Football

Kevin De Bruyne celebrates hattrick in Haaland style

Kevin De Bruyne has netted 19 goals in all categories for Manchester City this year, that is his greatest goal-scoring period after joining the club in 2015.

By Khushi Bhanushali

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Manchester City beat Wolves, reclaiming their three-point cushion at the head of the Premier League, owing to Kevin de Bruyne’s sensational four-goal spree. Pep Guardiola’s club now merely requires 4 points from their remaining two encounters to finish ahead of the Reds and clinch their fourth crown in five years.

De Bruyne has been a significant influence throughout City’s past successes, however, tonight was an exceptional performance that must stand among his finest in the City shirt. The Belgian initiated and executed the play that culminated in his squad’s opening goal, slotting away Bernardo Silva’s assist. Wolves were swift to reply, with Pedro Neto locating Leander Dendoncker in the room on the brink of the box to drive through Ederson after a sharp counter-attack.

Nevertheless, this was De Bruyne’s occasion, and he immediately propelled his team-up. He was also committed in the build-up and was in the correct spot to hammer home the deflection after Jose Sa edged Raheem Sterling to the goal. His third net, which he struck with his “poor” left boot, was the finest of the lot, as he advanced to the edge of the box and curled into the bottom corner.

De Bruyne’s hat-trick was his maiden for City, and it happened in the third-fastest time in Premier League ever in 24 minutes. He reacted in vogue by replicating his future teammate Erling Haaland’s meditating celebration, which City decided to acquire this week, but he wasn’t done yet.
City headed out in the second period seeking further strikes to strengthen their net differential, which was actually three points ahead of Liverpool’s well before the game. As Raheem Sterling broke free and passed Sa, he felt he had enhanced their cushion, but his joys were ended prematurely by an offside decision.

De Bruyne made it 4-1 with his maiden right-footed goal of the evening, striking no error after a Phil Foden ball was redirected into his direction and found the bottom corner. More possibilities occurred, with Foden slamming the crossbar and Sterling wasting a simple chance, but Sterling ultimately got in on the party, knocking into an open net after Sa prevented Joao Cancelo.

Ultimately, it was all De Bruyne’s exhibition. The city is still not over the threshold, and their following challenge is an uneasy visit to West Ham on Sunday, although they will be tough to prevent on this performance.

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