As it happened: Manchester City 4-1 Club Brugge in UEFA Champions League

A fab four! 🔥#ManCity pic.twitter.com/aNeufzktQM

— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 3, 2021

"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."

 

"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."

The boys gave it all. #MCICLU #UCL pic.twitter.com/XTSPbiA7GS

— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) November 3, 2021

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

City -9 

PSG -8 

Brugge - 4

Leipzig - 1

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

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

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

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

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

Brugge switch sees De Ketelaere replaced by Kamal Sowah.

The striker had a good game for the visitors.

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

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

Zinchenko and Palmer in for Walker and Foden

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

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

5 changes incoming

3 Brugge

2 City

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

Kevin De Bruyne comes on for Bernardo Silva 

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!

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

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.

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

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

Few stops in play having helped the tempo here. 

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

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

Stones heads downwards from close range but Mignolet collects.

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

Mahrez slipped in by Grealish but Mignolet smothers the shot.

⏸ HALF-TIME: @RBLeipzig_EN 1-2 @PSG_English! @GWijnaldum's double puts us ahead at the break 💪#UCL | #RBLPSG pic.twitter.com/XddAcYr8Lb

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 3, 2021

⏸ HALF-TIME: @RBLeipzig_EN 1-2 @PSG_English! @GWijnaldum's double puts us ahead at the break 💪#UCL | #RBLPSG pic.twitter.com/XddAcYr8Lb

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 3, 2021

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

City have to be careful. 

Dominating the ball but Brugge look dangerous.

Bizarre own goal grants Brugge an equaliser.

Silva onto Stones, he knows nothing about it.

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

1-0 City.

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

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

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

 

No way through yet.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

📊| @ManCity Stats:#ManCity have won 80 per cent of their home games in the #UCL since Pep Guardiola took charge of the club (20/25 - D2 L3).#MCICLU | #MCFC pic.twitter.com/n3vCtaNQXn

— City Chief (@City_Chief) November 3, 2021

"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."

Here we go! 🙌#ManCity pic.twitter.com/lA8hpXLVgg

— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 3, 2021

Team news! 💪🏼
Come on Brugesss! 🔵⚫ #MCICLU #UCL pic.twitter.com/lcuRNB2Sjh

— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) November 3, 2021

Your City XI to battle Brugge! 🔵

XI | Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodrigo, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Mahrez, Foden, Grealish

SUBS | Steffen, Carson, Dias, Ake, Sterling, Jesus, Zinchenko, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Palmer#ManCity pic.twitter.com/s6chMiIbVd

— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 3, 2021

Where'll you be following us from? 🌎💙#ManCity pic.twitter.com/1KUFBRuPGc

— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 3, 2021

Our youngsters just wrote history! 3-5 in Manchester! So proud of you, boys! 🤩#UYL pic.twitter.com/jSUAX0w4d1

— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) November 3, 2021

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 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."

 

 

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.

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. 

#UCL READY! 💪#ManCity pic.twitter.com/oGrQ1RTSlP

— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 3, 2021

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

Eder Balanta is suspended due to three bookings.

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

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

Ferran Torres (foot) is the only absentee. 

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

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