MANCHESTER CITY saw off Club Brugge to make it three wins from four Champions League games this season.
Phil Foden struck early before an unfortunate own goal from John Stones gave the visitors hope.
But Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus got in on the act to secure all three points for Pep Guardiola’s men.
- Final score: Man City 4-1 Club Brugge
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That’s all from us tonight, as Manchester City went top of Group A with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Club Brugge.
Goals from Phil Foden and an own goal from John Stones meant the two sides went in level at the break.
But Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus all netted in the second half to give Pep Guardiola’s side a routine win.
RB Leipzig and PSG’s draw means Guardiola and Co top the group going into the mouthwatering clash against PSG on Matchday Four.
And City need just one point from their remaining two games to secure qualification for the knockout stages.
Attention now though will be solely on Saturday and the huge Manchester Derby clash at Old Trafford.
City will be desperate to claim bragging rights in that one and go into the international break on a high.
Club Brugge meanwhile return to Belgium Pro League action – they host Standard Liege on Sunday.
That’s all from us for now though.
Thanks for joining us, it’s been a pleasure.
PEP SPEAKS
And here’s what Pep Guardiola thinks about tonight’s victory: “Every game is tough.
“They changed the shape from when we played them in Belgium so yeah it was a [good] performance.
“The team played very good all of the time, [and] the strength of the team is fantastic.”
CHERRY ON TOP
Gabriel Jesus celebrates after making it 4-1 to City with the last kick of the game.
SIX OF THE BEST
Six of Riyad Mahrez’s 14 Champions League goals have come against Club Brugge.
He’s scored no more than three against anyone else in the competition.
Mahrez just loves playing against the Belgians.
AYMERIC’S ANALYSIS
Aymeric Laporte gives his thoughts on the game: “It’s always difficult in the Champions League.
“The teams are very good and they showed they were a good team.
“So they gave us a lot of difficulties to defend but we showed we played better than them and we won the game.”
AS IT STANDS
RB Leipzig and PSG drew 2-2 tonight in Germany.
That means Manchester City end the night top of Group A with two games left to play.
Next up is PSG at home on November 24, what a game that is!
STAT ATTACK
Here’s a look at the full time stats from the game, courtesy of Opta.
City managed 22 efforts in total, with eight of those on target.
That’s more than the seven total efforts the visitors made in the entire game.
PHIL TALKS
Here’s what Phil Foden made of the game: “I thought we had a sloppy first half and let them get back into the game.
“But you know, we got in at half time [and] spoke about what was going wrong and I think in the second half we changed that.
“And yeah, [we] played much better.”
FT: MAN CITY 4-1 CLUB BRUGGE
A convincing victory in the end for Pep Guardiola and Co.
His side flexed their muscles in the second half scored three unanswered goals after the break.
Goals from Foden, Mahrez, Sterling and Jesus made it a comfortable victory in the end.
That’s nine goals scored in two games at Club Brugge now for the Cityzens.
And they need just one point from their next two games to secure qualification for the knockout stages.
PEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE GOAL IS THE LAST KICK OF THE GAME!
MAN CITY 4-1 CLUB BRUGGE!
MAN CITY 4-1 CLUB BRUGGE
92. Palmer does well initially, and plays the ball into Cancelo on the edge of the box.
He pokes the ball past two Brugge players and stabs the ball into the path of Jesus.
The striker wraps his foot around the ball and passes it into the far corner via a small touch from Mignolet.
The perfect ending!
GOOOOOOAAAAAALLL!
CITY FINISH WITH A FLURRY!
JESUS MAKES IT 4-1!
MAN CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
90. City work the corner short but can’t make anything of it.
The fourth official indicates there will be four minutes of added time at the Etihad.
MAN CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
89. Good defending!
A last ditch interception from Mechele stops Palmer from having a tap in after a cross in from Sterling.
MAN CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
88. City will be disappointed now they haven’t scored more than three.
That chance especially from Jesus was a guilt edged one.
MAN CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
86. SO CLOSE AGAIN!
This time Mignolet springs into action to deny Jesus from 12 yards!
How has he managed to miss that?
He’s one on one after a slip from Hendry, but shoots straight at the goalkeeper.
MAN CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
85. GOOD SAVE!
Cole Palmer is so close to scoring!
Zinchenko feints to shoot and slides a lovely ball into the path of the youngster.
He takes it on his left, before shooting on his right but Mignolet is equal to it.
The keeper makes a good save low down to his left to deny the City man.
MAN CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
84. CLOSE!
Palmer wins the ball back high up the pitch and drives into the box.
He cuts it back across goal but van der Brempt hacks clear.
MAN CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
82. Brugge momentarily get hold of the ball but Sterling tracks back well to intercept a De Ketelaere pass.
MAN CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
80. Ten minutes left to play in this one.
Can the hosts find one more goal for an extra confidence boost ahead of Saturday’s Manchester Derby?
MAN CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
79. Man City subs.
Kyle Walker and Phil Foden are coming off for Oleksandr Zinchenko and Cole Palmer.
MAN CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
77. Brugge changes.
It’s a triple change for the visitors.
Mata, Lang and Rits are off for Mbamba, van der Brempt and Dost.
MAN CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
76. Less than 15 minutes left to play at the Etihad.
After a stubborn first half display from Brugge, it’s turned into a comfortable enough win for Pep Guardiola’s side.
MAN CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
74. Manchester City substitution.
As if Brugge haven’t been punished enough – Kevin De Bruyne is coming on.
He replaces Bernardo Silva, who has been excellent tonight.
MAN CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGGE
72. Foden plays the ball in behind Vormer into the path of Gundogan who is bursting into the box.
He looks up and plays it across goal with his left foot, finding Sterling who has all the time in the world to tap home past Mignolet.
That’s far too easy, but City won’t mind.
This game is as good as done now.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
