There is often a danger that long-awaited comebacks can turn into unexpected events, but Kevin De Bruyne is certainly not the type of footballer who would fall into this trap. Not content with scoring a stunning equalizer five minutes after coming off the bench, Manchester City’s playmaker reignited Pep Guardiola’s title hopes by scoring a stylish stoppage time effort for fellow substitute Oscar Bobb.
This was De Bruyne’s first Premier League appearance since the opening day of the season. He has since needed a hamstring repair, but on this evidence the Belgian is fully restored to his former glory.
In fact, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal and others fear what might happen if City’s main striker Erling Haaland returns from his foot injury next month.
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As it stands, Guardiola’s team sit in second place, just two points behind Liverpool. If no-one bets against another title celebration at the Etihad this spring, Newcastle’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League once again are quickly fading.
I wish Eddie Howe had had substitutes of the quality of De Bruyne and Bobb on a night when his side recovered much of their former enthusiasm and vitality but still suffered a sixth defeat in seven league games.
Injuries, fatigue and the need to comply with financial fair play rules saw Newcastle slip to 10th, but they started by treating Guardiola’s players as equals.
City had already arrived in Abu Dhabi with their bags packed for a training break that would provide plenty of respite in the hot weather. Perhaps they were already lazing around on the shores of the Arabian Sea when they started, at least mentally, clearly in kamikaze style.
In the fourth minute, Newcastle attacker Sean Longstaff met Alexander Isak’s cross and then sent a shot towards Ederson’s goal, and although Chris Kavanagh did not allow it due to offside, this decision was subject to video assistant referee control. Although the tech agreed with the referee, it was a difficult decision and a prime example of how City’s high defensive line carries high risk.
In a fallout caused by a delayed linesman flag, Ederson was accidentally caught on his knee while colliding with both Longstaff and Kyle Walker; The latter came in trying desperately to deny the midfielder. After lengthy treatment, City’s goalkeeper stood up unsteadily but almost immediately sent a clearance straight to Miguel Almirón, who pressed diligently. Only the combined failure of Almirón, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon saved City from capitulation.
Then Stefan Ortega arrived and Guardiola’s players shifted almost imperceptibly into authoritative passing mode. Phil Foden began asking Howe’s players questions they couldn’t answer, mollifying them to the point where Jérémy Doku looked like a jet piercing through the clouds, stopping all midfield resistance to pick out Walker on the right. All that was left was for the England defender to evade Martin Dubravka with an extremely audacious flick of Bernardo Silva’s right heel.
Yet despite a number of compelling passes, City were never able to fully maintain control; Their defense left plenty of space for Howe’s forwards to run into as the game remained exciting from end to end.
Relating to: Newcastle United v Manchester City: Premier League – live
Of course, seconds after Dubravka touched down Silva’s half-volley towards the post, Fabian Schär won a tremendous challenge before GuimarÃes curled a superb pass towards Isak. The Swedish striker maintained admirable composure to turn a completely wrong-footed Walker before firing a shot that sailed well beyond Ortega’s grasp.
The enthusiastic applause for Isak’s equalizer had barely subsided before more inviting space opened up behind Walker. This time, Gordon was the player on the field, and after attacking from the left wing, the winger came inside, heeding the warnings from the four stands, curling the ball over the surprised visiting goalkeeper and asking him to shoot.
If Foden’s capacity to seriously trouble Dan Burn means Howe can never relax, the Newcastle manager’s blood pressure must have risen as the newly shiny and bouffant-haired De Bruyne shed his gloves and tracksuit.
When the Belgian replaced Silva in the 69th minute, a now tired Newcastle looked nervous. And for very good reason. Five minutes after De Bruyne came onto the scene, he received Rodri’s pass and almost nonchalantly drilled a beautifully weighted shot between Schär’s legs and into the bottom corner from the edge of the 18-yard area.
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Guardiola, who had earlier cursed long and loudly after Julián Álvarez had missed the sitter, leapt around his technical area and punched the thin air with uninhibited abandon.
Howe’s considerable distress resulted in the 20-year-old Norwegian winger adding the final touch after De Bruyne’s lofted pass and Bobb’s high-caliber footwork to evade Dubravka proved to be just a dress rehearsal for the visitors’ delight in stoppage time .