On Wednesday, Kevin De Bruyne was crucial in Manchester City's expected response, leading them to a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. This win allowed the Citizens to close the gap to just nine points behind the league leaders, following Liverpool’s draw. The victory came after a seven-match winless run and provided relief for Pep Guardiola, who had been facing the toughest crisis of his career, with six losses and a draw in the Champions League, including a shocking collapse where they let a three-goal lead slip away.

Recovery and tactical changes at City

Manchester City showed signs of improvement, although they still had defensive lapses and occasional mistakes that could cost them against stronger teams. However, the return to form of De Bruyne was pivotal. Guardiola made key tactical adjustments, placing Jack Grealish as a central attacking midfielder, shifting Bernardo Silva to the right wing, and reintroducing Jeremy Doku's balance on the left. These changes allowed the team to quickly relieve the pressure from Forest.

The opening goal came in the 8th minute: De Bruyne fired a shot from outside the box, and Bernardo Silva, unmarked, scored from the rebound. The goal rewarded the Citizens’ strong and intense start. Nottingham Forest, the surprise team of the season, was completely overwhelmed and couldn’t find a solution to Manchester City's dominance.

Despite the lead, there were moments of uncertainty. Josko Gvardiol came close to scoring a second goal, but his header was deflected by a great clearance from Forest's goalkeeper, Ortega. A mistake by Gvardiol allowed Morgan Gibbs-White to have a clear chance to equalize, but Ortega made a stunning save. The second goal from De Bruyne was inevitable and came when Doku set up Bernardo Silva, who scored his second goal of the match with a precise cross-shot.

Haaland and the lethal counterattack

In the second half, Nottingham Forest tried to respond, but their risky play left them vulnerable. Álex Moreno and Anthony Elanga had dangerous chances, but Stefan Ortega was flawless, especially saving a powerful shot from Elanga. On a counterattack, Doku took advantage of the space and, with a lethal run, received a pass from Erling Haaland, who assisted the winger for the third goal, sealing the victory.

Manchester City won with authority, and although defensive adjustments are still needed, they showed a convincing performance. Guardiola could breathe a sigh of relief as his team, without Rodri, looked solid and efficient. Ortega was key again, making crucial saves to keep the clean sheet intact.