At half-time Manchester City’s Champions League hopes were in flames. A bit like the merchandising stand that went up in smoke outside the Etihad Stadium prior to kick-off with smoke billowing over the stadium. Was that a portent?
The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service released a statement saying they were “dampening down any hotspots and making the area safe”.
It could have summed up this tense, turbulent Champions League group game in which City came from behind as the fire raged on the pitch to beat Club Brugge and made it into the play-offs, with two more games, a knock-out tie, just to hopefully reach the last 16. They only did it on goal difference. And they will have a tough opponent.
There were plenty of “hotspots” for City to contend with. And they had a lot of “dampening down” to do as Pep Guardiola became increasingly agitated in the technical area and the reality of failing to get through a group – albeit in this new enlarged format for the first time in 12 years stared down at them.
They were indebted to two goalkeeping errors and an own goal to turn it around. Given the number of self-inflicted defensive mistakes City have endured, Guardiola will feel they were due some fortune.
He should also be congratulated on a substitution, bringing on Savinho who changed the game, transforming City’s laboured attack and capping it with a goal to end any doubt. The winger, also, was on fire.
There could be no doubt as to the stakes. It was evident in Guardiola’s pained reaction as Matheus Nunes missed a header and suddenly Brugge broke. It took a timely block from Josko Gvardiol to prevent Chemsdine Taibi from opening the scoring and, all the while, Guardiola was on the touchline with his head in his hands fearing the worst. By half-time it was happening.
And so it had come to this. City were scrabbling around trying to squeeze into a berth for the play-offs to reach a stage of this competition – the last 16 – that they had taken as a given in previous campaigns.
To do so they had to beat a team they would, also in previous campaigns, have swatted aside but who arrived on a 20-game unbeaten run, four of those in the Champions League including having defeated Aston Villa and knowing they had the pace and purpose on the break to trouble a traumatised, fragile City.
Make no mistake this was far more important to City than Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Arsenal and, again, that was never the case in the past couple of seasons.
Their task was made all the tougher as Brugge banked up with five at the back and the other five outfield players strung across the midfield like a protective layer. City’s task was to penetrate this. It was a familiar one but, given their frailties, given what the ramifications of not winning meant, the jeopardy was even greater.
Attack against defence? You bet and with Guardiola eager to maintain the tempo. So eager that he ran to retrieve the ball when it went out of play only to accidentally hit the Brugge coach Nicky Hayen on the back. The two smiled and embraced.
On the pitch Phil Foden flashed a shot wide, Kevin De Bruyne sent another over and Erling Haaland tried to find a team-mate with a header when, maybe, he should have gone for goal. But it was a struggle.
“Come on City,” rang around the Etihad. It was as much in anxiety as encouragement and that latter emotion rose as Brugge threatened. They were dangerous, really dangerous and went close as Ferran Jutgla’s shot struck Manuel Akanji on the shoulder. It looked like it would have beat the dive of Ederson. Nerves were fraying. They were straining. And then then snapped as, finally, Brugge scored.
It came from yet another counter-attack with Ilkay Gundogan’s effort charged down and suddenly Brugge were onto them as Jutgla easily skipped past Nunes down the left and crossed with Christos Tzolis smartly stepping over the ball. There was Raphael Onyedika to beat Ederson with a crisp low shot and Guardiola slumped in his seat, blowing his cheeks out, stunned. City had six players back to Brugge’s four but could not cope.
Guardiola’s agony was again evident early in the second-half as John Stones was picked out by De Bruyne inside the six-yard area. He had to score. Instead his header bounced a foot wide and the manager’s reaction said it all.
But there was far more urgency and, with it, there was a goal as Mateo Kovacic was allowed to turn inside the Brugge half and ran on and on. For a defence that had been so solid, the Belgians dissolved and Kovacic easily beat 36-year-old goalkeeper Simon Mignolet who barely reacted with Guardiola shaking his fists in celebration.
