What is Kevin De Bruyne's record in the Champions League? How many goals has he scored? From Genk to Manchester City
ByOli Gent
Published 10/09/2024 at 17:57 GMT+1
Kevin De Bruyne returns to the UEFA Champions League this season looking to help Manchester City take back the title they won in 2023. The Citizens beat Inter Milan 1-0 thanks to Rodri's goal last year, but they were beaten on penalties by eventual winners Real Madrid in last season's competition, with Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic missing the crucial penalties at the Etihad Stadium.
Highlights: Lunin the hero as Man City lose to Real on penalties
Video credit: TNT Sports
Kevin De Bruyne will play a central part in Manchester City's quest to win a second UEFA Champions League title this season.
The 33-year-old Belgian, a two-time PFA Player of the Year, was at the heart of everything good when the Citizens lifted a maiden Champions League last year, when Rodri's winner saw them beat Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul.
However, their defence came to an end against the inevitable Real Madrid at the quarter-final stage last term, as a Vinicius Junior-inspired Madrid beat City on penalties at the Etihad Stadium.
Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic were the unfortunate men to miss from 12 yards in the shoot-out, as City failed to capitalise on the early advantage handed to them by Luka Modric's miss with Madrid's first penalty.
Now, De Bruyne, one of the most senior figures in the City squad, will be hoping to play a leading role in his side reclaiming the European crown.
What is De Bruyne's record in the Champions League?
De Bruyne has won Europe's top team prize once before, and that was with City in Istanbul in 2023.
However, he was forced off injured in just the 36th minute in the Turkish capital with a hamstring injury, and he was replaced by Phil Foden.
That was the second time that De Bruyne had been withdrawn from a Champions League final with an injury, after he was substituted just before the hour mark in the 2021 final between City and Chelsea following a collision with Antonio Rudiger.
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Chelsea, one of De Bruyne's former clubs, went on to win that game in Porto, thanks to a goal from Kai Havertz.
De Bruyne has only played in two Champions League finals in his career, although he was named as the UEFA Champions League's Midfielder of the Season in 2019-20.
He was included in the Champions League Team of the Season twice in a row, in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
He made his full Champions League debut for Genk in a 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in September 2011, when he was 20 years old, although he had played for the Belgian side in the qualifying stages, playing his first match in a 2-1 win over Partizan Belgrade in July 2011.
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De Bruyne grabs crucial equaliser for Man City against Real Madrid
Video credit: TNT Sports
How many goals has he scored?
The Belgian midfielder has scored 16 goals in Europe's elite competition, but he is more known for his creativity and setting up goalscoring opportunities.
He has 30 assists in the Champions League - including one in the qualifying stages - and he will be hoping to lay more chances on a plate for Erling Haaland to slot home if City are to win a second European crown.
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