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)
Manchester City FC 3 - 1 Club Brugge KV
Manchester City averted disaster but their obvious frailties are a cause for concern
22:20
,
Mike Jones
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.
Post-match reaction from Nicky Hayen
23:00
,
Mike Jones
The Club Brugge boss admitted that Manchester City deserved to win.
"We are really pleased at how we performed in the group phase," he said.
"In the first half we were really disciplined. We knew there was space at the back of the defenders but we made small mistakes in the second half and they punished us.
"They deserved to win.
"Credit to the group. They executed the plan in the best way possible. We are ambitious. Now we play Dortmund or Atalanta. We can still improve."
More from Kovacic:
22:48
,
Mike Jones
“We were not clinical enough in front of goal [before half-time] and were a little bit soft in the challenges and then conceded.
“But in the second half we came out very strongly, created great chances and scored. That gave us a push to just keep going.
“In the end, we controlled the game very well, scored two more and it could have been more.
“We are very happy with the second half."
City vs Belgium
22:43
,
Mike Jones
Manchester City have won all five of their European matches at home to Belgian teams, scoring 19 goals and conceding four.
Kovcic sparked the comeback
22:40
,
Mike Jones
And was rewarded with the Player of the Match trophy:
Tonight's Player of the Match pic.twitter.com/hGCY2xNywQ
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 29, 2025
Aston Villa find perfect way to forget about unwanted transfer attention in Champions League thriller
22:37
,
Mike Jones
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.
Kovacic on Pep Guardiola's half-time team talk
22:36
,
Mike Jones
The Man City midfielder said: "It was good because we came out very well. We knew we needed to step up.
“In the second half, we showed great character to win and go through.The crowd was behind us so amazing atmosphere today.
"It was important because we knew we are here to go through, we have a good team and we came back from 1-0 down.
“We know we are a great team."
22:33
,
Mike Jones
Potential last-16 ties
22:31
,
Mike Jones
As for the clubs already through to the last-16.
Liverpool will play Monaco, Brest, PSG or Benfica in the last 16.
Arsenal will play Feyenoord, Juventus, AC Milan or PSV.
Aston Villa will take on Sporting, Club Brugge, Atalanta or Borussia Dortmund.
Champions League play-off draw
22:27
,
Mike Jones
The draw for the play-off round will take place on Friday but we already know the 50-50 ties.
Given where they finished in the league table Celtic or Manchester City will play Real Madrid and the other will face Bayern Munich.
The winner of those ties will take on Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
How did the other English clubs get on?
22:26
,
Mike Jones
Despite losing to PSV Eindhoven tonight, Liverpool finished top of the table and are through to the last-16 already.
Arsenal and Aston Villa both won their final league games and secured a place in the top eight meaning they automatically go through as well.
A very fine showing from the English clubs.
Kovacic named Player of the Match
22:24
,
Mike Jones
Mateo Kovacic has been named Player of the Match.
Uefa's Technical Observer Panel said: "He did very well at keeping the ball and managing the tempo of the game, as well as scoring a crucial goal at the right time."
City ecstatic
22:18
,
Mike Jones
Manchester City will be celebrating that win for a while but they needed to dig deep to secure it.
Mateo Kovacic reacts to City's win:
22:09
,
Mike Jones
“Every team in the Champions League is a tough one. First of all, we are happy we are through because it was a tough group stage, lets say, for us.
“It was not easy, but we are through and that’s the most important. Whoever comes [in the next round] it does not matter.”
Man City's next opponents
21:58
,
Mike Jones
Manchester City finished 22nd in the Champiosn League table.
As it stands that means they could have to play Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the play-off round.
A tough one for Pep’s men.
FT Man City 3-1 Club Brugge
21:55
,
Mike Jones
Man City make it into the Champions League knockout rounds.
Full-time! Man City 3-1 Club Brugge
21:47
,
Mike Jones
90+1 mins: The whistle goes to end the match at the Etihad Stadium.