Soon he was shaking his arm in the air, claiming a handball, as Brugge went close. It earned him a caution from the Spanish referee. Twice Ederson saved City before the impressive Tzolis went frighteningly close from 20 yards.
It was open. It was almost ragged and it was City who struck again as Bernardo Silva neatly found Gvardiol whose cut-back was intercepted by Joel Ordóñez – only for the defender to slide the ball into the net.
Haaland should have made sure, after creating a chance, only for Mignolet to repel with Savinho’s follow-up cleared off the line by Brandon Mechele. The Brazilian did get his goal, and with it made City’s passage secure, as he chested down Stones’ raking crossfield pass and beat Mignolet at his near post. Again it was poor from the former Liverpool goalkeeper. And, with that, the risk had gone and the relief finally arrived.
10:46 PM GMT
Pep Guardiola’s reaction
They are a really good team. In the second half [exhales] we let our soul and our hearts free. Savinho was incredible, as he has been all season, and gave us a different rhythm.
[On his half-time team talk] I told them, “It’s over. We are out. We have 45 minutes.” I know that we are able to score for our people and come back. The first half was so academic; we didn’t have the spark. But in the second half, even before Kova’s goal, we made some chances. It was a fantastic goal - when he breaks the lines in that way it is something special.
Real Madrid or Bayern Munich will be really tough. We have two weeks so we’ll have our new signings and hopefully some other players back. It’s important because we’ve suffered all season [with injuries].
There is a sense of relief to qualify. There’s a long, long season ahead but step by step we are getting there.
10:26 PM GMT
35 not out
35 - Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 35 UEFA Champions League home games (W30 D5), with only Bayern Munich (43 – 1969-1991) and Barcelona (38 - 2013-2020) recording longer streaks without a home defeat in the European Cup. Resilience. pic.twitter.com/kbzPZ7y35o
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 29, 2025
10:15 PM GMT
The gamechanger
10:02 PM GMT
Man City to play either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich
Dinamo Zagreb have beaten AC Milan, which means City will play either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the playoff knockout round. As phrases go, “Tie of the round” feels thoroughly inadequate. The winner of that game will then play either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
Club Brugge have also qualified and will play either Atalanta or Dortmund. The draw takes place on Friday.
09:59 PM GMT
Full time: Barcelona 2 Atalanta 2
It’s all on Zagreb v Milan now.
09:54 PM GMT
City on course to face Bayern or Real Madrid
A winning goal for Barcelona at home to Atalanta, or an equaliser for 10-man Milan in Zagreb, would change things. Both matches are still going on.
09:53 PM GMT
Mateo Kovacic’s reaction
We’re happy that we’re through – it was a tough group stage. Whoever we play we’ll be difficult so it doesn’t matter. The first half was not bad and in the end we had a really good game.
It was a good half-time teamtalk for sure because we came out very well. We knew we had to step up and we showed great character and desire. There was an amazing atmosphere today.
09:50 PM GMT
FT: Man City 3 Club Brugge 1
Phil Foden’s shot is saved by Simon Mignolet, the last action of a dramatic night at the Etihad. Both teams are going through to the playoffs.
TNT Sports are saying that Brugge didn’t touch the ball for the last 10 minutes of the game, which is astonishing if true.
City were in big trouble at half-time, when they trailed 1-0, but the introduction of Savinho – and City’s natural desperation to survive – turned the game on its head.
09:47 PM GMT
90 min: Man City 3 Club Brugge 1
One minute of added time. City are still on course to face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. That would be an absolute humdinger.
09:44 PM GMT
87 min: Man City 3 Club Brugge 1
City are passing the clock down. Brugge are also going through, with Stuttgart losing 4-1 at home to PSG. A very stressful night for City is ending with some nice, easy possession football.
09:42 PM GMT
85 min: Man City 3 Club Brugge 1
This game is over and both teams know it. As things stand, and this will probably change in the next 10 minutes, City will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the playoff. My word.
