Manchester City v Club Brugge - UEFA Champions League result as Pep Guardiola's side complete comeback for play-off spot
Champions League / League Phase
Etihad Stadium / 29.01.2025
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- M. Kovacic(53')
- J. Ordóñez(62' O.G)
- Savinho(77')
- R. Onyedika(45')
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Live Updates
Updated 29/01/2025 at 22:22 GMT
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- Highlights
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CITY SURVIVE SCARE TO SEAL PLAY-OFF SPOT
An astute second-half performance saw Manchester City complete a quickfire comeback and secure qualification for the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs with a 3-1 win over Club Brugge.
Only victory would suffice for Pep Guardiola's side in their final league phase encounter as they looked to remain in the competition.
But their European stay was thrown into doubt as, on the stroke of half-time, Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika thundered home to put the Belgian side ahead.
City had it all to do in the second half, and Guardiola opted to make an attacking change with Savinho replacing Ilkay Gundogan – a substitution which proved to be inspired.
The Brazilian helped to exert sustained pressure on Brugge, and that eventually told when Mateo Kovacic strode forward and equalised with a fine solo effort just eight minutes into the second half.
The Premier League champions completed the turnaround nine minutes later as Savinho slipped in Josko Gvardiol, who forced an own goal from Joel Ordonez – and suddenly those in the Etihad could breathe a little easier.
Savinho himself wrapped up the scoring 13 minutes from time, taking down a sublime John Stones ball to prod into the back of the net and ensure his side's spot in the play-offs – where they will face either Bayern Munich or holders Real Madrid.
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Highlights: Huge relief for City as victory over Club Brugge seals progression
Video credit: TNT Sports
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CARNEY: 'I WAS FEARING FOR THEM'
"I'm not sure they can be the old City, especially without Rodri. I don't think they can. Even against Chelsea they had to go a different way, and tonight they have again.
"They still look too vulnerable in the transition. We saw against PSG, any team that has physicality, speed, skills in the wide areas, they look very vulnerable.
"There was elements of that tonight, he has to tighten up. This is a big task for Pep, had they gone out tonight - he's always made the knockout stages. At 1-0 I was fearing for them. But Pep is the master, super sub and changed the game."
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Kovacic says 'we knew we needed to step up' after crucial Man City victory
Video credit: TNT Sports
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HOW TO WATCH EUROPEAN FOOTBALL ON TNT SPORTS
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RIO ON MAN CITY'S PLAY-OFF OPPONENTS
Rio Ferdinand had his say on Manchester City facing either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the play-offs.
It's one we all want. It's a wonderful tie, teams with huge history. Whatever team that is, it's going to be a great tie, worthy of being a final.
FT
'THE TEAM PEOPLE WANT TO AVOID'
Former City defender Joleon Lescott says Manchester City are "the team people want to avoid" for the remainder of the competition.
It is now confirmed they will face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the knockout phase play-offs.
And while Lescott feels City are "not the favourites" to take home European glory, he thinks they will be a force for the remainder of the competition.
"They're performing like a cup team at the moment," he said. "They're not putting enough consistency and performances together to maintain or pose a threat in the league.
"But in cup competitions, you don't necessarily need to be good. You need to be more lucky. They are able to put 45 [minutes] or an hour or games together and score an amount of goals.
"Later on in the competition, you may need to put a strong 90 minutes, or 180 minutes with regards to two legs. At the moment, they're probably not the favourites in this competition, but they're still the team that people want to avoid."
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'Great touch, great finish' - Savinho scores City's third in huge relief for hosts
Video credit: TNT Sports
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CLUB BRUGGE FANS GO WILD!
After such an historic victory, the Man City fans have completely cleared the Etihad, but the away end remains full.
Club Brugge's players and staff alike with phones in hand awaiting confirmation of their spot in the knockout phase.
And they've done it! That's richly deserved. They more than matched City for much of the evening, and they will now have a chance to continue their run.
Some great celebrations coming from that packed away end. Great stuff, nicely done.
FT
CITY TO FACE BAYERN MUNICH OR REAL MADRID IN PLAY-OFFS
Mateo Kovacic - who scored the crucial equaliser for Manchester City - spoke to TNT Sports after finding out his side would play either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the knockout phase play-offs.
"Every game in the Champions League is a tough one, so first of all we can be happy that we are through, because it was a tough group stage for us. It was not easy. We are through, that's the most important thing. Whoever comes, it will be difficult, so it does not matter.
"It was obviously a game with a lot of pressure. We had to win. I think the first half was not bad, but we just could not score or get the chances. We concede with the first chance and in the end we are happy that we could score, that we could win this game. We had a really good game.
