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Pep at full-time to BT Sport

"Fully deserved. After we concede the goal we drop a little bit but the second-half was really good.

"They defend so deep so it was not easy but the victory is important. We need one more point to qualify."

 

Foden sheds light on Pep's half-time reaction:

"We were sloppy in the first half and let them back into the game. We got in at half-time and spoke about what was going wrong. We changed it in the second half and played better. 

"The manager wasn't happy. You have to take his advice. We changed a couple of things and were better in possession and hurt them a lot more."

They sure did! Harsh result in the end...

Substitutions:

Sterling - 8 Brilliant cameo full of heart and desire, chasing lost causes, scored a tap in and almost assisted another.

Zinchenko - 5 presented the visitors with an opportunity, bailed out by Stones.

De Bruyne - 6 few nice touches, didn't have a telling impact when he came on but did nothing wrong all the same.

Palmer - 7 nearly got his second in as many games against Brugge but for a fine Mignolet save and worked hard for the team.

Jesus - 7 Spurned a great chance but took his goal well in the end.

Full-time ratings:

Mahrez - 7 Improved in the second-half and nodded home that all-important second goal.

Foden - 8 Led the line, on the scoresheet again and showed his fine array of passing.

Grealish - 5 Struggled to get the better of his marker and seemed to lose confidence as the game wore on.

Full-time ratings:

Rodri - 7 Typical output, breaking up counters and starting attacks for his side going forward. Assured performance in midfield.

Gundogan - 7 Livelier in the second, grabbed an assist to tee up Sterling.

Bernardo - 7 Industrious as ever and displayed his fine dribbling ability before being replaced.

Full-time ratings:

Walker - 7 Adventurous as ever on the right and his blistering pace sparked attacks.

Laporte - 6 Did what was asked. Solid.

Stones - 7 Finishes slightly ahead of his partner for a special block at 3-1.

Cancelo - 9 Best player on the night in Blue. Three assists and part of the build-up for every City atatck.

Full-time ratings:

Ederson - 7 Was busier than ke would have liked but displayed great focus to keep the visitors at bay and almost found Foden with a searching ball out of the hands.

As things stand:

City are top with 9 points as PSG are held to a draw in Germany.

City -9 

PSG -8 

Brugge - 4

Leipzig - 1

In other news

A Dominik Szoboszlai penalty in the 92nd minute looks to have rescued a point for Leipzig and denied PSG all three.

Stay tuned

Keep an eye for post-match analysis and full-time player ratings.

Full-time

4-1 to City after an assured second-half performance.

90 +2

Jesus scores his 18th goal in the Champions League with the final kick of the game. A third assist for Cancelo.

90'

Sterling almost finds Palmer but for a defensive clearance as we enter 2 minutes of injury time.

87' Change

Brugge switch sees De Ketelaere replaced by Kamal Sowah.

The striker had a good game for the visitors.

86'

Jesus has to do better, spurns a gilt-edged chance kept out by Mignolet's legs.

85'

Mignolet gets down sharply to deny the youngster Cole Palmer from finding City's fourth.

Alterations

Zinchenko and Palmer in for Walker and Foden

Brugge replace Lang, Mata and Rits with Bas Dost, Ignace Van der Brempt and Noah Mbamba

Brugge Switch

Confirmation of an earlier change for Brugge with Federico Ricca replacing Eduard Sobol.

78'

5 changes incoming

3 Brugge

2 City

77'

Cancelo's chip finds KDB but his half volley flies over.

75' City change

Kevin De Bruyne comes on for Bernardo Silva 

3-1

Great goal, Gundogan picked out down the channel and he pulls it back for Sterling inside the six-yard box.

It's been a long time coming but he's earned that goal tonight!

71' 3-1

Sterling adds a third. Well up for it since he came on.

69'

Almost a perfect introduction for Sterling. Wriggles into the box and Gundogan picked the ball off his toes before he could get a shot away.

68'

Double City sub with Rahem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus on for Mahrez and Grealish.

63'

Space opening up for City. Ball sits up for Gudogan but he can't keep his volley down.

62'

Few stops in play having helped the tempo here. 

That De Ketelaere chance...

Great opportunity for the visitors and 30 seconds later they are punished. That's football. 2-1 City lead.

54' 2-1

De Katelaere goes close for Brugge but Ederson gets it going quikcly and Mahrez heads home from Cancelo's pinpoint cross.

51'

Stones heads downwards from close range but Mignolet collects.

50'

Strong start from City. Cancelo's curling effort gets a nick and goes out for a corner.

47' Chance

Mahrez slipped in by Grealish but Mignolet smothers the shot.

PSG leading in Germany

PSG leading in Germany!

Half-time ratings:

Ederson - 7 couple of smart saves.

Walker - 6 involved in atatcks.

Stones - 6 Nothing he could do about the goal, holding his own.

Laporte - 6 Solid. Keeping pace with Noa Lang.

