A curling 35-yard ball that travelled between Geoff Cameron and Jack Butland and allowed Leroy Sane to tap home at the backpost to put City 6-2 up in an extraordinary game against Stoke City at the Etihad back in 2017.
The simplest of finishes made possible by the most difficult of assists.
There’s probably only Kevin De Bruyne who could play a pass of such precision and perfection.
It was the Belgian’s 100th Premier League appearance. What a way to mark it, with a moment of vision and ingenuity that enhanced his reputation as one of the finest creative players in world football - his 32nd assist in the competition and perhaps his best.
He was withdrawn after a 66-minute performance of rarefied magnificence to a deserved and rapturous reception. City went on to complete a 7-2 win over Stoke, opening up a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League table in a season that would see us go on and win the title with a record 100 points.
Pep Guardiola described it as the best display since he had arrived at the Club the summer before.
“We didn’t lose easy balls, we play fast and simple,” he said. “That’s why I am very pleased. It is the best performance since I came here.”
Afterwards, then-Stoke manager Mark Hughes described De Bruyne as “head and shoulders above anyone else in the Premier League”. It was hard to argue then and would perhaps be even more difficult now.
He was superb throughout, but it was his pass for Sane that will live longest in the memory of those in attendance – and is why it is still talked about as the best assist in City’s recent history.
In the latest instalment of #City30 presented by Nexen, we asked you – the fans – to nominate the best assist of the Pep Guardiola, Nick Cushing or Alan Mahon eras. De Bruyne’s against Stoke was a response we expected and you delivered.
Sunday’s #City30 topic: the best comeback.
Share your answers (from the Guardiola, Cushing or Mahon eras) on Twitter @ManCity, using the hashtag #City30…
