Manchester City’s hopes of securing Champions League football next season received a major lift on Saturday as late goals from Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic sealed a 2-0 victory over Everton, propelling the reigning champions into fourth place in the Premier League standings.
O’Reilly broke the deadlock in the 84th minute, slotting home Matheus Nunes’ precise cross, before Kovacic fired in a powerful strike from the edge of the area, turning what had been a lackluster display from Pep Guardiola’s side into a crucial three-point haul.
The defeat was just Everton’s third in 15 league matches since David Moyes returned for a second stint as manager, delaying their bid to mathematically ensure Premier League survival.
Reflecting on the significance of the win, Guardiola said, “I would say a big, big win. With six games to go, and considering the form Everton are in—Liverpool and Arsenal couldn’t win here—it’s a massive result. Now it’s in our hands. We’ve got three games at home, two away, and hopefully we can secure this big achievement of Champions League qualification.”
Speaking ahead of the match, Guardiola had admitted he was simply relieved to still be in the race for a top-four finish, noting that given the challenges his team has faced this season, they could easily have found themselves in the bottom half of the table.