Cancelo - 7 Post denied him a sublime goal. Clever assist.

Rodri - 7 Thwarting the counter-attack well.

Gundogan - 5 Not in it.

Bernardo - 6 Can be better.

Grealish - 6 Needs to be braver.

Foden - 7 Great workrate, got his goal.

Mahrez - 5 Quietest City player.

1-1 Half-time

Brugge will be the happier. Responded quickly and have all to play for in the second period.

40'

Just over five minutes of the first half remaining. Final ball lacking at this time for City.

32'

De Katalaere with a venemous drive but Ederson down well. Visitors growing in confidence.

32' Chance

Scottish international Jack Hendry heads into the arms of Ederson from a free-kick.

27'

They talk about a yellow wall at Borussia Dortmund games. There is one here tonight in the form of the Brugge defence. City finding it difficult to find a way through at the minute.

24'

City have to be careful. 

Dominating the ball but Brugge look dangerous.

17' GOAL 1-1

Bizarre own goal grants Brugge an equaliser.

Silva onto Stones, he knows nothing about it.

14' GOAL

Moments after hitting the post, Cancelo's sumptuous ball across the box finds Phil Foden who taps in from six yards.

1-0 City.

12'

Ilkay Gundogan almost squeezes the ball in at the back post.

11'

Brugge break and win a corner. Eduard Sobol fires wide.

10'

Phil Foden attempts a volley with the ball coming over his shoulder but he can't get his technique right.

 

No way through yet.

9'

Not much by way of chances. Brugge haven't crossed the half-way line.

5'

Pattern is set with Bruge content to defend their area and break when they can.

3'

As anticipated City threatening early. Bernardo's attempt is blocked as the visitors sit in with a back five to counter.

Familiar face

Antonio Matue Lahoz who officiated City's Champions League final defeat to Chelsea is on the whistle.

Kitted out

City are in all blue tonight while Club Brugge revert to their changed yellow strip

Anthem time!

The players are out on the pitch ready to hear those dulcet tones...

Home side limbering up

Embed from Getty Images (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Blues looking to maintain impressive record

Pep on Brugge's change in formation:

"Watching their line up they change to five at the back, 5-3-2 or 5-2-1-2. We have to change a little bit, have to adapt, we didn't practice or know it."

Blues ready for battle!

Here's how the visitors line out:

Your City Line-up:

Edging closer

Brugge stun City in UEFA Youth League

Don't miss out!

Be sure to stay tuned and follow along with us for all the details, commentaries, analysis and lineups for Manchester City vs Club Brugge.

Brugge not here to make up the numbers

Brugge manager Philippe Clement was adamant that his side weren't arriving in Manchester just to fulfil a fixture and claimed they will do their utmost to rectify last month's 5-1 thrashing:

"In the first match against City, we did not play at our top individually and collectively. It is up to us to do better tomorrow."

"We are not here on a school trip, we come for points. You just have to be realistic. But we are fully committed."

 

 

Pep claims Brugge tie bigger than Manchester Derby

Despite a Manchester Derby date with United on Saturday lunchtime, City boss Pep Guardiola insisted that their meeting with Brugge is "more important" even though they ran out comfortable 5-1 victors last time out:

"I think this game is much more important than the United game," claimed Guardiola.

"This gives us an incredible chance to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League. In the Premier League there are many games, in the Champions League just six, and there are not many left.

"Games three and four are the most important. I'm pretty sure they will adjust things to punish us. We have to adjust to get better. It will be a completely different game.

How they stand:

City currently sit second in Group A on six points just one behind PSG who travel to play the pointless Leipzig.

Meanwhile, Brugge could stake their claim for the knockout stages by shocking City here and moving on to seven points with a victory. 

Raring to go!

Likely XIs:

CITY: Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Gundogan, Rodri, Bernardo; Mahrez, Foden, Sterling

Club Burgge: Mignolet: Mata, Hendry, Nsoki, Sobol; Rits, Vormer; Lang, Vanaken, De Ketelaere; Dost

Club Brugge team news

Eder Balanta is suspended due to three bookings.

Striker Bas Dost could be in line to start after scoring a brace at the weekend.

City team news

With the Derby on Saturday, Pep Guardiola is likely to shuffle his pack.

Ferran Torres (foot) is the only absentee. 

Catch the highlights from the reverse fixture two weeks ago:

Kick-off

After a 5-1 win in Belgium, City welcome Club Brugge to Manchester. 

UK and Ireland : 8pm

Germany : 9pm

Spain: 9pm

France: 9pm

Russia and Eastern Europe: 10pm

USA : 3e/2c 

India: 12:30am

Australia: 5am

Welcome to VAVEL.com's LIVE coverage of the 2021/22 Champions League Group A tie between Manchester City and Club Brugge! My name is Niall Keenan and I'll be your host for this game. We will provide you with pre-game analysis, team updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.

This tie will be played at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 BST

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