Evening Standard
·29 Januari 2025
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Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·29 Januari 2025
City came through must-win final match to qualify for knockout play-off round
Pep Guardiola’s side went into the final round of fixtures in the league phase sitting 25th in the table and knowing anything but a victory over Club Brugge would have meant an early exit.
But City delivered under pressure, beating Club Brugge 3-1, and it ensures they are still in the hunt for European glory as they look to turn their season around.
It was City’s first Champions League win since October, after a run of results that Guardiola’s side fall off the pace in the Premier League and leave themselves with significant work to do in Europe.
City were thrashed by Sporting, collapsed from three goals up to draw with Feyenoord, and then were comfortably beaten by Juventus before Christmas.
Last week’s defeat to PSG left City on the brink of an embarrassing early exit, but victory on Wednesday night against Club Brugge saved their blushes.
Man City will be in the knockout play-off round draw, which takes place on Friday January 31, 2025.
However, they are guaranteed to be handed a tough assignment, as a result of finishing 22nd in the league phase.
City will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich who finished 11th and 12th respectively.
Real Madrid
Bayern Munich