Man City 1-0 Wolves: Highlights, man of the match, stats as De Bruyne, Doku inspire Pep Guardiola’s side to crucial win

Manchester City have boosted their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League after edging past Wolverhampton Wanderers by a slender 1-0 scoreline at the Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

Vitor Pereira‘s men entered this contest as the in-form team in the Premier League, boasting an impressive six-game winning run, and they unsurprisingly oozed confidence in possession, posing a threat when they had a chance to get forward.

The Old Gold should have been two goals ahead in the opening half-hour, but wasted opportunities from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Rayan Ait-Nouri, the latter of whom hit the post, proved costly as Kevin De Bruyne slotted home the hosts’ opener in his penultimate match at the Etihad.

De Bruyne has now been involved in 11 goals in just 10 Premier League meetings with Wolves, scoring six goals and assisting five, and the West Midlands outfit are one of only two teams the Belgian has recorded five or more goals and five or more assists against in the division, along with Crystal Palace (five goals, nine assists).

Pep Guardiola‘s side dominated proceedings after the interval, but they were reminded of how dangerous Wolves can be when Matheus Cunha fired a shot against the post from the 18-yard line.

Wolves pushed for a late leveller, but City admirably held on for the victory, which has seen them climb above Newcastle United into third spot and crucially four points clear of both Chelsea and Nottingham Forest in fifth and sixth respectively, while Wolves remain 13th in the table and nine points behind the top half with three games remaining.

© Imago

SPORTS MOLE’S VERDICT

Oliver Thomas live from the Etihad Stadium:

It is never easy to face a side such as Wolves on a six-game winning streak, but Man City were also in buoyant mood heading into this fixture having put together an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions, winning each of their last four matches.

Wolves supporters were in full voice at the Etihad and that seemed to spur on Pereira’s men, who were well-organised out of possession and played with confidence with the ball, particularly in the first half.

Their problem on the night was lacking a prolific frontman in the final third such as Jorgen Strand Larsen, who missed out through injury having previously scored six goals in as many games.

Wolves may have had the better chances in front of goal, but one chance is all you need in football and Man City took theirs, before seeing out the contest in admirable fashion to pick up three valuable points.

Defeat here would have put City’s pursuit of Champions League football out of their own hands, but tonight’s victory means that it is they who have the points on the board and will now hope that the likes of Brighton, Liverpool and Crystal Palace can do them a favour against Newcastle, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest respectively this weekend.

MAN CITY VS. WOLVES HIGHLIGHTS

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde/Marshall Munetsi missed opportunity vs. Man City (23rd min, Man City 0-0 Wolves)

A huge let off for Man City!

Matheus Cunha wins the midfield battle and then sends Jean-Ricner Bellegarde in behind Man City’s high defensive line. The Frenchman looks to square it to Marshall Munetsi free inside the area, but his pass across the box is overhit and fizzes just out of reach of his Zimbabwean teammate sliding in – a big chance wasted.

Rayan Ait-Nouri hits the post vs. Man City (27th min, Man City 0-0 Wolves)

Just a few minutes later, Wolves come agonisingly close to scoring again, as Rayan Ait-Nouri fires a first-time strike against the post before his rebound his cleared off the line by Josko Gvardiol and the chance goes begging for the visitors.

Kevin De Bruyne goal vs. Wolves (35th min, Man City 1-0 Wolves)

De Bruyne opens the scoring for Man City!

Wolves are made to pay for their missed opportunities in front of goal and it is De Bruyne who fires the Citizens ahead, placing a composed side-footed shot from around 10 yards out into the bottom-left corner after Belgian compatriot Jeremy Doku did brilliantly to beat his man down the left channel and cut the ball into the path of City’s No.17.

Matheus Cunha hits the post vs. Man City (57th min, Man City 1-0 Wolves)

Cunha receives the ball on the edge of the penalty area and City decide to stand off the Brazilian, who lets fly and strikes the outside of Ederson‘s near post before the ball is cleared away from danger by Ruben Dias.

MAN OF THE MATCH – JEREMY DOKU

© Imago

Jeremy Doku has warranted a start under Guardiola after making a notable impression as a substitute in recent weeks, and he dazzled once again on the left flank against Wolves, setting up the match-winner scored by De Bruyne in the first half.

The tricky winger, who looked threatening every time that he burst down the left, also completed three key passes, three dribbles and won four ground duels.

Josko Gvardiol also deserves a special mention for his superb defensive display, as well as making a crucial goalline clearance in the opening 45.

MAN CITY VS. WOLVES MATCH STATS

Possession: Man City 64%-36% Wolves
Shots: Man City 9-6 Wolves
Shots on target: Man City 2-1 Wolves
Corners: Man City 4-5 Wolves
Fouls: Man City 7-11 Wolves

BEST STATS

WHAT NEXT?

Man City are next in Premier League action on May 10 when they travel to St Mary’s to face already-relegated basement club Southampton, while Wolves welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Molineux on the same day.

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