Match report as goals from Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus move Manchester City to within a point of qualifying for the Champions League last-16; John Stones' own goal had levelled contest
Thursday 4 November 2021 11:14, UK
Manchester City took a big step towards the last-16 of the Champions League by claiming a second successive victory over Belgian champions Club Brugge, winning 4-1 at the Etihad on Wednesday night.
Phil Foden's opener (15) was immediately cancelled out by John Stones' bizarre own goal (17), but Riyad Mahrez's header restored City's lead (54).
Substitute Raheem Sterling (72) and Gabriel Jesus in stoppage time secured the victory as City made it nine straight Champions League home wins.
Dominik Szoboszlai's 92nd-minute penalty earned RB Leipzig a dramatic 2-2 draw with Paris Saint-Germain meaning the French club dropped to second place, with their eight points one fewer than City. Brugge remain in third on four points from as many games.
Last season's runners-up need a single point from their remaining two group games to seal their progress in the competition, with City hosting PSG later this month in what is likely to decide who tops the group.
Pep Guardiola's men won 5-1 at the Jan Breydel Stadium to overtake Brugge in Group A a fortnight ago and a repeat success puts City in a strong position.
The hosts made a strong start and claimed the lead with 15 minutes gone but Brugge equalised almost immediately.
In a dramatic passage of play, Joao Cancelo first hit the post for City with a neat effort. City kept play alive and Cancelo provided the cross for Foden to tap in the opener.
Just two minutes and two seconds later, Brugge hit back. Hans Vanaken forced a fine save from Ederson but when the ball was crossed back in by Charles de Ketelaere, Bernardo Silva's attempted clearance struck Stones and rebounded into his own goal.
Brugge coach Philippe Clement, who had a spell in the Premier League with Coventry in the late 1990s when City were a third-tier side, insisted his side were not on a "school trip" having collected a healthy four points from their previous three group games - and 20-year-old De Ketelaere showed glimpses of his immense promise throughout the first half.
Clement was hoping to secure the club's first victory against English opponents in European competition since February 1995 having failed to win any of their previous 13 matches, and it was De Ketelaere whose turn and shot drew a smart save from Ederson shortly before the break.
City had won their previous eight Champions League home games and were unbeaten in their last 15 at the Etihad, but they looked short on energy and lacked penetration from the midway point of the first half - not something you could often level at Guardiola's side.
Indeed, City's lack of intensity in defence with Ruben Dias on the bench enabled the Belgians to carve out three shots on target compared to City's solitary attempt in spite of their 70 per cent possession.
Jack Grealish had Clinton Mata for company throughout the opening half but within two minutes of the second period, he drifted inside to cause damage as he was found centrally by Kyle Walker before he in turn slipped through Mahrez but Simon Mignolet rushed out to make a fine save with his feet.
But Mahrez was not to be denied as he would restore City's lead with his sixth Champions League goal against Brugge. De Ketelaere might have scored himself when he brilliantly brought down the ball inside the box but fired wide, and from the restart, it was Mahrez who raced clear down the right.
After his cross was recycled by Cancelo, the full-back provided his second assist of the night as his cross was headed home by the unmarked Mahrez - and this time, City never looked like relinquishing control.
Sterling was introduced for the frustrated Grealish, and it was Foden who was involved in City's third as he slipped through Ilkay Gundogan for a low cross that was converted by Sterling for only his second goal of the season inside the six-yard box.
Brugge were beaten, but Guardiola showed no signs of wanting to ease off as Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne were introduced, with the pair combining for the Brazilian to force a smart save from the overworked Mignolet.
Jesus would not be denied his 18th Champions League goal, however, as from another Cancelo pass his shot across goal found the bottom corner to put the seal on another European victory at the Etihad.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola told BT Sport: "It was fully deserved. In the first few minutes we scored a goal but after conceding we dropped a little bit. The second half was really good. A good game, good victory. We need one point to go through, three points to win the group."
On Leipzig helping them out with a late goal against PSG: "What we've done these years... when you're at Manchester City, you realise nobody will help you.
"All the titles I won before were because I was at big clubs. Absolutely, the pleasure is higher [in winning things with City]. The fight to win the hierarchy in the Premier League is good.
"Every game is tough. They changed the shape we played in Belgium. We played really good football. I liked how we played."
Sky Sports' Ben Grounds:
"Guardiola could be satisfied in the end, but it was hard work for a while against Club Brugge. By half-time, Manchester City had been frustrated and pegged back after Stones' calamitous own goal cancelled out Foden's opener.
"De Ketelaere is being watched by Europe's top clubs, and at the Etihad he passed his audition with flying colours, but in the end City's collective superiority told. It was a slow start but City's goalscoring machine then sprung into life with three unanswered goals meaning they pulled away in the end.
"Kyle Walker said in the build-up to this Group A game which places Guardiola's side within a point of qualification that City needed to their morale back up with the team "singing off the same hymn sheet" following a dip in form.
"The Carabao Cup penalty shootout exit and surprise home defeat to Crystal Palace were both banished ahead of the Manchester derby, and Guardiola will be pleased that his players came through unscathed heading into Saturday lunchtime showdown, live on Sky Sports.
"City weren't at their swashbuckling best, perhaps at 50 or 60 per cent, and while the defensive vulnerability that led to three Brugge shots on target in the opening period will give Manchester United plenty of confidence, this was without Ruben Dias who will return at the weekend.
"It was a much more rounded performance after the break, and City have now scored 15 goals after four Champions League matches this season, the most by an English side at this stage of a campaign since Arsenal scored 15 in four games in 2010/11. They can head to Old Trafford having rediscovered their mojo."
Foden scored his seventh Champions League goal for Manchester City - only Wayne Rooney (nine) has scored more goals aged 21 or younger among English players than Foden's tally of seven.
Foden told BT Sport: "I thought we were sloppy in the first half and let them get 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. We looked a bit heavy. The manager wasn't happy [at half-time]. You have to take his advice. We changed a couple of things and were better in possession and hurt them a lot more.
"Once we get the rhythm, we play our lovely football. I'm delighted with the second half. I'm really happy for them [Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling]. It's important for attacking players to score.
"I'm scoring a lot of goals. I'm just enjoying it. It was a really important win today and puts us in a good position."
Manchester City travel to Old Trafford on Saturday to face their fierce rivals Manchester United, live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 11.30pm; kick-off is at 12.30pm.
Guardiola's side return to Champions League action on Wednesday November 24 when they host Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad; kick-off 8pm.
