Manchester City face a must-win final league phase fixture against Club Brugge if want to qualify for 2024-25 UEFA Champions League Knockouts.
Only victory will see Man City qualify for the knockout phase as a draw or defeat would see them eliminated at this stage.
Club Brugge are all but mathematically assured of a knockout play-off spot barring a loss and unlikely set of results going against them, but a win could see them climb into the knockout play-off seeded positions if results go in their favour.
Team News
Man City have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 3-1 Premier League win at home to Chelsea.
Nathan Ake (muscle), Ruben Dias, Jeremy Doku (both unspecified), Oscar Bobb (leg) and Rodri (knee) remain ruled out.
Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov are ineligible to play for City in this competition until the knockout stages if they advance.
Club Brugge could again be without captain, Hans Vanaken after he sat out their domestic 1-1 Belgian Pro League draw against Kortrijk due to illness.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City host Club Brugge at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 28 January at 8pm, live on TNT Sports 2 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man City have won each of their two previous Champions League meetings against Club Brugge (W2).
- Club Brugge lost 4-1 in their only previous visit to Man City in November 2021 (L1).
- City have failed to keep a clean sheet against Club Brugge in the Champions League, in which they’ve scored nine goals and conceded twice.
- Five of City’s eight points in the league phase have been scored at home (W1, D2).
- Joaquin Seys has been booked in Club Brugge’s last two away games in the league phase.
Prediction
With only victory enough for City to avoid a shock early exit, they must simply start better than they did against Chelsea from a defensive perspective but their more clinical end product proved enough for a morale-boosting win – which will give them renewed hope after the defensive meltdown at PSG last week.
Club Brugge though are unbeaten in five of their last six games in this phase of the competition so shouldn’t be written off despite their poor record in this fixture, but they realistically must score first if want any chance of springing a surprise given their lack of goals so far.
I however do expect City to prove too strong for all of Club Brugge’s efforts in what should be a decent game if the visitors can keep it tight and take their chances.
Prediction: Man City 3-1 Club Brugge
Result: Man City 3-1 Club Brugge
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