A stunning performance from Kevin De Bruyne saw Manchester City claim all three points in a 5-1 win at the Molineux, as the Belgium international scored four goals against a sturdy Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The win puts Pep Guardiola’s men three points clear of Liverpool who are chasing for the title in second place.
City didn’t wait long to show intention as they scored within seven minutes. De Bruyne made a delightful flick over to Bernardo Silva, who tracked the Belgian’s run into the box and played De Bruyne in and against a tight angle; he was able to slot the ball past José Sá with his left foot.
That lead didn’t last long, as Raúl Jiménez charged into the City’s half, picking out Pedro Neto down the left-wing. The young forward moved into the box and played a flat pass along the edge of the box, where the advancing Leander Dendoncker met the ball and fired into the bottom right of Ederson’s goal.
The explosive start to the game didn’t stop there, as the third goal was scored within the opening 16 minutes. Sá cut out De Bruyne’s attempted pass into the path of Raheem Sterling, but the goalkeeper inadvertently deflected the ball back into De Bruyne’s stride, allowing him to slam home his second of the night.
Refusing to let the hosts back into the game, De Bruyne completed his first hat-trick in 12 years after just 24 minutes. The City playmaker seized on a loose ball before firing a rocket of a shot into the bottom left of the Wolves’ goal.
After seeing a goal ruled out after the interval, the visitors got their fourth, with the man of the moment scoring on the hour mark.
The Belgian played Phil Foden through, and the 21-year-old’s pass was initially meant for the advancing Sterling, but it missed the winger and the Wolves defender, leaving the ball wide open for De Bruyne to place his shot into the bottom right corner.
Sterling grabbed the fifth just before full time, tapping home a rebounded shot into an open Wolves goal.
A frustrating night for Bruno Lage’s men leaves their European football ambitions hanging by a thread with two games left to play.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s men took another step towards a fourth title in five seasons, stretching their lead over Liverpool with De Bruyne hitting his stride at the business end of the season.