It’s a perfect result actually. Manchester City got themselves into the knockout rounds and Club Brugge are through as well.
Both teams head into the play-off rounds and City’s campaign is still alive.
Man City 3-1 Club Brugge
21:45
,
Mike Jones
90 mins: There’s only one minute of added time to play.
City are going through.
Man City 3-1 Club Brugge
21:41
,
Mike Jones
84 mins: City are in control now. They’ve got possession and they’ve got a lead.
There’s no urgency for them now.
Man City 3-1 Club Brugge
21:37
,
Mike Jones
81 mins: Kevin De Bruyne is taken off with 10 minutes to go.
On comes Rico Lewis to replace the City captain. The end of this game should be less intense for the hosts with two goals separating them and their opponents.
GOAL! Man City 3-1 Club Brugge (Savinho, 77')
21:34
,
Mike Jones
He’s been so influential!
Since coming on at half-time Savinho has brought energy and verve to Manchester City.
John Stones guides a lovely ball over the top and into the left side of the box.
Savinho brings it down then fires a sharp shot underneath the goalkeeper to give City a cushion.
Man City 2-1 Club Brugge
21:31
,
Mike Jones
75 mins: Oh wow!
Haaland’s pressure sees him win the ball back high up the pitch.
He’s one-on-one with Mignolet and shoots but the goalkeeper keeps the ball out.
It ricochets out to Savinho who shoots first time only to have his effort cleared off the line byt Brandon Mechele!
Man City 2-1 Club Brugge
21:26
,
Mike Jones
72 mins: The ball comes across the pitch and is brought down by Talbi.
He skips to the right of John Stones and shoots forcing Ederson into a sharp save to his left.
Man City 2-1 Club Brugge
21:25
,
Mike Jones
69 mins: As things stand, Manchester City will make it into the play-off round of the competition.
If they concede another goal without reply then they’ll drop back into the elimination zone.
The last 20 minutes are going to be tense.
Man City 2-1 Club Brugge
21:23
,
Mike Jones
66 mins: A settling period in the match now. City are playing with a lot more control and less nervous pace.
Savinho delivers a cross that Mignolet grabs out of the air.
'A turnaround that could save City's campaign'
21:22
,
Richard Jolly at Etihad Stadium
“A turnaround that could save City's Champions League campaign and one which was made in Croatia.
“Mateo Kovacic dragged City back into the game with a fine equaliser before Josko Gvardiol's raid forward set up the own goal that puts them ahead.
“Yet in between those goals, Brugge held a threat.”
GOAL! Man City 2-1 Club Brugge (Joel Ordonez OG, 62')
21:19
,
Mike Jones
City lead!
Savinho nudges the ball to the edge of the box and slips in Josko Gvardiol.
The left-back looks for the square pass and Erling Haaland but Joel Ordonez lunges to intercept.
He gets a foot to the ball but can’t control it and just diverts the pass into the back of the net.
'Game on'
21:17
,
Richard Jolly at Etihad Stadium
“Game on.
“City have discovered some urgency in attack but look vulnerable at the back.
“Mateo Kovacic took responsibility for dragging City back into the game with a fine equaliser but since the Brugge have had more of a threat.
“The Anglocentric focus is on Pep Guardiola's side - and perhaps much of the European focus will be, too, if they go out - but the evidence so far is that the Belgian champions deserve a finishing berth somewhere in the top 24.”
City 1-1 Club Brugge
21:16
,
Mike Jones
60 mins: Oh my word!
Kevin De Bruyne skips to the left on the edge of the box and shoots forcing a sharp save out of Simon Mignolet.
Brugge clear their lines and beat the press. They have a three-on-three with City’s defenders backtracking.
Christos Tzolis decides to go alone and shoots but slips his effort wide of the far post.
