Sharjah24: Kevin De Bruyne led Manchester City to a 1-0 victory against Wolverhampton in the opening match of the 35th round of the English Premier League.
Essential win for City
This win brings Manchester City closer to securing a spot in next season's UEFA Champions League, marking their fifth consecutive victory across all competitions. With this result, City has accumulated 64 points, temporarily rising to third place, two points ahead of Newcastle and four points ahead of Chelsea and Nottingham Forest.
Champions League prospects
England is set to have five teams in the Champions League next season due to strong performances in European competitions this year, with the possibility of a sixth team if Manchester United or Tottenham wins the UEFA Europa League.
Haaland on the Bench
Manchester City's top scorer, Erling Haaland, sat on the bench after recovering from an injury that sidelined him for the last six matches, specifically since his injury against Bournemouth in the FA Cup in March. However, he did not play any minutes against Wolverhampton.
Wolverhampton's near miss
Wolverhampton entered the match with six consecutive league wins and nearly scored first through left-back Rayan Aït Nouri, whose shot hit the post.
De Bruyne's impact
City opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a goal from De Bruyne, following a brilliant individual effort by his teammate Jeremy Doku. This goal marked De Bruyne's sixth of the season, as he plans to leave the team at the end of the current season after a successful tenure.
Second half action
In the second half, Brazilian Matheus Cunha also struck the post with a shot from the edge of the box. It is worth noting that City will face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final later this month.
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