"I don't know if it was one of the biggest, but it was good for sure, because we came out really well. We knew that we needed to step up, because the first half was not enough. We saw the great character, the great desire to win, to go through, and the crowd was behind us. It was an amazing atmosphere today.
"We are here to go through, to go in the next stages. We are a good team. We can be there and today we showed that we have a great character. We come back from 1-0 down and that's what a great team does."
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'Game on!' - Kovacic fires Man City level against Club Brugge
Video credit: TNT Sports
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CAN CITY REFRESH TO BE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CONTENDERS?
It's no secret that Manchester City have endured a less-than-ideal 2024/25 campaign. A record winless run, which went the whole way in derailing their Premier League title tilt.
And, for a moment, it looked as though their UEFA Champions League season would also take a sizeable hit.
Until the 62nd minute at the Etihad, City's potential European exit was hot on everybody's lips, but Pep Guardiola's side came out of the interval with a renewed energy and made their quality show with an excellent second-half showing.
So what now?
City can march on in the Champions League without the baggage of hearing all the stipulations with which they can exit.
And let's be honest, another Champions League title, and suddenly City fans would not care so much about their lack of Premier League prospects.
It will be truly intriguing to see how City fare in the remainder of the European campaign, and it will be straight into the fire for Guardiola's side with a play-off clash against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich on the horizon.
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Image credit: Getty Images
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HOW CITY TURNED IT AROUND IN THE SECOND HALF
'Game on!' - Kovacic fires Man City level against Club Brugge
Video credit: TNT Sports
'Salvation' for Man City as own goal gifts hosts precious lead against Brugge
Video credit: TNT Sports
'Great touch, great finish' - Savinho scores City's third in huge relief for hosts
Video credit: TNT Sports
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FULL TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
Well, that was a rollercoaster. But City did well to settle any unrest with an emphatic second half performance.
The settled nature of that final 30 minutes makes it difficult to believe we were all talking about a City exit at half-time. But their quality showed, and Brugge finally suffer defeat after 20+ games.
Reaction to come!
91'
GUARDIOLA AND HAYEN EMBRACE
The pair have arms around one another on the touchline. Brugge fans making some good noise, I think everybody in this stadium tonight will be enjoying more Champions League football this season.
89'
ONE MINUTE OF ADDITIONAL TIME TO COME?
That's the word. And City are knocking it about freely now. This one is over.
85'
LAST RESORT FOR CLUB BRUGGE
Coaching staff and supporters alike are suddenly, frantically, checking their phones. Will they remain in the Champions League for the knockout phase?
They will now be waiting on results elsewhere, but as things stand, they will stay in the competition - finishing in 24th in the league phase table.
81'
REINFORCING AT THE BACK
De Bruyne makes way for Rico Lewis, and there's a huge ovation for the Belgian as he leaves the field of play.
Lewis will likely sit at the base of midfield as City look to close this one out.
77'
GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE (SAVINHO)
And that is a Champions League knockout play-off spot for City all but secured.
Stones floats a delicious lofted ball over the visitors' defence, and Savinho races onto it, bringing it down nicely and squeezes an effort into the back of the net.
A great second half from City, and there is life in them yet in the European competition!
'Great touch, great finish' - Savinho scores City's third in huge relief for hosts
Video credit: TNT Sports
76'
BAFFLING SUBS?
Fletcher on commentary points out the strange substitutions made by Club Brugge boss Hayen, and I have to agree.
Widemen Tzolis and Talbi were causing City issues more or less every time they broke forward.
But by substituting the entire forward line, the visitors now look disjointed in attack, nowhere near as direct and City are keeping it nicely.
73'
HOW DID THAT STAY OUT?
Wow! Haaland presses well and wins it right on the edge of the area.
He bears down on Mignolet, but the 'keeper makes himself huge and thwarts it.
It bounces out to Savinho who has three-quarters of a vacated net to aim into. He does so, but all of a sudden, Mechele comes racing across to boot it away.
That surely would have wrapped up three points.
73'
ANIMATED ON THE TOUCHLINE
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Watch tense moment frustrated Guardiola gets booked over controversial call
Video credit: TNT Sports
71'
KOVACIC LINES ONE UP FROM DISTANCE
It takes a noticeable nick en route to going up and over, but a goal kick is awarded.
69'
HOW FOOTBALL CAN CHANGE!
All of a sudden, the songs are ringing around the Etihad, and City have dialed down the tempo. But fingernails are not yet unbitten. We've seen City here before, actually, just seven days ago.
And Brugge can be blistering on the break, so the hosts must keep firm focus.
I say that as Talbi forces a corner with a snapshot at Ederson!
Brugge manager Nicky Hayen opts for a triple sub and removes Tzolis - who has been so, so dangerous tonight.
Talbi and Jutgla also make way as Michal Skoras, Hugo Vetlesen and Romeo Vermant enter.