City 1-1 Club Brugge
21:13
,
Mike Jones
56 mins: Club Brugge’s response is a great one. Twice in a couple of minutes they force a save out of Ederson and the hosts are under pressure again.
It’s another counter attack which puts City in trouble and Brugge know exactly how to punish them when they lose possession.
This match is very much alive now.
GOAL! Man City 1-1 Club Brugge (Mateo Kovacic, 53')
21:10
,
Mike Jones
That was coming too!
It’s brilliant from Mateo Kovacic who collects the ball on the halfway line and runs through the heart of Club Brugge.
The defenders fall away from him as he takes the ball to the edge of the box before rolling it into the bottom left corner.
Man City 0-1 Club Brugge
21:08
,
Mike Jones
52 mins: Mechele heads away a bouncing ball but is drops to Mateo Kovacic.
His shot is blocked but City recycle the ball and pick out Phil Foden.
Foden nips to the left and shoots but blazes the ball over the top.
Man City 0-1 Club Brugge
21:07
,
Mike Jones
51 mins: City are already playing with more pace and intensity.
They’re a handful when they begin to click properly and a goal will bring belief with it.
Man City 0-1 Club Brugge
21:04
,
Mike Jones
48 mins: Chance!
Another corner is played short this time and the ball comes back to De Bruyne.
De Bruyne lifts the ball into the box where John Stones leaps up and nods the ball wide!
Man City 0-1 Club Brugge
21:03
,
Mike Jones
46 mins: Savinho’s first involvement is to win a corner for City.
De Bruyne puts the ball into the box but the defenders head it away.
City has less than 45 minutes to score two goals and get through.
Can they do it?
Second half! Man City 0-1 Club Brugge
21:01
,
Mike Jones
City get the game restarted at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola has made a change at half-time with Ilkay Gundogan hooked off in favour of Savinho.
'It's juts got worse for City'
20:59
,
Richard Jolly at Etihad Stadium
“It's just got worse for City.
“Unbeaten at home in Europe since 2018, they find themselves 1-0 down to a club who have never won in England.
“But Brugge had posed a threat on the counter-attack and had seemed to be targeting the makeshift right-back Matheus Nunes.
“It paid off for a goal that could set up one of the great results in Brugge's history, though not City's.”
HT Man City 0-1 Club Brugge
20:55
,
Mike Jones
HT Man City 0-1 Club Brugge
20:51
,
Mike Jones
A reminder that Club Brugge are unbeaten in 20 games.
City need to score twice, without conceding, to win this game and sneak into 24th place.
They are currently 26th and are heading out of the tournament at the first stage.
Half-time! Man City 0-1 Club Brugge
20:47
,
Mike Jones
City trail at the break. They now need to score two goals, at least, to get themselves into the knockout rounds.
Pep Guardiola has a big team talk coming up.
GOAL! Man City 0-1 Club Brugge (Raphael Onyedika, 45')
20:46
,
Mike Jones
It’s been coming!
Club Brugge have been brilliant on the counter attack and City have been poor defensively.
Ferran Jutgla dances around Matheus Nunes then brings the ball up to the box.
He squares it across the penalty area and Raphael Onyedika arrives in time for a first touch shot.
He drills it and beats Ederson! Club Brugge are in front.
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:44
,
Mike Jones
44 mins: Goals are flying in all over the Champions League tonight as clubs do their best to get into the knockout rounds.
Nothing of the sort at the Etihad Stadium though.
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:41
,
Mike Jones
41 mins: Hello!
Everytime Brugge come forward a nervous energy settles on the Man City fans.
Ardon Jashari decides to have a go from range. He drills a low effort through the defence and Ederson is forced to drop to his right to smother the ball.
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:37
,
Mike Jones
38 mins: Close!
Brugge have been patient but they’re also confident. They are happy to play around City’s midfield and drive up the pitch when they can start a break.
Maxim De Cuyper brings the ball down the left wing and squares it across to Christos Tzolis.
