Kevin de Bruyne made his comeback to competitive football for the first time since August as Manchester City commenced their defence of the FA Cup with a comfortable win against Huddersfield Town at Etihad Stadium.
De Bruyne, who had been out of action due to a hamstring injury, entered the game in the second half. Two goals from Phil Foden, along with strikes by Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku, plus a Ben Jackson own goal, propelled Pep Guardiola's side into the fourth round.
The Belgian made a stunning assist to Jeremy Doku in his comeback game which made fans happy.
Here's how they reacted:
Manchester City secured the trophy last year in an extraordinary season where they clinched the Treble, leaving few expecting Huddersfield, positioned 21st in the Championship, to pose a threat.
The visiting team held off their opponents for 33 minutes through determined defending, but City appeared constantly able to escalate their performance. They broke the deadlock as Foden struck from inside the box after Alvarez's shot got blocked.
Alvarez then found the net, capitalising on the hosts' intricate passing that breached Huddersfield's defence, showcasing the Argentine forward's finesse in finishing.
A lofted pass intended for De Bruyne from the impressive Oscar Bobb took an unintended deflection off Jackson, curling into the net early in the second half. Foden later secured his brace with a powerful strike.
Doku, also returning from injury, added the fifth for the hosts as he neatly finished with Huddersfield's goalkeeper Lee Nicholls unable to intervene.
Some home supporters chanted "we want 10," perhaps reminiscent of City's 10-1 victory against Huddersfield in 1987. However, that outcome seemed improbable, and credit to the Terriers, who fought valiantly and showed resilient defense against a City side known for dismantling teams across various levels.
Manchester City took the initial stride in defending the FA Cup with this ultimately routine victory. Yet, possibly as significant as avoiding an early upset was the return of De Bruyne.
Guardiola understands the necessity of having his top players fit if they are to compete across various competitions, and there's no denying their absence has been felt in the first half of the season without De Bruyne.
His arrival onto the pitch was met with a standing ovation from the home supporters, who also chanted his name. The Belgian playmaker reminded everyone of his prowess by providing an assist for Doku's goal.
De Bruyne had only appeared once in the Premier League before his injury, but he emerged unharmed from his 33-minute performance, providing Guardiola with a much-needed lift as they head into the latter part of the campaign.
