Manchester City organized a comeback in the second half to achieve a 3-1 win against Club Brugge and book their place in the play-off round of the Champions League.
Despite a nervous first half in which the visitors took the lead, City reacted with a dominant exhibition in the second half to lift the deficit and to keep their European hopes alive.
The match began to fight City to claim her usual dominance. Brugge, unbeaten in the last four Champions League outings, settled down quickly and looked dangerous on the counter.
Early warning signs came when Christos Tzolis broke to the right and went to the box, although City managed to clarify.
Brugge used City’s lethargic game and fascinated the Etihad shortly before half -time. Tzolis found space on the flank and chose Raphael Onyedika, who came to Everson to give visitors a deserved lead.
Pep Guardiola was visibly frustrated in the touchline because he knew that his team needed at least two goals to keep their Champions League campaign alive.
Full time | In the play-offs 💪
🩵 3-1 ⚫️ #Mancity | #Ucl pic.twitter.com/bklzywa04k
– Manchester City (@mancity) January 29, 2025
In the second half, a rejuvenated city appeared from the changing room. Guardiola changed and used Savinho for Gundogan, and the Brazilian played a key role in shifting the swing. City began to press higher, to move the ball with greater intensity, and their efforts soon paid off.
In the 53rd minute, John Stones Mateo Kovacic, who drove forward and put a shot in the lower corner to compensate for.
The Etihad broke out and felt a comeback on the cards. City continued to push, although Brugge remained a threat during the break.
Tzolis wasted a golden opportunity for the visitors and pulled his efforts wide when he certainly scored a goal.
In the 62nd minute, Savinho was excellent with Josko Gvardiol, whose low cross was accidentally transformed into his own network by Brugges Joel Ordonez.
Brugge tried to react, but fought. Mignolet kept the visitors with crucial importance in the game to refuse Haaland before Seys concluded a after -authorization from the line.
However, the crucial moment came in the 77th minute, when Savinho lay on a pass from stones, broke into the box and broke past Mignolet to make it 3-1.
The victory ensured that City solved the competition in the competition and the facilitation of fans and Guardiola’s coaching staff.