He nudges the ball into the box then unleashes a right footed effort.
The strike is good but Manuel Akanji gets his head in the way and blocks the chance.
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:35
,
Mike Jones
35 mins: A bit more pace from City sees Gvardiol link up with Foden on the left.
Foden flies into the box and looks to pick out Haaland but his pass is intercepted and cleared away.
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:32
,
Mike Jones
32 mins: It’s been a frustrating 32 minutes for the Manchester City fans.
City are used to playing against a low block but they are low on confidence and there’s a lot riding on this game.
Brugge are doing what they need to.
'City are going in the wrong direction'
20:31
,
Richard Jolly at Etihad Stadium
“Manchester City are going in the wrong direction. They kicked off in 25th place, targeting the top 24. They are now 26th, courtesy of the goal that gave Dinamo Zagreb a surprise lead against AC Milan.
“City are finding a breakthrough hard to find themselves. Ilkay Gundogan had the ball in the net but while offside.
“He has played further forward tonight than he has done for most of the season but Brugge have defended in numbers and well so far.”
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:30
,
Mike Jones
29 mins: Matheus Nunes plays a one-two with Kevin De Bruyne and darts into the box.
Christos Tzolis sprints back and puts himself in between Nunes and the ball.
He shields it and wins a free kick.
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:26
,
Mike Jones
26 mins: Over halfway through this first half and Club Brugge have strung together just 39 passes.
That shows the extent to which City are controlling the ball.
Kevin De Bruyne takes a shot from the inside left channel but fires it well over the top.
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:24
,
Mike Jones
23 mins: Bernardo Silva sweeps into the box from the right and is fed the ball.
He decides to shoot first time and curls an effort at goal.
It hits Erling Haaland and deflects out of play.
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:21
,
Mike Jones
20 mins: A cross comes into the box from City and Erling Haaland peels off his marker at the back post.
He’s got a free header but decides to nod in into the middle of the box instead of going for goal.
Club Brugge clear their lines.
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:18
,
Mike Jones
Disallowed!
16 mins: Man City get the ball into the back of the net first.
Matheus Nunes darts down the right side and gets up to the box as the ball is played into him.
He slips the ball across to Ilkay Gundogan who curls it into the bottom corner but the celebrations are cut short.
There’s an offside in the build up.
'John Stones is a unique player'
20:17
,
Richard Jolly at Etihad Stadium
“An early illustration of why John Stones is a unique player.
“He has strolled into midfield, looking effortlessly at ease as he has reprised the hybrid role that was such a key factor when City won the Champions League two years ago.
“However, while they have dominated possession so far, with 78 percent of the ball in the first 14 minutes, Brugge have had few alarms.
“They have an excellent defensive record in this competition - unlike City.”
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:14
,
Mike Jones
15 mins: Shot!
Phil Foden finds a touch of space on the left side of the box again.
This time he rolls the ball onto his favoured left foot and strikes an effort at goal.
He hits it sweetly but the effort sails wide.
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:13
,
Mike Jones
12 mins: Gvardiol comes forward on the left and cuts inside.
City send the ball back out to Phil Foden who collects it in the box then spins away and misplaces a backwards pass.
Manuel Akanji jogs back to collect the ball.
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:10
,
Mike Jones
9 mins: A cross comes in from the right from Kevin De Bruyne but Brandon Mechele leaps and nods it away.
City need to move the ball a lot quicker but they’ll be pleased about settling the game a little after some early counter-attacks.
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:06
,
Mike Jones
6 mins: City were practicing crosses in the warm-up tonight and have sent the ball over to the right wing a few times already.
Brugge recover the ball and switch the play out to Talbi on the right.
He is quick and drives at Gvardiol who holds him up. Talbi swings in a cross but Ederson plucks the ball out of the air.
Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:03
,
Mike Jones
3 mins: Man City will want to control the ball and put pressure on Brugge who will drop into a low block when out of possession.