09:39 PM GMT
82 min: Man City 3 Club Brugge 1
Pep Guardiola is sometimes criticised for not utilising his bench but his half-time substitution has made the difference here. Savinho has been lively from the first few minutes of the second half when he won corners. His goal to make it 3-1 was what City have been missing, with a touch past his marker and a finish into the near post. Simon Mignolet will be disappointed with Kovacic’s goal and this one flying past him.
The Brazilian gets a slap on the backside in encouragement from Guardiola when he dashes past the technical area. He has been one of City’s matchwinners.
09:38 PM GMT
81 min: Man City 3 Club Brugge 1
City substitution Rico Lewis replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
09:38 PM GMT
80 min: Man City 3 Club Brugge 1
This is reminiscent of the famous Liverpool win over Olympiakos in 2004, when they came from 1-0 down at half-time to win 3-1 and reach the knockout stages. On that occasion Liverpool needed all three goals rather than two, with Steven Gerrard smashing them into the last 16, but the turnaround has had a similar feel. And Liverpool went on to win the competition that year.
09:35 PM GMT
Goal!
77 min: Man City 3 Club Brugge 1 (Savinho) Savinho changed the game and now he has sealed it! John Stones, 35 yards from goal, pinged a beautiful crossfield pass towards Savinho, who was roaring into the area from the left. He controlled it superbly on the chest and rattled a first-time shot through Mignolet with his right foot. Outstanding stuff – and now, finally, Pep Guardiola celebrates with a smile rather than a scowl.
09:34 PM GMT
76 min: Man City 2 Club Brugge 1
Brugge are yet to threaten since the triple change in attack, and for now – for now – City have the game under control.
09:31 PM GMT
73 min: Man City 2 Club Brugge 1
Off the line! A double chance for City to seal it. Haaland bullies Jashari off the ball on the edge of the area, moves through on goal and has a shot very well saved by Mignolet. The ball rebounds to Savinho, whose instant shot is brilliantly cleared off the line by Michele.
09:28 PM GMT
71 min: Man City 2 Club Brugge 1
Kovacic, whose equaliser was such a key moment, almost gets another with a belting long-range drive that takes a slight deflection and ripples the roof of the net.
09:27 PM GMT
70 min: Man City 2 Club Brugge 1
Triple substitution for Brugge They’re changing the entire front line. Romeo Vermant, Hugo Vetlesen and Michal Skoras replace Christos Tzolis, Chemsdine Talbi and Ferran Jutgla.
That’s a bit of a surprise, particularly the decision to take off the outstanding Tzolis.
09:26 PM GMT
69 min: Man City 2 Club Brugge 1
This isn’t over. Talbi controls a long crossfield pass, moves outside Gvardiol and smashes a shot from a tight angle. Ederson gets down to push it round the post, a comfortable save but a reminder of Brugge’s threat.
09:23 PM GMT
66 min: Man City 2 Club Brugge 1
Josko Gvardiol talking yesterday: “My job is to protect the goal and if I find myself in front of the opposite goal I am going to do everything to score a goal.” Or provide an assist by forcing an own goal. Excellent attacking from the Croatian.
This is also an excellent tie, played like a cup final. Brugge have been very dangerous on the counter-attack and you would expect them to have another chance or two.
09:21 PM GMT
64 min: Man City 2 Club Brugge 1
As things stand both City (22nd) and Brugge (23rd) are going through. I don’t think we’ve seen the last goal of the night somehow.
09:19 PM GMT
Goal!
62 min: Man City 2 Club Brugge 1 (Ordonez og) City are in front! Savinho pokes a superb pass to the underlapping Gvardiol, who hammers a cross that is turned into his own net by Ordonez. He had to play the ball with Haaland waiting behind him.
Guardiola celebrates by booting a drinks cart. He has rarely, if ever, been as animated as this. He looks almost tearful.
