Manchester City took a giant stride towards retaining the Premier League crown with a tense 2-1 victory over a stubborn Fulham side at the Etihad Stadium. The win, secured by goals from Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, puts Pep Guardiola's champions on the cusp of a historic achievement.
Haaland and De Bruyne Deliver Under Pressure
The match, played on a Tuesday night, saw the home side dominate possession but struggle to break down a well-organised Fulham defence for long periods. The breakthrough finally came just before half-time. A moment of individual brilliance from Kevin De Bruyne unlocked the door, his perfectly weighted pass finding Erling Haaland, who made no mistake with a clinical finish.
City doubled their lead early in the second half, with the roles reversed. This time, Haaland turned provider, holding up the ball and laying it off for De Bruyne, who drove a powerful, low shot into the net from the edge of the area. The Belgian's goal, his 12th of the season, seemed to have sealed the points.
Fulham Fightback Sets Up Nervy Finish
However, Marco Silva's Fulham refused to capitulate. They halved the deficit with 20 minutes remaining through striker Rodrigo Muniz, who capitalised on a rare defensive lapse to head home from a corner. The goal transformed the atmosphere inside the Etihad, injecting tension into the final quarter of the game.
Fulham pushed for an unlikely equaliser, forcing City goalkeeper Ederson into a crucial late save to preserve the lead. The visitors' efforts, however, ultimately fell short, leaving City to see out a victory that could prove decisive in the title race.
Guardiola's Men on the Verge of History
The three points mean Manchester City now need just a single point from their final match of the season to be confirmed as champions. Should they achieve this, it would mark an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title for the club, a feat never before accomplished in English football history.
Pep Guardiola praised his team's resilience in his post-match comments, acknowledging the difficulty of the challenge posed by Fulham. "These are the hard games, the ones you must win when you are tired and the pressure is immense," he stated. "The mentality of the players was incredible."
For Fulham, the defeat ends their mathematical hopes of European qualification, but their performance demonstrated the progress made under Silva. The result leaves Manchester City's destiny firmly in their own hands as the Premier League season reaches its dramatic climax.
