Man City vs Club Brugge LIVE: Hosts qualify for Champions League knockout rounds with win solid win

Man City 3-1 Club Brugge: Pep Guardiola’s side had to win to stay in the competition

Manchester City got what they deserved in damaging PSG defeat, says Pep Guardiola

Manchester City pulled off a great escape to qualify for the Champions League play-off round on tense and nervous evening at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s men came into the match sitting 25th in the league and knew that only victory would be enough to send them into the knockout rounds. Club Brugge, fighting for a place in the next stage themselves, set up with a low block and frustrated City from the start.

The visitors were also lightning quick on the counter attack and were the more threatening side in the first half. Ardon Jashari sent them ahead on the break with a fine first-time strike and City needed to respond.

Pep Guardiola brought on Savinho who was electric and direct. After Mateo Kovacic equalised with a fantastic individual effort, Savinho played a hand in the next two goals – firstly setting up Josko Gvardiol to force in an own goal before bringing down John Stones’ cross and slotting home himself.

With a two-goal cushion, the players, the fans and the manager relaxed and City – by the barest of margins – got the job done.

Relive the updates from the Etihad Stadium in our live blog below:

Man City vs Club Brugge LIVE

• Manchester City defeated Club Brugge in Champions League
• 77' Savinho adds a third to give City a cushion (MCI 3-1 BRU)
• 62' GOAL! Ordonez nets an own goal and may save City (MCI 2-1 BRU)
• 53' GOAL! Kovacic's great run and shot equalises for City (MCI 1-1 BRU)
• 48' CLOSE! Stones nods fine chance wide of goal (MCI 0-1 BRU)
• 45' GOAL! Onyedika strike puts visitors ahead (MCI 0-1 BRU)
• 16' DISALLOWED! Gundogan scores but there's an offside in the build up (MCI 0-0 BRU)
• 3' CHANCE! A counter attack sets up Talbi but Gvardiol blocks his shot (MCI 0-0 BRU)

[29 January 2025 17:05 · Mike Jones]

When is Man City vs Club Brugge?

The match is due to kick-off at 8pm GMT on Wednesday 29 January at the Etihad Stadium.

(AFP via Getty Images)

[29 January 2025 17:00 · Mike Jones]

Man City vs Club Brugge

Manchester City face Club Brugge in the final round of matches in the Champions League’s new league phase tonight, with the hosts knowing that they must win in order to progress.

City’s 4-2 loss to PSG last week means that they lie in 25th position, and they begin the day two points adrift of the play-off places.

This means that Pep Guardiola’s side must win this evening as they face a Club Brugge side who are in 20th ahead of kick-off.

The Belgian side are not guaranteed a place in the play-offs either at present, meaning that both sides need a result in order to be in the draw for the play-offs at the end of month.

[29 January 2025 10:59 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Manchester City vs Club Brugge LIVE

It’s do-or-die time for Manchester City as they look to progress in the Champions League. A damaging defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last week has left them needing a win to progress to just the play-off rounds, with a direct last 16 spot long since out of reach. Can Club Brugge deny their hosts and book their own place in the knockout rounds?

Kick off is at 8pm.

(PA Wire)