Manchester City produced a breathtaking comeback on April 12, 2025, as they overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat Crystal Palace 5-2 at Etihad Stadium, in one of the most thrilling Premier League fixtures of the season. The dramatic turnaround was powered by a combination of clinical attacking, strategic substitutions, and a remarkable assist from City goalkeeper Ederson, further etching his name into Premier League history.
Crystal Palace started the match in electric form, catching the reigning champions off-guard with two goals in the first half. The first came courtesy of Eberechi Eze, who slotted in a composed finish after a swift counterattack in the 13th minute. The Eagles doubled their lead in the 22nd minute through defender Chris Richards, who rose highest during a corner to nod the ball past Ederson, sending the home crowd into delirium.
Despite dominating possession, Manchester City looked rattled in the opening half-hour, with their usual rhythm disrupted by Palace’s pressing and energy.
Manchester City clawed one back before the break thanks to Kevin De Bruyne’s exquisite free-kick in the 39th minute. From just outside the box, the Belgian maestro curled the ball into the top corner, giving Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson no chance. The goal reignited City’s momentum going into halftime.
After the break, City took control of the match. De Bruyne was instrumental once again, turning provider with a deft pass to Omar Marmoush, who slotted in the equalizer just three minutes into the second half. From there, the floodgates opened. Mateo Kovacic, who had been relatively quiet throughout the game, received an assist from Kevin De Bruyne in the 47th minute to score City’s third.
Arguably the turning point of the game came in the 56th minute when Ederson delivered a jaw-dropping 70-yard pass that split the Palace defense and found young midfielder James McAtee in stride. McAtee, who was recently promoted from the youth ranks and is highly regarded by manager Pep Guardiola, controlled the ball brilliantly before finishing low into the corner to give City a 4-2 lead.
With that assist, Ederson became the goalkeeper with the most assists in Premier League history with 7 assists, solidifying his reputation as not just a shot-stopper but a key playmaker in City's build-up from the back. The last goal was also scored by another academy prodigy, Nico O'Reilly in the 79th minute to wrap things up.
The win catapulted Manchester City into fourth place on the Premier League table, keeping them firmly in the title race with only a handful of games left. The victory also extended their unbeaten run in the league to nine games, putting pressure on Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham above them.
Pep Guardiola praised his side’s resilience post-match, highlighting Ederson’s distribution as “world-class” and hailing De Bruyne as “a genius on the pitch.”
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner admitted that his side “lost control after the hour mark” and would need to regroup quickly to avoid slipping into a relegation battle.