Manchester City showed the heart of champions to fight back to beat Newcastle 3-2 on Saturday (Jan 13) thanks to a Kevin De Bruyne masterclass on his return to Premier League action. The Belgian came off the bench to score and set up Oscar Bobb's stoppage-time winner to announce his comeback from a five-month injury layoff in style. Victory takes City up to second in the table, two points behind Liverpool, and ominously poised to strike when they return from a two-week winter break, by which point Erling Haaland may be fit to join De Bruyne in terrorising opposition defences.
Oscar Bobb scored a stoppage-time winner as Manchester City moved within two points of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League with victory over Newcastle in a breathless encounter at St James' Park. The Norwegian, 20, latched on to a superb lofted pass from fellow substitute Kevin de Bruyne and showed superb footwork to take the ball pass Martin Dubravka and tap into the empty net.
It rounded off a brilliant game that saw both sides dominate periods, but Man City controlled the second half and showed the fight and quality to seal what could be a huge win come the end of the season.
While Bobb enjoyed his first Premier League goal, the success was sparked by De Bruyne.
Just four minutes and 35 seconds after he came off the bench, the Belgian found space in between the home defence and midfield before sweeping a finish into the far corner.
Bernardo Silva had put the Premier League champions ahead in the 26th minute, meeting Kyle Walker's right-wing cross with an audacious backheel, before two goals in three minutes put Newcastle in charge.
First, Alexander Isak collected a sweeping Bruno Guimaraes pass before curling past City's reserve keeper Stefan Ortega – who had replaced the injured Ederson – and into the top corner for his fourth goal in four games. Then, Anthony Gordon was released down the left and he took advantage of Walker backing off to spectacularly curl into the bottom corner and send the home fans into raptures.
City had only lost once in 72 Premier League games when taking the lead and that was under serious threat until their talisman De Bruyne continued his comeback from injury with a top-class strike and a wonderful assist for Bobb.
Pep Guardiola and the entire City squad, including substitutes, celebrated emphatically at the full-time whistle as the reigning champions savoured a third successive league win and sixth in all competitions.
