Manchester City ended their seven-match winless streak with a commanding 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium. This Premier League clash witnessed the influential return of Kevin De Bruyne, whose performance was pivotal in City’s success.

City, who had not won in their last four Premier League matches, saw goals from Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jeremy Doku secure the win.

The result extends City’s unbeaten run to 31 Premier League matches when De Bruyne is in the starting lineup, with the Belgian contributing directly to 25 goals in these fixtures.

Pep Guardiola praised De Bruyne’s impact on the pitch during his post-match interview with Amazon Prime.

“He was excellent, especially in the first half,” said Guardiola. “His presence is crucial when he’s fit. Since his arrival from Germany, he has been an incredible influence on our game.

De Bruyne, who made his first league start in nearly three months, registered five shots and created four chances, marking the third time he has achieved these statistics in a match this season.

Despite his performance, the midfielder emphasized the importance of team improvement and downplayed the significance of the league table standings following Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle United.

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo expressed frustration over his team’s missed opportunities, which included a one-on-one chance for Chris Wood .

“It was a pivotal moment,” Nuno told BBC Sport. “It was inches from the post, and that can change the momentum of the game.”

Manchester City’s victory sees them back in the top four, while Nottingham Forest faces a challenging period with three defeats in their last four outings. The focus now shifts to their upcoming fixtures as both teams look to build on their performances.