Five Things Learned: Manchester City 3-1 Club Brugge (UEFA Champions League) | OneFootball

Manchester City clawed their way into the UEFA Champions League play-offs for a place in the last-16 with a 3-1 win over Club Brugge in the final fixture of the competition’s league phase.

A crushing 4-2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain forced the Premier League champions into a must-win clash against the Belgian side, who caused plenty of trouble for City before Raphael Onyedika earned them the lead in the closing moments of the first-half.

After the half-time break, the Sky Blues turned things around, scoring an equaliser through Mateo Kovacic’s sumptuous strike, before Josko Gvardiol forced an own goal, and Savinho netted a third to help Manchester City win the game.

The Sky Blues started on the back foot, overwhelmed by waves of attacks as Nicky Hayen’s side immediately tested City from the first whistle. The hosts were susceptible to collapsing, especially when pushed to defend deep.

Club Brugge’s relentless efforts helped them find an opening during a counter-attack, which saw Ferran Jutglà burst forward on the left and with a cutback, he moved the ball into the path of Onyedika who drilled it into the near post.

Pep Guardiola – who appeared more animated than normal on the touchline throughout the first-half – replaced Gundogan with Savinho at half-time and John Stones had a chance to equalise not too long after but missed, only for Kovacic to do the job moments later.

The Croatian received the ball in his own half, found acres of space to run in to, strolling past the opposite team’s entire midfield to take a shot from the edge of the box and past a despairing Simon Mignolet.

The hosts found a second through Josko Gvardiol, whose low-cross deflected off Joel Ordóñez and deceived the Club Brugge goalkeeper as it spun into the back of the net. Mignolet managed to keep Erling Haaland from scoring but could not stop Savinho.

John Stones found the Brazilian with a sublime ball over the top, and the latter guided it past the Brugge stopper to give his side a two-goal cushion. City managed to hold possession for another 15 minutes and walked away with a win that saved them from humiliation.

City will now face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the next round of the UEFA Champions League to fight for a spot in the Round of 16. But before that, we look at the Five Things We Learned from a 3-1 win over Club Brugge on the final night of the league phase!

Savinho substitution saves the day

Savinho’s introduction at half-time was a complete game-changer for Manchester City, who were struggling to break down the Belgian side’s defence. Despite numerous side passes to stretch the backline, the Blues were comfortably held on the edge of the box.

Savinho breathed new fire into the offensive line with runs on the left, unfortunately failing to transpire when Phil Foden was slotted into the same role. Moreover, it gave Kevin De Bruyne – who had a wasteful game by his standards – another option to release passes through midfield.

Josko Gvardiol and Savinho combined well to make effective runs in De Bruyne’s direction, gradually making Manchester City more dangerous during the transition, while the Brazilian displayed goal-scoring prowess in driving home a weak-foot strike from a John Stones assist.

This is the only second goal for the winger in a Manchester City shirt and his first at the Etihad Stadium and in the UEFA Champions League. His performance, showcasing an ability to break down a disciplined defence, makes him a compelling choice for the starting line-up in future.

Josko Gvardiol rescues City from an unimaginable offence

Gvardiol had a standout performance against Chelsea with crafty runs inside the opponents’ half and produced similar plays in the Champions League clash against Club Brugge, making it difficult for defenders to contain him during Manchester City’s offensive movements.

This helped the Blues move further up the pitch and assert pressure while battling the lack of creativity in the midfield.  Gvardiol did not have much help from Phil Foden while the latter was on the left-wing. But that changed upon Savinho’s arrival in the second-half.

The pair would work together to move the ball to the edge of the box, and Gvardiol was particularly impressive while overlapping Kevin De Bruyne in a link-up that could be deadly if the Croatian starts getting into right areas in time to collect the ball from through passes.

He notably forced the second goal for City before dropping back into the defence to help hold the lead. Gvardiol has committed only a handful of errors that have led directly to goals this season, having addressed shortcomings and offering invaluable contribution at both ends.

John Stones brings relief

City fans were thrilled to see John Stones’ name back in the Starting XI after the England international marked his return from injury against Chelsea. The centre-back delivered an assured performance, except for missing a clear chance at scoring the equaliser.

Stones made up for it by repeatedly stepping into midfield as before the injury, with his standout moment seeing the defender find Savinho with a pinpoint, overhead pass into the box – reminiscent of Rodri’s long balls to carry out a switch of play.

Additionally, Stones’ presence brought stability, allowing Gvardiol to move forward without hesitation. For all his merit, Matheus Nunes plays an entirely different profile at right-back and requires an experienced, vocal leader to help direct positioning, especially in transition.

John Stones’ return to Manchester City action could be crucial in restoring the defensive unit’s confidence, which they desperately need ahead of the domestic and European fixtures in February.

Pep Guardiola’s reluctance and half-time changes

Guardiola’s adjustments made instant impact after half-time, scripting a turnaround. However, things could have gone differently. The Catalan’s abandonment of all attempts to play through the middle was puzzling, having worked efficiently against a similarly rigid Chelsea defence.

A second look would reveal all three of City’s goals came through the centre. An equaliser was a reward for a courageous run through space in the middle. Mateo Kovacic’s run was brilliant, but he pursued the opportunity requiring greater attention. Similarly, when moving towards centre, Gvardiol and Stones found respective space for the second and third goals.

On the contrary, City’s offence was reserved for the flanks during the first-half. Almost all their plays involved sideways passes to set up a cross that would either hit the first man or force a backward pass, only to lose possession and risk a counter-attack through the middle.

City’s predictable attack resulted in them going the entire half without registering a shot on target. Had Club Brugge capitalised on their chances early on, the Sky Blues would have been punished for the lack of action in their midfield.

Real Madrid or Bayern Munich await

City may have scrapped their way to the Champions League play-offs, but the European competition will not be as forgiving in the next stage. The Premier League side will face the music for finishing 22nd in the table, setting up a potential clash with Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.

One of them is the most successful club in Champions League history, boasting a storied rivalry with the Blues in the competition, having met in the elimination round three years in a row.

The other is at the top of its domestic league over in Germany, and led by former Manchester City captain and legendary club figure, Vincent Kompany.

With the Premier League an unlikely goal this season, Manchester City has a lot on the line after narrowly escaping an early exit from the Champions League. Coming back from behind to pick up a win was crucial for the players, who saw bigger leads collapse not long ago.

The latest victory could objectively help add to Manchester City’s dwindling confidence. After all, they have less than three weeks to realise that, considering their potential opponents in the next round, they will need to produce something special to progress