09:17 PM GMT
60 min: Man City 1 Club Brugge 1
Chance for City A defensive header drops towards De Bruyne, 12 yards out. He hits a left-foot volley across goal that bounces a few yards wide of the far post. Even on his weaker foot, that was a decent chance.
09:16 PM GMT
59 min: Man City 1 Club Brugge 1
Just wide from Tzolis! De Bruyne’s shot is pushed away by Mignolet and Brugge break four on three. Tzolis shuffles the ball onto his left foot, 20 yards out, and rifles just wide. He should probably have tried to find a teammate but you can understand why he went for goal himself; he’s been Brugge’s best attacker by far.
09:13 PM GMT
56 min: Man City 1 Club Brugge 1
Chance for Brugge Tzolis, who has been brilliant on the left wing, crashes a shot that is beaten away by Ederson. The ball rebounds towards Tzolis, who is crucially tackled by Nunes. It was very risky - a split-second later and it would have been a penalty - but he got the ball and the danger was over. For now.
09:12 PM GMT
55 min: Man City 1 Club Brugge 1
It’s all happening! Ederson makes a desperate save, I think from Jutgla, and then the flag goes up. Pep Guardiola goes ballistic and is booked - but replays suggest that Tzolis wasn’t offside in the build up and therefore any goal would have counted. This is pulsating stuff.
09:11 PM GMT
Goal!
53 min: Man City 1 Club Brugge 1 (Kovacic) Mateo Kovacic gives Manchester City the kiss of life! He received the ball on the halfway line, turned and ran straight at the heart of the Brugge defence. Nobody challenged him – Ordonez was distracted by an off-the-ball run – and Kovacic reached the D before sliding a low shot past the diving Mignolet and into the corner.
09:07 PM GMT
51 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 1
City are playing with greater urgency v they have no choice – and Savinho looks sharp on the left. Brugge are defending closer to the seat of their pants.
09:04 PM GMT
47 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 1
What a chance for Stones! Savinho wins two corners in the first 100 seconds of the half. The second is taken short to De Bruyne, whose classic inswinging cross is headed back across goal and just wide by John Stones. He was unmarked, eight yards out, and would probably have scored nine times out of 10.
09:03 PM GMT
47 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 1
It had to be Savinho on at half-time. He will inject pace into the City attack, which they were lacking in the first half. Ilkay Gundogan makes way for a massive 45 minutes for City just to reach the play-offs to reach the knockouts.
09:02 PM GMT
46 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 1
Pep Guardiola has made a half-time substitution: Savinho for Ilkay Gundogan. Phil Foden moves to the right wing and Bernardo Silva goes into midfield.
08:51 PM GMT
Onyedika shows why Europe’s giants want him
It was another moment when Pep was kicking the air in the frustration while Brugge broke. Matheus Nunes was sold a dummy by Ferran Jutgla and he was away. Raphael Onyedika showed why he has been coveted by the big clubs in Europe with that finish.
You can read more about Onyedika in Mike’s excellent profile.
08:48 PM GMT
HT: Man City 0 Club Brugge 1
Pep Guardiola walks straight down the tunnel, his head a whirlpool of confusion. Manchester City need two goals - at least - to stay in the Champions League. In the first half they didn’t manage a single shot on target. This is quite extraordinary.
08:45 PM GMT
Goal!
45 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 1 (Onyedika) Manchester City are officially in all sorts! Gundogan’s shot on the turn was well blocked and Brugge surged away on the break. Jutgla made a fool of Nunes on the left, beating him far too easily, and cut the ball back towards Onyedika on the far side. He ran onto the ball just inside the area and slammed it into the net. The diving Ederson got a touch but was beaten for pace.
08:41 PM GMT
41 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Another warning for City as Jashari moves forward untracked and cracks a low drive from 25 yards with his left foot. Ederson plunges to his right to make a comfortable save.
