Whereas they could have needed to go about issues the great distance on Wednesday night time, Manchester Metropolis efficiently prevented what would have been an notorious Champions League exit.
Opening their group stage finale remarkably sat exterior the play-off locations, Pep Guardiola’s males had an enormous quantity of stress on their shoulders within the blue half of Manchester.
Nevertheless, the Etihad was left shocked on Wednesday night time as Raphael Onyedika gave Membership Brugge a shock lead simply seconds earlier than the half-time break.
Marking their return from the interval realizing that their European goals had been hanging by a thread, the Sky Blues nothing in need of a whole turnaround can be sufficient to save lots of their blushes.
With Guardiola electing to change his ways in the course of the interval, Metropolis didn’t take lengthy to tug themselves degree as ex-Chelsea star Mateo Kovacic swept dwelling from the sting of the field.
Watching Joel Ordonez flip into his personal web following Josko Gvardiol’s cross, Metropolis formally settled the Etihad nerves as Saving’s low effort discovered a well beyond former Liverpool shot-stopper Simon Mignolet.
Nevertheless, whereas the Sky Blues may need dragged themselves to a play-off ticket, a heavyweight showdown towards both Bayern Munich or Actual Madrid is ready within the wings.
On an evening when Manchester Metropolis produced a vital Champions League comeback, now we have taken a take a look at the important thing speaking factors from the Etihad.
Metropolis keep away from Champions League humiliation
Languishing 12 factors adrift of Liverpool on this season’s Premier League title chase, it’s no secret that Guardiola’s males have positioned all of their eggs within the European basket.
Storming their strategy to an attention-grabbing 3-1 victory towards Chelsea final weekend, the previous Barcelona boss was actually hoping for the same dominant show right here.
Regardless of struggling an notorious collapse away at PSG final week as they slumped to a 4-2 defeat within the French capital, that’s the solely loss that Metropolis have suffered from their earlier 9 appearances throughout all competitions.
Dragging themselves over the ending line right here and saving their blushes, Man Metropolis will take loads of solace from their current success on dwelling soil.
Getting the New 12 months underway with a routine 4-1 romp towards West Ham, Guardiola’s facet have now gained all of their final 4 matchups on the Etihad by an mixture rating of 18-3.
Guardiola nonetheless trying to find defensive metal
Whereas Manchester Metropolis may need just lately discovered a medical edge within the last third, the Sky Blues are desperately looking for some much-needed stability on the different finish of the pitch.
Getting into the half-time break right here chasing a 1-0 deficit and with Membership Brugge typically chopping them open on the again, Guardiola could have a serious headache over his facet’s defensive struggles.
Nonetheless unable to name upon the likes of Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake, the Spanish tactician has been always looking for a strategy to plug Metropolis’s slightly evident defensive frailties.
Coming underneath actual scrutiny over in Paris on January twenty second as they slumped to that 4-2 loss towards PSG, Wednesday’s hosts have recorded only a trio of unpolluted sheets from any of their earlier 13 appearances throughout all competitions.
Likewise, together with a woeful 4-1 drumming towards Sporting Lisbon on November fifth, Metropolis conceded 14 objectives of their last 5 group stage showdowns.
Brugge miss out on an iconic scalp
Ultimately dragging themselves to the ultimate Champions League play-off spot on Wednesday night time, Membership Brugge will definitely take a look at their journey to Manchester as a mission accomplished.
Nevertheless, though the Belgium giants may need gained a status for his or her rugged method on the European stage this season, Nicky Hayen’s facet would have been annoyed by an actual second-half collapse right here.
Lacking out on the possibility to assert what would have been remembered as some of the iconic ends in their historical past, Wednesday’s visitors have proven some prolonged points exterior of Bruges.
Together with a 3-1 loss away at Italian heavyweights AC Milan on October twenty second, Hayen’s camp have gained only a pair of their earlier 10 Champions League showdowns away from the Jan Breydel Stadium.
Dragging themselves out of the group stage as one of many unseeded golf equipment, Brugge shall be greater than conscious that certainly one of Europe’s heavy hitters shall be on the playing cards for subsequent month.
Match Report
Manchester Metropolis: Ederson, Nunes, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, Silva, Foden, De Bruyne, Haaland
Subs: Savinho, Lewis
Membership Brugge: Mignolet, Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper, Onyedika, Jashari, Talbi, Vanaken, Tzolis, Jutgla
Subs: Vetlesen, Skoras, Vermant
Targets: Manchester Metropolis: Kovacic (53’), Ordonez (62’ OG), Savinho (77’) – Membership Brugge: Onyedika (45’)
Yellow Playing cards: N/A
Crimson Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez
