draw at Old Trafford. In come Rico Lewis, Nico Gonzalez and James McAtee, who is making his full Premier League debut for City; out go Matheus Nunes, Bernardo Silva and the injured Phil Foden.
Lining up this afternoon! ????????
XI | Ederson, Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Nico, Kovacic, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), McAtee, Marmoush
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Grealish, Doku, Bernardo, Reis, Savinho, Nunes, Khusanov, Bobb#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/jUCpi5oiKL
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 12, 2025
11:22 AM BST
Crystal Palace team news
One change for Palace: Chris Richards replaces the suspended Marc Guehi in defence.
11:17 AM BST
Good morning
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Manchester City v Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium. It’s a reflection of both teams’ season that this feels like a seriously awkward game for City. It’s also one they really need to win. City start the day in sixth, outside the Champions League places; and though they have a relatively kind run-in, it’s no longer unthinkable that they won’t qualify for next season’s competition.
This could also be a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final, with the two teams avoiding each other in the semi-final draw. Palace, 11th in the Premier League but top of the form table, are especially dangerous on the road. They haven’t lost away since October and have a counter-attacking ruthlessness that will make City wary.
“Our approach is not to come home unbeaten, our approach is to win the game, so if at the end it’s a draw, we will accept the draw, but we go there and want to win the game,” said their coach Oliver Glasner. We have a huge respect for Manchester City because they are a great team and have maybe the best manager in the last decade in the Premier League. But we go in with confidence.”
So does Pep Guardiola, who has seen encouraging signs in recent weeks. “I’m optimistic to finish well this season. Some spirit is back. Some games, some moments were good – United no – but the spirit is there. The spirit will sustain us.
“Now it’s not very complicated. We don’t have 15, 20 games. Now we have seven games left. It’s a final every single game. We have to win a lot of games to qualify for the Champions League.”
Kick off 12.30pm.
