Manchester City 3, Club Brugge 1 (UEFA Champions League)
Manchester City came from behind to book their place in the Champions League knockout phase with goals from Mateo Kovacic and Savinho.
City had a hard time trying to break down a highly defensive Brugge side in the first half, Ilkay Gundogan thought he had broken the deadlock after 16 minutes but was clearly offside.
Chances were few but Club Brugge took the lead right at the end of the first half when Matheus Nunes had another nightmare, missing a tackle to stop Ferran Jutgla and allowing the Spanish striker to cut the ball back to Raphael Onyedika to take the lead.
There was little chance to dwell on the gravity of the situation that City found themselves in.
City were back on terms soon after the restart when Mateo Kovacic was allowed to run from deep in midfield without being tackled – and he duly shot from the edge of the area to level things up in the 53rd minute.
Both sides had had chances to score with Josko Gvardiol and Ederson saving City from more Brugge counter attacks while Kevin De Bruyne had several chances but it was City who took the lead for the first time after 62 minutes.
And City caught Brugge cold after 77 minutes when John Stones’ cross field pass found Savinho unmarked and he drilled home City’s third.
With goal difference to defend, Brugge seemed to accept defeat as they also secured their place in the playoffs despite defeat.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 3, Club Brugge 1 (UEFA Champions League)
Ederson: 7. Came out of his box to head away a ball meant for Christos Tzolis – stayed out there to keep warm for a minute. Saved a low shot from Ardon Jashari after 41 minutes – the first shot on target in the game. Couple of big saves from Christos Tzolis and Chemsidine Talbi in the second half to keep City level.
Matheus Nunes: 6. Applauded by Pep for his application, inverted into attack but crucially missed the tackle to stop Ferran Jutgla and did not chase back to correct his error this time. Put the error behind him to make a clearance in the second half.
John Stones: 8. Could spend his time stroking the ball around looking for an opening. Headed just wide early in the second half and set up two of City’s goals.
Manuel Akanji: 7. Spare man at the back. Brave blocking.
Josko Gvardiol: 8. Great block to stop a shot from Chemsdine Talbi but the pacy right winger had the beating of him at least once. Got back to defend well blocked more great Brugge chances before setting up the own goal that put City back on top after 62 minutes.
Mateo Kovacic: 8. Great solo goal, good vision for forward passes. Didn’t get turned around too much by Brugge who faded away as a threat later in the game.
Ilkay Gundogan: 6. 16th minute goal ruled offside. Sacrificed at half time as City looked for more dynamism with Savinho.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Good movement from the right flank but left Matheus Nunes isolated at times.
Kevin De Bruyne: 7. Not afraid to take chances but wayward early on. His cross almost set up the equaliser early in the second half and also forced a great save out of Simon Mignolet but nobody was following up for the tap in.
Phil Foden: 6. Stuck on the left flank, shot well wide. Came inside in the second half after the reshuffle and was more involved. Had a great shot right at the end saved.
Erling Haaland: 7. Looked like he missed having a partner up close to him. Had a great chance to score in the second half but Simon Mignolet denied him.
Savinho (on for Ilkay Gundogan, 46): 8. Came on to add more width on the left. Denied a certain goal by a Brandon Mechele clearance off the line before drilling home City’s third from 6 yards out following a cross by John Stones.
Rico Lewis (on for Kevin De Bruyne, 81): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 3, Club Brugge 1 (UEFA Champions League)
Man City 0, Club Brugge 1: 45. Raphael Onyedika swept the ball home after Matheus Nunes missed a tackle on Ferran Jutgla and the forward’s cut back took a bobble off Manuel Akanji’s heel before reaching Onyedika for the finish past Ederson.
Man City 1, Club Brugge 1: 53. Mateo Kovacic was allowed to run towards goal unimpeded from half way and his low shot from outside the edge of the box beat Simon Mignolet and levelled things up.
Man City 2, Club Brugge 1: 62. Savinho set up Josko Gvardiol and his cross from the left was turned into his own net by Joel Ordonez from 3 yards out.
Man City 3, Club Brugge 1: 77. Savinho drilled in the third for City from 6 yards out after he got on the end of a cross field ball by John Stones with the Brugge defence static.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 3, Club Brugge 1 (UEFA Champions League)
Man City: Ederson, Nunes, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan (Savinho 46), Silva, De Bruyne (C) (Lewis 81), Foden, Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Carson, Grealish, Wright, Alleyne, O’Reilly, McAtee
Manager Booking: Pep Guardiola 55
Goals: Kovacic 53; Ordonez og 62; Savinho 77
Club Brugge: Mignolet, Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper, Onyedika, Jashari, Talbi (Skoras 70), Vanaken (C), Tzolis (Vetlesen 70), Jutgla (Vermant 70)
Club Brugge Subs not used: van den Heuvre, Jackers, Romero, Nilsson, Skoras, Nielsen. Siquet, Spileers, Sabbe
Goal: Onyedika 45
Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez (Spain)