Last night's Premier League showdown, Manchester City hosted Crystal Palace, which was originally a must-win game, but turned into a tense and exciting suspense battle. Fans must have had all sorts of emotions about this game, after all, it was not just an ordinary league game, but a crucial game for Manchester City to win four consecutive Premier League titles.
In the opening stages, Manchester City showed their usual style and quickly took control of the game. Grealish's shot was a work of art, not only representing the sheer quality of the team, but also a testament to his recent form. But on the football field, no one can say. Despite City's dominance on the pitch, Palace are still not the kind of opponents who can be easily crushed. Hodgson's tactical layout, although conservative, is exceptionally effective, and one has to admire.
When Lewis scored his first goal to extend the score to 2-0, I almost thought the game was settled. But football is always full of uncertainties, and 2-0 is often the most subtle. A long pass from Crystal Palace and a flanking by Mateta made City's defence look so vulnerable. The goal not only made the score confusing, but also made the atmosphere on the pitch even more tense.
Manchester City are still in control of the game, but Palace only need one more chance to change the tide of the game. Pep Guardiola's inaction was penalised in stoppage time. Foden's mistake led to a penalty that allowed Olise to hit the ball and make it 2-2. In retrospect, Manchester City's conceding in the final stages of the season has become a fatal wound for them. Against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, conceding goals in the final moments of the game is no longer accidental, but a serious problem.
After the scoreline was levelised, Pep Guardiola finally made a substitution, but it was too late. The final score of 2-2 was undoubtedly a huge blow for Manchester City. From the original 3 points to 1 point, 1 win, 4 draws and 1 loss in the last 6 rounds, and the record of losing 11 points has made their road to four consecutive Premier League titles more and more difficult.
This game is not only a battle between two teams, but also a test of Manchester City's mental strength. Statistically, they seem to dominate the game, but in football it is ultimately up to the result. This match made people realize that even the championship team has their vulnerable moments. Hopefully, Manchester City can learn from this defeat and prepare for the next games, after all, the Premier League has a long way to go and the dream of a title is never far away.