The Etihad set the stage for the closing match day of the UCL League Phase, where only a home win could do for the hosts. Things looked dire for City as they headed for the coffee 0-1 down through Onyedika, but that much needed win finally did come about in a more eventful second half, with goals courtesy of Kovačić, Ordóñez (og) and finally Savinho. A 3-1 defeat for Club, but 11 points and a better goal averag help the Belgian outfit to the UEFA Champions League play-offs!
The last episode of Club's unbeaten run was a home draw against KV Kortrijk, and as was to be expected, coach Hayen lined up his strongest Starting XI, with Ordóñez and De Cuyper back on their regular position, and Vanaken back from injury to set out the lines. Up front, Talbi and Jutglà took care of the early press and the chances on the break. A Belgian legend in the star-studded home team as De Bruyne had another start.
Club's tactics were clear: stick to that fine organisation that helped the team so well in earlier UCL encounters and try to grab those chances on the break. Only just off, Jutglà finely headed it through to Tzolis, with the space to head straight for goal. The Greek found Talbi in the middle, but Gvardiol was lined up well to thwart that first fine effort. Just a few minutes later, Talbi pushed on through the wing, but his deflected cross found the eager hands of Ederson. A first home threat came through Foden, whose shot from an acute angle ended up wide of target. A bit later Gündoğan tucked it in from close range, but the German started from an off-side position.
Halfway through the first half, two more chances followed, as Silva first fired wide, and De Bruyne also proved unable to get some direction to his shot. Club was not taken aback, and 35 minutes in, De Cuyper found Tzolis in the centre after some fine combination play, but the Greek's placed ball met with Akanji. Club left its organisation a couple times more, with Jashari trying from afar, but thé moment was still to come. Jutglà easily going past Nunes and heading for goal on the left hand side, picking out Onyedika in front of goal, who did not hesitate and put Club in the lead (0-1). What a way to head for the dressing rooms.
With Savinho on for Gündoğan , the Citizens saw no other way than to go full attack, which resulted in a massive chance just minutes into the second half, but Stones free header went just wide of target. After Foden first misaimed and saw it go wide, Man City kept piling on the pressure, and a bit later Kovačić saw his moment come, pushing through the middle unchallenged, and neatly putting it outside the reach of Mignolet in goal (1-1). Hardly taken aback, Club reacted immediately as Tzolis headed for Ederson, but slid, still able to get the ball to Vanaken in his fall, but the captain was outsmarted by the Citizens goalie. A bit later, Club's Greek winger had another great chance, trying a shot from just outside the box, but it trickled just past the post. The game now went both ways, with chances for De Bruyne and again Tzolis, both shots going just past target. Club started struggling with the City push, and the 2-1 finally followed: Gvardiol neatly pushed through by Savinho, and the Croat's hard cross made its way to the back of the nets through an unfortunate touch by Ordóñez.
Still Club kept proving why it had its spot in this UCL, with another chance by Talbi, going past Gvardiol to try his luck from the right, but Ederson was unsettled and slammed it into corner kick. City now tried to put the result beyond doubt, and it seemed to come through Haaland, eye to eye with Mignolet, but Club's goalie stayed focus and was also saved by Mechele clearing Savinho's rebound effort from the goal line. The Brazilian winger proved instrumental to City's rise from the flames, however; a long ball by Stones went over Club's defense, neatly chested by the Brazilian to then slam it home (3-1).
3-1 was a score both teams could live with, and the game perfectly reflected that sentiment. One more chance followed for Foden, but Mignolet stretched well to deny his shot from just outside the box. A defeat for Club, but who cares: we are in the UEFA Champions League play-offs!
UEFA Champions League – Match Day 8
Audience: 53,400 – Etihad Stadium
Ref: Mr. José María Sánchez (ESP)
Manchester City: Ederson – Matheus Nunes, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Joško Gvardiol - İlkay Gündoğan (46’ Savinho), Mateo Kovačić, Kevin De Bruyne (81’ Rico Lewis)– Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden.
Bench: Stefan Ortega, Scott Carson, Jack Grealish, Savinho, Jacob Wright, Max Alleyne, Nico O’Reilly, Rico Lewis, James McAtee.
Coach: Josep Guardiola.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Joaquin Seys, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper – Raphael Onyedika, Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken – Chemsdine Talbi (70’ Michał Skóraś), Ferran Jutglà (70’ Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis (70’ Hugo Vetlesen).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Dani van den Heuvel, Zaid Romero, Jorne Spileers, Kyriani Sabbe, Hugo Siquet, Hugo Vetlesen, Casper Nielsen, Michał Skóraś, Gustaf Nilsson, Romeo Vermant.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow: none
Red: none
Goals: 45’ Onyedika (0-1), 53’ Kovačić (1-1), 62’ Ordóñez (owngoal) (2-1), 77’ Savinho (3-1)