Kevin De Bruyne given payback as Man City get what they have needed

Oh no, Kevin De Bruyne. All the stars aligned for the Manchester City legend to mark his final appearance at the Etihad with a goal and, from four yards out and no goalkeeper in sight, he hit the bar.

Fifty-five thousand jaws that have spent the last decade dropping in disbelief at De Bruyne's touch did so again, before hands went on heads. Nobody could believe the perfect ending had been squandered.

Try as De Bruyne might and try as his teammates did - and boy did they - nobody could engineer a chance in 90 minutes that allowed the departing great to go out with a goal. Or, for that matter, an assist.

This game was in many ways the story of the last two years for De Bruyne, nearly but not quite. He was still the beating heart of so much good play, only injuries have robbed him of superhuman ability to be outrageously productive in front of goal every three days.

In a stadium with everyone rooting for him though, the playmaker didn't need the final flourish. A man who has carried City through more challenges than anyone can remember over the last 10 years with his individual brilliance was instead helped out by his teammates.

First, and most positively, there was Omar Marmoush. The January signing has led the line in Erling Haaland's absence but hadn't scored since the league win over Crystal Palace back in April and missed the penalty in the cup final defeat.

He had already strayed needlessly offside to spoil one early chance when he picked up the ball 35 yards out from goal, took a few steps forward and then launched an unstoppable effort past Kepa Arrizabalaga and in off the post. That was enough to drop jaws for all the right reasons, and each time the goal was replayed on the big screen before the game kicked