Man City vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Kevin De Bruyne inspires City comeback from two goals down in seven-goal thriller

Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace: Kevin De Bruyne was the hero of the hour as City fought back from 2-0 down to an utterly dominant win

(Getty Images)

Manchester City contested a rollercoaster seven-goal thriller against Crystal Palace, producing one of their best performances of the season to fight back from two goals down.

Pep Guardiola’s men finished 5-2 up at the Etihad, with departing star Kevin De Bruyne sparking City into life and ensuring they put the pressure on Newcastle and Chelsea in the battle for the Champions League places with the Premier League now guaranteed five qualification spots in Europe’s top tier.

The hosts moved up to fourth in the top flight, just two points off third-placed Nottingham Forest, with goals from De Bruyne, Omar Marmoush, Mateo Kovacic, James McAtee and Nico O'Reilly completing a stunning comeback after going 2-0 down in a little over 20 minutes.

Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards - the latter scoring his first Premier League goal this season - put the visitors in front, with City completely carved open at the back, but the game hinged on a third Palace goal and second for Eze, which was disallowed for offside. From there De Bruyne led an inspired fightback to dismantle one of the league’s in-form sides and go some way to ending his long career at the Etihad on a high.

Follow all of the latest from the Etihad Stadium with our live blog below:

Manchester City vs Crystal Palace LIVE

• 8' GOAL! Eze sweeps home tap-in as Palace carve City open [MCI 0-1 CRY]
• 23' GOAL! Richards header sees Palace double their lead [MCI 0-2 CRY]
• '33 GOAL! De Bruyne curls in stunning free-kick to pull one back [MCI 1-2 CRY]
• '36 GOAL! Marmoush completes City comeback as momentum swings back [MCI 2-2 CRY]
• '47 GOAL! De Bruyne tees up Kovacic in dream start to second half [MCI 3-2 CRY]
• '56 GOAL! McAtee scores first Premier League goal on first start for City [MCI 4-2 CRY]
• '79 GOAL! O'Reilly seals the game for City with side-footed volley [MCI 5-2 CRY]

[12 April 2025 13:12 · Flo Clifford]

Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace

41 mins: Nico Gonzalez gets a yellow for a pull-back on Mateta.

After being so furious at being denied a penalty in the opening stages, Guardiola looks a much happier man.

[12 April 2025 13:08 · Flo Clifford]

GOAL! Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace

36 mins: City press relentlessly and suddenly we’re level! McAtee cuts in a cross to de Bruyne on the right, who knocks it down for Gundogan. He makes a mess of it but it falls to Marmoush, who chips it in past a host of defenders!

McAtee and Marmoush both missed chances in the build-up to that too. All square at the Etihad!

[12 April 2025 13:04 · Flo Clifford]

GOAL! Manchester City 1-2 Crystal Palace

33 mins: And scores! The Belgian bends it over the wall and it bounds in off the post!

[12 April 2025 13:03 · Flo Clifford]

Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace

32 mins: Kamada is the first into the book for a needless challenge on Gonzalez. De Bruyne to take the free-kick.

[12 April 2025 13:00 · Flo Clifford]

DISALLOWED GOAL! Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace

29 mins: Eze at the double! He cuts inside, wrongfoots Dias and Gvardiol, and slots home a beautiful finish. Made it look easy.

But he’s fractionally offside, and it’s chalked off.

[12 April 2025 12:58 · Flo Clifford]

CHANCE! Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace

27 mins: Should be 3-0! It’s another drive down Manchester City’s left, where they just haven’t been good enough. Munoz tees up Kamada, who pulls it back for Sarr just yards out from goal, but he knocks it over the bar.

Mitchell now boots in an attempt but it’s straight to Ederson.

[12 April 2025 12:57 · Richard Jolly]

Guardiola cutting a frustrated figure

Guardiola was cutting a frustrated figure even before Chris Richards doubled Palace's lead. He had kicked thin air in frustration a couple of minutes earlier. His mood was unlikely to have improved when Richards struck. It wasn't a great moment for Ederson, failing to claim a corner that was headed in from four yards, or Ruben Dias, who was outjumped. Once again, far too simple and this impressive Palace side capitalised.

Richard Jolly at the Etithad

[12 April 2025 12:56 · Flo Clifford]

HITS THE POST! Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace

24 mins: That was a fabulous delivery by Wharton and Palace’s 15th goal from a set-piece this season, the most of any top flight team.

Now De Bruyne tries to stop the rot, curling a shot in from 25 yards out, but with Henderson beaten it hits the post! Gundogan can’t get the rebound either.

[12 April 2025 12:53 · Flo Clifford]

GOAL! Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace

21 mins: Palace win a corner and Richards gets in front of Dias and has the simplest of jobs to jump and head it in! An incredibly sloppy for City to concede and the the first goal of the season for him.

Mateta was in too and the Frenchman did well to make Ederson’s life difficult, with the keeper crumbling under the pressure.

[12 April 2025 12:49 · Flo Clifford]

Manchester City 0-1 Crystal Palace

18 mins: VAR had a quick look for a penalty after Richards’ shirt-pull on Marmoush but decided against it, with Guardiola fuming on the touchline, pulling on his jumper in frustration.

Mitchell shoves Lewis over as they fight for the ball and concedes a free kick on the far right sideline.