Man City 3-1 Club Brugge: Pep Guardiola's side come from behind to qualify for Champions League play-off | OneFootball

City survive major scare to keep Champions League hopes alive

Manchester City have qualified for the Champions League play-off round after coming from behind to beat Club Brugge.

Facing elimination from European competition altogether, City knew nothing less than victory would be enough and for 52 minutes they were on the brink before Pep Guardiola intervened with a half-time substitution.

Supporters had gathered in the area for a pre-match entertainment show which included on-stage interviews with January signings Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov. However, the event was suspended as flames took hold of the stand and stewards moved fans away before fire services arrived on the scene.

The area was quickly evacuated by stewards and security staff and a fire engine was on the scene within minutes and the fire was soon brought under control.

Fortunately, there was no delay to kick-off but the hosts made a slow start. Aside from Ilkay Gundogan seeing a goal disallowed, correctly, for offside, City failed to serious test Simon Mignolet in the Club Brugge net.

In fact, the visitors carried the greater threat in the first-half and it was no surprise that they took the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Winning the ball on the edge of their own area, the ball was swept out to Ferran Jutgla who easily skipped past Matheus Nunes before his deflected cross fell kindly for Raphael Onyedika whose effort whistled past Ederson and into the back of the net.

That goal left City needing at least two goals without reply in the second half. Guardiola made a change, Savinho replaced Gundogan, signalling their intent and it almost paid off immediately but John Stones headed wide from close range after being picked out by Kevin De Bruyne.

The visitors didn’t heed the warning as moments later Mateo Kovacic was allowed to charge through the middle unmarked and he slotted the ball past Mignolet for the equaliser.

Just after the hour mark the comeback was complete as Joel Ordonez could only turn the ball into his own net when attempting to cut out Josko Gvardiol’s teasing cross.

From there, City’s task was to hold on from a leading position which something they have struggled with on many occasions this season. However, Savinho made the game safe in the 77th minute with his first ever Champions League goal.

Man City, who face Arsenal in the Premier League at the weekend, turn their attentions to Friday when they will discover their fate in the Champions League play-off draw.