08:39 PM GMT
38 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Ederson has to charge a long way out of his area to beat Tzolis to a long ball and head it out of play. This really is not going to plan for City; for all their possession, Brugge have come closer to scoring.
08:37 PM GMT
36 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
City are still in 26th place. And it almost gets worse when, after a good Brugge break, Tzolis’s shot from the edge of the area is well blocked by Akanji. That looked on target.
08:34 PM GMT
33 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
The atmosphere is surprisingly flat given what’s at stake. City are still in complete control of the game in terms of possession, but they still haven’t tested Simon Mignolet.
08:30 PM GMT
29 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
De Bruyne stabs a dangerous return pass to Nunes in the area, but Tzolis tracks him all the way and is eventually fouled by Nunes. That’s terrific defending.
08:29 PM GMT
28 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Still no shots on target at either end. City play the long game better than any team in world football, but even they will start to feel the pressure if it’s 0-0 after an hour.
08:26 PM GMT
26 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Under normal circumstances you would say City are firmly on top, with the play mostly in Club Brugges’ territory. But this season is far from normal and while it is 0-0 there is still a sense of nervousness. The Belgians are getting in good positions but cannot execute a final pass.
Pep Guardiola is keen to retrieve the ball when City have a throw. He hurls it straight at Brugge manager Nicky Hayen instead of one of his own players. You would think that if that happened against Arsenal or Liverpool that it might kick off – but the two managers were all smiles and hugs.
08:25 PM GMT
25 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Haaland cushions a first-time pass to De Bruyne, who slashes a left-foot shot from the edge of the area that goes well wide of the near post.
08:24 PM GMT
24 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Bernardo Silva’s shot spins behind off Haaland. The referee originally gives a corner but then awards a goalkick. Was he told by the VAR team?
08:23 PM GMT
23 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
City have dropped to 26th in the as-it-stands table. You can follow the many, many changes to the league table by clicking the link at the top of our Key Moments.
08:21 PM GMT
20 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Gundogan curls a nice deep cross towards Haaland, who decides the angle is too tight and heads the ball back across the area rather than towards goal. Brugge clear. The angle was tight but it was still a surprise that Haaland didn’t go for goal.
08:19 PM GMT
18 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Club Brugge started well in transition but now they’re really struggling to get out. They have to find a way to do so because this isn’t sustainable for another 70-odd minutes.
08:17 PM GMT
16 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Gundogan has a goal disallowed! He finished nicely, driving a first-time shot across Mignolet, but he was clearly offside.
08:15 PM GMT
15 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Possession so far: Man City 78% Club Brugge 22%.
08:15 PM GMT
14 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Foden runs at Ordonez on the left side of the area and lashes a shot from a tight angle. Wide of the near post.
08:13 PM GMT
13 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
City continue to probe, moving the ball from side to side. There’s a long, long way to go but I’d imagine Pep Guardiola isn’t happy with their slightly ponderous passing.
08:10 PM GMT
10 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
It’s been a slightly bloodless start from City, who are having loads of the ball but haven’t worked the Brugge keeper Simon Mignolet.
08:07 PM GMT
7 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Pep Guardiola’s head was in his hands as Brugge raced through there. Luckily for City Christos Tzolis took too long to finish but Guardiola was in despair at how a simple long ball and flick-on could tear his defence apart.
08:06 PM GMT
6 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Onyedika (I think) drills a long pass out to ths speedy Talbi on the right. He runs at Gvardiol but crosses too close to Ederson.
08:05 PM GMT
5 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Club Brugge have made a confident start in possession. They are sitting deep when City have the ball, but they’ve left the engine running on the bus and are targetting City on the counter-attack.
08:03 PM GMT
3 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Chance for Brugge! Tzolis runs into a huge gap on the left, all the way from the halfway line into the penalty area. Then he screws the ball back towards Talbi, whose shot is crucially blocked by Akanki. Pep Guardiola puts his hands over his face in anguish at City’s defending.
