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

✕

Close

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.

Pinned

Manchester City averted disaster but their obvious frailties are a cause for concern

A manager defined by finishing first may never be so relieved to come 22nd. Pep Guardiola was 45 minutes from abject humiliation. Twenty months after winning the Champions League, Manchester City were on course to be cast out of it. Embarrassment was on the agenda.

It was averted. Unconvincingly, laying bare more of their flaws, City nonetheless salvaged a play-off place. A comeback forged by Croatians, requiring an own goal but sealed by Savinho, meant they will now face one of the superpowers of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Read more

Mike Jones29 January 2025 22:20

City vs Belgium

Manchester City have won all five of their European matches at home to Belgian teams, scoring 19 goals and conceding four.

Mike Jones29 January 2025 22:43

Kovcic sparked the comeback

And was rewarded with the Player of the Match trophy:

Mike Jones29 January 2025 22:40

Aston Villa find perfect way to forget about unwanted transfer attention in Champions League thriller

On a night dominated by transfer news surrounding their two leading marksmen, a hat-trick from someone else, Morgan Rogers, was required to fire Aston Villa directly into the last 16 of the Champions League as Uefa netted yet another victory for their shiny new format.

Capping a memorable first league-phase adventure at Europe’s top table since 1982-83, a night full of drama ended with hat-trick hero Rogers, scoring his first three goals in the Champions League, and team-mates huddled around a phone to see if other results had gone Villa’s way.

Aston Villa find perfect way to forget about unwanted transfer attention

Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic: Morgan Rogers’s hat-trick sent Villa straight into the Champions League last 16 but transfer questions remain over Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran

Mike Jones29 January 2025 22:37

(REUTERS)

(EPA)

(REUTERS)

Mike Jones29 January 2025 22:33