Chance!
Brugge sweep forward on the counter attack with Christos Tzolis bombing down the left. He pulls the ball into the box and finds Chemsdine Talbi who shoots and has his effort blocked by Josko Gvardiol.
Kick off! Man City 0-0 Club Brugge
20:00
,
Mike Jones
Club Brugge kick off the match and send the ball back to Brandon Mechele.
He works it over to the left wing where the ball goes out of play and City win a throw in.
Man City vs Club Brugge
19:57
,
Mike Jones
Here come the teams.
Manchester City will qualify with a win but without one they are out of the tournament.
It’s a big night with a whole host of other fixtures kicking off at the same time.
Let’s see if City can get through...
Club Brugge's away form
19:50
,
Mike Jones
Club Brugge have lost only six of their last 18 away matches in the Champions League and have won seven of their last 12 away European games.
European Cup runners-up to Liverpool in 1978, Club Brugge spent 2023/24 in the Europa Conference League, eventually reaching the last four before losing to Fiorentina.
City's home European record
19:45
,
Mike Jones
Man City are unbeaten in 34 home European matches with 29 wins and five draws.
That’s a run going back to a 1-2 loss to Lyon on the first matchday of the 2018/19 season.
City have won 23 of the last 27.
Fire rages outside Man City stadium ahead of crucial Champions League clash
19:40
,
Mike Jones
An area outside the Etihad Stadium was evacuated after a merchandise stand caught fire ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League game against Club Brugge.
The blaze broke out shortly before 6pm, close to where Pep Guardiola’s City team had been due to enter the stadium at around 6.30pm.
Supporters had gathered in the area for a pre-match entertainment show which included on-stage interviews with January signings Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.
League phase woes
19:40
,
Mike Jones
Having claimed the club's first Champions League title in 2022/23, Pep Guardiola's side won all six group games for the first time last season.
That was the seventh successive campaign in which City had come first in their group.
The newly revamped league phase hasn’t gone well at all for City. They are on the brink of an early exit and must win tonight in order to get through.
City's Champions League success
19:35
,
Mike Jones
This is Manchester City's 14th successive season in the Champions League.
They have featured in every campaign since 2011/12 and have reached the knockout stages in each of the last 11.
City versus Belgian teams
19:30
,
Mike Jones
Man City's 2021 wins against Club Brugge made it four successive victories against Belgian opponents.
A 2-0 loss at Standard Liège in the 1978/79 Uefa Cup was the only one of City's eight games against teams from Belgium that did not end in victory.
'As expected Stones and De Bruyne start'
19:26
,
Richard Jolly at Etihad Stadium
“As expected, John Stones and Kevin de Bruyne return to the Manchester City team tonight for the ineligible Abdudokir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush.
“Stones hasn't completed 90 minutes since October. City must hope he can now: the only centre-back on the bench is the rookie Max Alleyne.
“Club Brugge arrive in Manchester in form. They are unbeaten in 20 games.”
Good memories for City
19:25
,
Mike Jones
Manchester City last faced Club Brugge in 2021/22 Champions League group stages.
They won both fixtures at an aggregate score of 9-2.
City scored at least four goals in both of those fixtures and will bring those good memories into tonight’s clash.
Update from Man City
19:22
,
Mike Jones
Regarding the fire at Manchester City, the club have said:
"We can confirm that tonight's match will kick off at 8pm as originally planned.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone to the Etihad Stadium for tonight's match."
Pep Guardiola explains surprising view on Man City’s Champions League struggles
19:20
,
Mike Jones
Pep Guardiola has insisted that Manchester City’s perilous position in the Champions League is not a problem but an opportunity.
With a game to go of the group stage, City, the 2023 winners, are on course for an early exit as they stand 25th in the 36-team table.
They have only taken one point from their last four games and need to beat Belgian champions Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to salvage a play-off place.