08:01 PM GMT
1 min: Man City 0 Club Brugge 0
Club Brugge kick off from right to left as we watch. A reminder that, for all the complications elsewhere, City’s situation is simple: they have to win.
07:59 PM GMT
A quick reminder of the teams
Manchester City (4-3-3) Ederson; Nunes, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; De Bruyne, Kovacic, Gundogan; Bernardo, Haaland, Foden.
Subs: Ortega, Carson, Grealish, Savio, Wright, Alleyne, O’Reilly, Lewis, McAtee.
Club Brugge (4-2-3-1) Mignolet; Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari; Taibi, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla.
Subs: Van den Heuvel, Jackers, Romero, Vetlesen, Vermant, Nilsson, Skoras, Nielsen, Siquet, Spileers, Sabbe.
07:47 PM GMT
Pep’s pre-match thoughts
[On John Stones’ return] He’s very important for us. Hopefully he’ll be able to play the whole game, but we’ll see.
I hope our experience will help us, but every game is different. We expect the best from out opponents; that’s a good way to prepare. But mainly we are talking about our performance.
07:44 PM GMT
Ready for action
07:39 PM GMT
What happens next
The draw for the knockout rounds – all the way through to the final – will take place on Friday. Surely Manchester City will be in it. Right?
07:25 PM GMT
De Bruyne back as captain
Pep Guardiola has made two changes for this do-or-die clash. Kevin De Bruyne returns and takes the captain’s armband, while John Stones is also back. They replace the two new signings who played against Chelsea at the weekend. Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov can only be registered for the Champions League knockout stages - if Manchester City make it through.
07:20 PM GMT
Unhappy memories for Mignolet
Club Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has conceded nine goals on his last two visits to the Etihad. He was in the Club Brugge side that lost 4-1 in 2021; four years earlier, in the Premier League, City trounced 10-man Liverpool 5-0. Both teams have changed a helluva lot since then.
Man City Ederson, Danilo, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Walker, De Bruyne, Silva, Mendy, Aguero, Gabriel Jesus.
Subs: Bravo, Gundogan, Mangala, Delph, Sane, Bernardo Silva, Foden.
Liverpool Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Klavan, Moreno, Can, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Subs: Karius, Lovren, Milner, Gomez, Sturridge, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Solanke.
07:15 PM GMT
John Stones talks to TNT Sports
We feel really good. Preparation is always important for us. We’re confident about what we’ve got and what we’re capable of doing. We know what’s expected of us and now it’s time to go out and perform.
We can’t dwell on the negative of where we are. We need to look forward and tonight is a great opportunity to put things right. We’ve been in high-pressure situations before and it’s time to show our experience. Yeah, just do the job.
It’s so nice to be back. It’s been a really difficult period with injuries and I’m just really glad to be back playing.
07:12 PM GMT
City confirm 8pm kick off
We can confirm that tonight's match will kick off at 8pm as originally planned. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the Etihad Stadium for tonight's match.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 29, 2025
07:11 PM GMT
Opta computer gives City 65 per cent chance of qualification
That seems low to me – I would give them a 95 per cent chance – but then I’m not a supercomputer.
07:06 PM GMT
From our man at the Etihad
Drama before kick-off here as a merchandise stall outside the stadium caught alight. Fire engines put out the fire but a section of the forecourt outside the Colin Bell Stand entrance was cordoned off.
City had planned to unveil their three January signings on the pitch but that has been scrapped for now. Some fans were directed to other gates.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Just before 6pm this evening (Wednesday 29th January), two fire engines from Blackley and Philips Park fire station were called to reports of a building fire involving an outbuilding on the car park of the football ground on Rowsley Street, Manchester.
“Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels to extinguish the fire, they are currently dampening down any hotspots and making the area safe.
“Firefighters have been in attendance for around thirty minutes and are still at the scene.”
