Five Things Learned: Manchester City 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City achieved a narrow 1-0 victory against Wolves on Friday night in an important clash under the lights in the fight for UEFA Champions League football.

Chances were few and far between for both sides with only three shots on target registered between them across the 90 minutes. Manchester City struggled to create anything of any real substance with Wolves’ back-five resolute and closing the door.

As the half progressed, the visitors grew into the game, gaining confidence and building ahead of steam crafting two huge chances in quick succession. The first fell to Marshall Munetsi as Matheus Cunha spread a brilliant ball out wide to Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, leaving the City defence scrambling.

Bellegarde played the ball across the box to Munetsi, but overhit and the Zimbabwe international was inches away from making it 0-1 with the goal agape. Not long after, a great effort by Ryan Ait-Nouri struck the woodwork, and the Algerian saw his follow-up cleared off the line by Josko Gvardiol.

Two very close shaves for Manchester City, while the visitors would later rue those missed opportunities as 10 minutes before the interval.

Kevin De Bruyne played a clever one-two with Ilkay Gündoğan, with the former switching the play out to Jérémy Doku. City’s electric number 11 used his exceptional pace to skip past Matt Doherty and pull the ball back brilliantly to an onrushing De Bruyne, who finished expertly.

Perhaps against the run of play, City led 1-0 and there could not have been a more popular goalscorer inside the Etihad Stadium. For the remainder of both the first half and the game as a whole, both sides created very little in regard to clear-cut chances.

The closest either team came being a Matheus Nunes strike that clipped the post and City were content with managing the fixture and seeing out their one-goal advantage, which they did successfully emerging 1-0 victors and securing a huge three points in the race for UEFA Champions League football next season.

Here are Five Things We Learned from yet another important victory for Manchester City as the ongoing Premier League season enters its final three matches!

Kevin De Bruyne: The Farewell Tour

In what was Kevin De Bruyne’s penultimate game in blue and white at the Etihad Stadium, the Belgian produced yet another exemplary performance and was the difference maker on the scoreline, as the midfielder has been on countless occasions over the course of the last decade.

Manchester City’s number 17 made it his mission to secure three points in their top-five hunt, with the midfielder securing all the points thanks to a great finish from a solitary goal, and making him just the second player to reach 250 goal contributions under Pep Guardiola

Moreover, his pressing and defensive work led as an outstanding example, chasing every loose ball and covering every blade of grass in the engine room to secure the win. Another man of the match performance in an important game in the run-in. Déjà vu of years gone by, perhaps.

Upon the club’s decision to not extend Kevin De Bruyne’s contract past this season, the question is where do Manchester City go from here, with his pending exit leaving a seismic hole in the Blues’ team sheet seemingly impossible to fill.

If that was to be Kevin De Bruyne’s last Etihad Stadium goal, then scoring the winner would certainly be a fitting farewell as we come to the realisation that after May 20, we may never see the iconic Belgian hit the back of the net at home after 10 years of dedicated service.

An outstanding player and a true servant to Manchester City Football Club!

Jeremy Doku: The ceiling is high

Since his arrival from Ligue 1 in 2023, Jeremy Doku has undoubtedly been one of the most exciting and dynamic players in the Premier League with an unrelenting willingness to take on his full back with electrifying pace and sheer dynamism.

He was, however, heavily criticised for his lack of final product and was somewhat erratic in the final third as he struggled to find that killer finish or final pass. Many believed his lack of output may limit Doku’s opportunities, but in recent weeks he has improved exponentially.

On Friday evening, not only did the winger provide the all-important assist, but he was Manchester City’s biggest threat, and it’s clear that in the remaining fixtures this season the number 11 is finding form at the right time.

With consecutive Premier League assists in the last two fixtures, the Belgian is clearly developing and beginning to add numbers to his game under Pep Guardiola. With his exceptional talent and potential, Doku could grow into a vital player for the Blues.

Josko Gvardiol… Again!

The Croatian has rightfully had his praises sung in recent weeks, revolutionary since he moved into his natural position of left centre-back, flourishing and reinstalling defensive stability for Pep Guardiola’s side.

His overall defensive presence may well have been the reason City got over the line on Friday, making an invaluable clearance off the line from Ryan Ait-Nouri, preventing Wolves from taking the lead, which could have changed the whole complexion of the game.

His overall composure on the ball, versatility to venture forward and commanding of the back four was top class and a huge reason as to why Manchester City got three points against Wolves and have taken a huge step towards Champions League qualification.

Josko Gvardiol seems to only be getting better in recent weeks, promising signs for City with one of the most exciting young defenders on the planet on their books. As we have said previously, it’s going to be scary, but not for us.

A tribute to Bernardo Silva

Although the Portuguese has struggled to influence games in recent weeks, far from his usual magician-self – as our number 20 reaches a huge milestone of 400 games for the Blues – it seems an almost impossible achievement to ignore.

Despite the fact he was relatively anonymous for large parts on Friday, he still worked tirelessly, and was another who covered every inch of the pitch for Manchester City and gave 110 per cent as he does every week.

Bernardo did however pop up when it mattered, as his endless running and high press paid off, allowing himself to win the ball back in the move that led to the goal. While struggling recently, his effort is undeniable.

Eight campaigns, 400 appearances and perhaps another Manchester City legend who has played his penultimate game at the Etihad Stadium, Bernardo Silva – he may have had a poor season, but do not let that overshadow just how incredible a player he has been.

Not pretty, but a win all the same

No free-flowing, expansive football this time out, as it was a rather cagey and anxious affair with both sides struggling to create any big chances. Manchester City may have been fortunate to emerge with all three points, considering the two huge chances missed by the visitors.

But at this stage in the campaign, it’s not about performance but more simply getting points on the board, which Manchester City did. That was a huge point in the Champions League race as the Sky Blues climb to third, just three points behind second place Arsenal.

Regardless of how Pep Guardiola’s side played on the night, that is now purely trivial. A huge win which now puts the former four-in-a-row Premier League champions in pole position to secure UEFA Champions League football.