Skip to content

Man City 3-1 Club Brugge: Pep Guardiola's side rescue Champions League campaign to secure play-off spot

Match report as Manchester City came from behind to keep their Champions League hopes alive; Mateo Kovacic levelled before Josko Gvardiol forced an own goal and Savinho wrapped things up in the second half; City progress to the play-off phase after finishing 22nd

Savinho celebrates after giving Man City a 3-1 lead against Club Brugge
Image: Savinho changed the game after being introduced at half-time

Manchester City snuck through to the play-off phase of the Champions League after coming from behind to beat Club Brugge 3-1 and finish 22nd of the 24 qualified teams to secure progress.

With only three wins from eight games, they face Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in February's play-offs - the price to pay for such a flawed campaign.

City's night had started in worrying fashion when a merchandise kiosk outside the stadium caught fire and it took a stirring second-half revival to ensure their European hopes were not also up in flames.

Pep Guardiola called for "something special" ahead of the game and what he got - in the first half at least - was something quite shocking as City failed to muster any drive, intensity or shots on target before getting stung on the break by Raphael Onyedika.

Raphael Nwadike beats Ederson to give Club Brugge a shock lead at the Etihad
Image: Raphael Onyedika beat Ederson to fire Club Brugge ahead in the first half

City knew ahead of time - having surrendered a 2-0 lead at PSG to lose 4-2 last week - that anything other than a win would consign them to an early exit from the competition they won just 18 months ago, but even that could not summon the urgency necessary to hurt Brugge.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sky Sports' Ben Ransom shares the latest from the Etihad after Manchester City progressed after a nervy 3-1 win over Club Brugge.

Luckily for Guardiola, all that changed at half time when Savinho came on for llkay Gundogan, providing more direct threat and creating gaps, allowing Mateo Kovacic to drive through the heart of midfield and sweep home the leveller.

Everything became a bit more straightforward thereafter as Josko Gvardiol forced young defender Joel Ordonez to turn through his own net before Savinho scored a well-worked third, latching onto a brilliant John Stones pass, to ease any lingering doubts with 13 minutes to go.

Also See:

Analysis: Savinho changed the game

Savinho has been directly involved in five goals in his last six apps in all competitions (2 goals, 3 assists)
Image: Savinho has been directly involved in five goals in his last six apps in all competitions (2 goals, 3 assists)

Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:

Manchester City were staring down the barrel until Savinho's half-time introduction. It made you wonder what he was doing sat on the bench in the first place, brought on to replace a laboured Gundogan. Savinho has now been directly involved in five goals in his last six appearances in all competitions.

Often we credit managers for making substitutions that have game-changing impact but on this occasion it feels slightly undue. Pep Guardiola's starting selection simply did not work. He went for experience over vibrancy. "The first half we missed the spark, Savinho helped us find it," Guardiola reflected post match.

Stumbling over the finish line probably isn't the best way to strike fear into upcoming play-off opponents - Real or Bayern - but important City are there nonetheless. Relief will surely be replaced by dread as that February date nears.

Guardiola admits City 'cannot win Champions League'

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola hails the Champions League format from a spectator point of view as it knocks even the big teams out.

Man City manager Pep Guardiola:

"When I saw the fire before the game I thought the journalists have their headlines already, that's for sure. We were out but now we go forward.

"Brugge defend so tight, they go man to man, we need the quality and the spark to make the right action to score - maybe we felt the pressure. In the right moments we got the goals and the new format has been really tough, really difficult.

"In the future important teams might live what we have this season. It's an incredible lesson for the club, for me firstly, and for the players - nothing is for granted."

Asked if Man City can still be considered contenders to win this year's Champions League: "Right now, no. I'm so pragmatic, the reality is the reality.

"These teams [Bayern and Real] have more experience than us, if we had to play tomorrow it would be difficult, but in two weeks I don't know the position we will be. We are going to prepare well and try it, we'll see what happens."

Hayen proud to qualify

Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen:

"Really proud of the way we performed during the group phase. First half we were really disciplined tonight, we kept everything compact. We knew there were possibilities on the back of their defenders and we executed really well.

"Second half we started to make small mistakes and City are world class, they punish you immediately. We try to push every day, we try to have a plan and they executed in the most perfect way.

"We are quite happy, we are ambitious and now we can go in the next round in an open way."

When are the knockout draws?

The final standings of the Champions League group phase
Image: The final standings of the Champions League group phase

To determine who plays who in the knockout rounds, there will be two draws after the league phase.

The first draw on Friday January 31 at 11am will determine which of the two options each team will get in the knockout playoff. For example, a team finishing 13th will find out whether they are playing against the team finishing 19th or 20th.

Seeded teams (9th-16th) will have the second leg at home and those play-off round matches take place on February 11/12 and February 18/19.

Teams seeded from first to eighth will have to wait until Friday February 21 to find out their opponents.

That draw will then determine who they face in the round of 16, and ultimately map out their full path to the final.

When are the 2024/25 Champions League knockout fixtures?

  • Round of 16: March 4/5 and March 11/12, 2025
  • Quarter-finals: April 8/9 and April 15/16, 2025
  • Semi-finals: April 29/30 and May 6/7, 2025
  • Final: May 31, 2025

What's coming up for Man City?

A £1,000,000 SUPER 6 WINNER!
A £1,000,000 SUPER 6 WINNER!

Tom from Southampton became a millionaire for free with Super 6! Could you be the next jackpot winner? Play for free!