07:02 PM GMT
Club Brugge team news
The former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is in the Club Brugge side. Their centre-forward, Ferran Jutgla, played a handful of games for Barcelona in the 2021-22 season.
Club Brugge (4-2-3-1) Mignolet; Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari; Taibi, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla.
Subs: Van den Heuvel, Jackers, Romero, Vetlesen, Vermant, Nilsson, Skoras, Nielsen, Siquet, Spileers, Sabbe.
06:58 PM GMT
All entrances open at the Etihad
Manchester City say “fans can move around the Etihad Stadium as per usual”, so the match will kick off at 8pm as scheduled.
06:54 PM GMT
Manchester City team news
Pep Guardiola makes two changes from Saturday’s win over Chelsea. Abdukodar Khusanov and Omar Marmoush are ineligible; John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne replace them.
Tonight's line-up ????
XI | Ederson, Nunes, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Foden, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Carson, Grealish, Savinho, Wright, Alleyne, O'Reilly, Lewis, McAtee#ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/Spfi6dz1PT
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 29, 2025
06:53 PM GMT
Introducing Brugge’s star man
By Mitchell Hall
Raphael Onyedika is a midfielder with the kind of profile every elite team in Europe is searching for, so it’s no surprise he is the subject of interest from clubs like Bayern Munich and AC Milan.
There would be something poetic about Onyedika inspiring Club Brugge to eliminate Manchester City from Europe: he plays in the same position as Rodri, whose long-term injury has done such damage to City’s season. Brugge’s focus on youth means their team is full of players keen to make an impression against a team of City’s calibre.
Onyedika is valued at around £25m; an eye-catching performance tonight would increase that.
06:37 PM GMT
Manchester City statement on the Etihad fire
Manchester City FC can confirm that there has been a fire in one of the outside merchandise kiosks, located near the entrance to the Colin Bell West Stand. Emergency services are present at the scene and the fire has now been extinguished.
The safety of all attending the match tonight is our top priority, and as such all events planned for West Stand reception have been cancelled, including the welcome event for new players, and the first team arrival.
06:37 PM GMT
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06:25 PM GMT
The full Champions League table
06:17 PM GMT
Merchandise stand catches fire outside Etihad
An area outside the Etihad Stadium has been evacuated after a merchandise stand caught fire ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League game against Club Brugge.
The blaze broke out shortly before 6pm, close to where Pep Guardiola’s City team had been due to enter the stadium at around 6.30pm.
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.
The show had already begun with women’s players Rebecca Knaak and Aemu Oyama on stage at the time of the fire.
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.
The fire soon appeared to be brought under control and it is unlikely that the kick-off time will be affected.
A fire erupted outside the Etihad Stadium | Credit: JamAntonioTV/X
06:15 PM GMT
Good evening
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Manchester City v Club Brugge at the Etihad. It’s one of 16 Champions League matches, all being played simultaneously, with qualification for the knockout stage on the line. There’s never been a night like it in European football, and even DeepSeek would struggle to list all the permutations.
For City, however, the situation couldn’t be simpler. Win and they will go through to the playoff round; draw or lose and they will be out, with not even a Europa League parachute to break their fall.
If City fail tonight it will be one of the all-time-great European shocks. Club Brugge are a useful side – they beat Aston Villa and are unbeaten in their last 20 games – but they live in a different world. Their record transfer is around £15m; over the years City have paid more than that for 58 players.
A point would ensure Brugge’s qualification, though there’s a fair chance they will go through even if they lose.
“Sooner or later you have to play these type of games where if you win you go through and if you don’t you go out,” said Pep Guardiola. “But it’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity, a challenge, and we will face it.
“We would like to score a lot in the first 20 minutes but I don’t think it is going to happen. The approach is to read the game we have to play – be completely relaxed, no emotions and understand the game.
“I know these type of games you have to put in something special – something there has not been enough of so far in this Champions League – to win the games.”
Kick off 8pm.
