Kevin de Bruyne scored in his penultimate home game, helping Manchester City edge past Wolves and secure third place in the Premier League.
De Bruyne, who announced last month that he will leave at the end of the season when his contract expires, found the net with a first-time finish from Jeremy Doku’s low cross. This goal allowed City to move four points ahead of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Before De Bruyne’s goal, Wolves posed a threat to City and had a chance to take the lead. However, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde chose to square the ball instead of shooting, leading to a missed opportunity as Marshall Munetsi failed to connect with the pass.
The visitors, in good form, had City on edge and nearly broke the deadlock when Rayan Ait-Nouri struck the far post. A follow-up effort was cleared off the line by Josko Gvardiol.
In the second half, Wolves continued their push and hit the woodwork again with a whipped effort from Matheus Cunha. However, their six-game winning streak came to an end.
Omar Marmoush missed the target by shooting over, and Mateo Kovacic’s attempt went wide as well. Despite these chances, City managed to secure a significant victory, especially after Nottingham Forest lost to Brentford at home on Thursday.
With league matches remaining against already-relegated Southampton, Bournemouth, and Fulham, City is confident that victories in these games will guarantee their place in Europe’s elite next season.
Wolves had their share of opportunities, and Bellegarde should have been more selfish by taking a shot when he broke clear. They also struck the woodwork in both halves.
With their Premier League status secured for next season, Wolves can approach the remainder of their campaign with some freedom, facing Brighton and Crystal Palace before concluding against Brentford.
