
Man City Survive Scare to Overcome Club Brugge in Champions League Thriller
What a night of football at the Etihad! Manchester City had fans on the edge of their seats as they narrowly avoided a Champions League disaster, coming from behind to beat Club Brugge 3-1 and secure their place in the playoffs. It was a game filled with drama, tension, and a second-half revival that saved Pep Guardiola’s men from what could have been an embarrassing early exit.
City started the match sluggishly, almost sleepwalking through the first half. They struggled to create chances and looked surprisingly vulnerable against a determined Brugge side. The Belgian visitors, who hadn't lost a game since October, sensed an opportunity and capitalized on City’s lack of urgency. Right before halftime, Raphael Onyedika stunned the Etihad by firing Brugge into the lead after a well-executed counterattack. City’s defense was caught napping, and suddenly, they found themselves staring at a humiliating exit.
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The atmosphere inside the stadium was tense. The usually loud and confident City crowd had gone silent, while the traveling Brugge fans made themselves heard. Guardiola’s frustration was visible—he was animated on the touchline, demanding more from his players. Something had to change.
And it did. Whatever was said in the dressing room at halftime worked like magic. City came out with renewed energy, pressing higher and moving the ball with more urgency. Mateo Kovacic led the charge, taking matters into his own hands. Picking up the ball near midfield, he drove forward unchallenged before slotting a precise shot into the bottom corner to bring City level.
That goal shifted the momentum completely. City began to dominate, and it wasn’t long before they took the lead—though it came with a bit of luck. Josko Gvardiol sent in a dangerous low cross, and Brugge’s Joel Ordóñez, under pressure, turned the ball into his own net. Suddenly, City were ahead, and relief swept through the stadium.
But the night wasn’t over yet. Brugge continued to threaten on the counter, making Guardiola’s men work hard to protect their lead. Then, in the 77th minute, the moment of reassurance arrived. A brilliant long ball from John Stones found Savinho, who controlled it perfectly before firing past Simon Mignolet at the near post. That was it—game over. City had survived the scare and secured their place in the next round.
It wasn’t pretty, and it certainly wasn’t the dominant performance City fans are used to, but in knockout football, all that matters is getting the job done. Guardiola will know his side needs to improve if they are to reclaim their European crown, but for now, they can breathe a sigh of relief. City live to fight another day in the Champions League.
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