Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports
Topics: Manchester City, Aston Villa, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland
Marcus Chan
Topics: Manchester City, Aston Villa, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland
Kevin de Bruyne showed his class once again during Manchester City's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday evening.
The first half was cagey as neither side managed to register a shot on target, City were in control through out as they dominated the possession of the ball.
But it was Villa who had the best chance of the first half, Douglas Luiz played a beautiful ball in behind the City defence for Ollie Watkins to run onto.
Watkins took the ball well into his stride as he took on City centre back John Stones, before getting a shot away that was deflected off Stones for a corner.
In the second half, City stepped up a gear as began to look more dangerous as they continued to push for the first goal.
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The pressure eventually paid off in the 50th minute.
De Bruyne was on the right flank as he took the ball away from Villa full back Lucas Digne, before putting in a stunning cross for Erling Haaland, who was waiting at the far post unmarked.
The Norway super star made no mistake as he tapped home from close range to score his tenth goal of the season.
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De Bruyne’s delivery for Haaland’s goal was appreciated by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who was a commentator for Sky Sports’ coverage of the match.
Carragher said: “It was all about that man for the goal, Kevin de Bruyne. I said he produced a cross in the first half that was world class, but not just world class, the best in the world, and here is the evidence again.
“He doesn’t even need to look up, he knows where Haaland is.”
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The assist for Haaland was De Bruyne's 90th in the top flight of English football. He is now one of only eight players to achieve that feat.
Fans were quick to react to De Bruyne’s delivery on social media.
One fan said: “What a sublime delivery from Kevin de Bruyne to Erling Haaland.”
Another tweeted: “Kevin de Bruyne is a cheat. How can one player be this perfect?”
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A third fan added: “Beyond ridiculous from De Bruyne, there has never been a better passer of a football than that man in Premier League history.”
The Belgian nearly got his name on the score sheet but he saw his free kick rattle off the cross bar in the 67th minute.
Leon Bailey finished off a brilliant Villa move in the 74th minute to make it 1-1.
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Despite City failing to take home all three points, it was yet another classy performance from one of the best midfielders in world football.