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On halfway, Stones evades the pressing Vermant and rolls it across to his central defensive partner, Akanji. The Swiss defender carries it through the centre circle and then sends it out right to Foden, on the wing.

The equation for Man City is very simple: This is must-win and victory would see them take a playoff place. Should they draw or even lose, though, City will face the ignominy of an early exit from Europe. Last week’s disaster at PSG compounded what has been a difficult European campaign for Man City who, let’s not forget, won this competition as recently as 2023. With only two wins from their seven games so far, City have simply dropped far too many points, November’s 4-1 thrashing at Sporting Lisbon the catalyst for conceding a 3-0 lead at home to Feyenoord before losing at Juventus and PSG. City really need to rediscover their mojo in this competition but tonight, first and foremost, is all about winning to give themselves a playoff. 

A performance full of character from Manchester City, tonight. Again, they conceded the first goal but, again, boy did they respond! On the brink of elimination, they got the job done! Stones, in defence, was supreme in and out of possession, delivering two assists as City turned the screw, in the closing stages. Savinho had the desired effect off the bench, scoring and unsettling Club Brugge's defence all night. City, though, were vulnerable to Brugge's counterattacks all game long and will need to improve in that area, if they're to go deep in this competition. Still, no team will want to draw them in the playoffs!

Akanji advances into space before pinging a wide pass out to Foden. Seys rushes up and exceptionally dispossesses him on the edge of the box. Seys then goes back to Mignolet who hoofs the ball up-field, from the right-side of his six-yard line.

CHANCE - Another opening for Man City! Haaland beats Ordonez, aerially, flicking the ball on into the run of De Bruyne, surging down the left side of the box. Mechele surges back to apply some pressure and De Bruyne hurries his effort, uncharacteristically shooting high over the crossbar, from 12 yards. 

For the first time in the game, Club Brugge enjoy some defensive possession as Mechele and Ordonez exchange passes, centrally. Haaland then presses at speed forcing Mechele to pass to his left, locating De Cuyper on the left touchline who plays a nice ball down the line, finding the feet of Tzolis, on the left of halfway.

Up Next - A return to domestic leagues, for both at the weekend. City face an almighty showdown, travelling to the Emirates Stadium to play Arsenal on Sunday afternoon. Club Brugge are away at Antwerp on Sunday lunchtime, in the Belgian Pro League. 

Jashari instantly rushes up to close down space as De Bruyne is fed by Gundogan, centrally. De Bruyne calmly dribbles around Jashari and passes right to Nunes, as City continue to probe for ways to preach the Club Brugge defence.

On halfway, Akanji scoops a lovely pass into the run of Savinho, galloping on ahead down the wing. Savinho sprints into vacant space but sees his curling cross into the box, looking for Haaland, hacked away by Jashari, 10 yards from his own goal.

MAN CITY'S COMEBACK WIN GETS THEM THROUGH - Manchester City, after being given a serious scare, produce a terrific second half at the Etihad Stadium to get the win they had to get, securing a playoff place in the Champions League! City went behind on the stroke of half-time when Nwadike rocketed in the opener: Pep Guardiola went for it, bringing on Savinho in an attacking switch and City raced into life in the second half, Kovacic clawing them level. An own goal off the unfortunate Ordonez turned the momentum completely before Savinho added a well-taken third to relax the Etihad Stadium crowd. 

Gvardiol, down the left side of halfway, fires a pass up into the feet of Savinho. he scoops it back inside to De Bruyne, who returns the ball to the substitute. Savinho's cross, though, is comfortably claimed by Mignolet, on his six-yard line.

Club Brugge's place in the playoffs is now out of their control but as it stands, they are still in the top 24. They're relying on results elsewhere, staying as they are, though.

Club Brugge Team News - For Club Brugge, only five players keep their starting places from their Belgian Pro League draw with Kortrijk. They are former Liverpool goalkeeper, Mignolet, right-back, Seys, defender Mechele, midfielder Jashari and Greek forward, Tzolis. 

Man City get on the ball early as Nunes scampers past halfway, on the right flank. He rolls a ball in-field to Kovacic as the hosts pass the ball about between themselves, just inside their attacking half, centrally.

Again, Club Brugge get in behind Man City's backline with one simple ball over the top. This time, Vanaken, inside the centre circle, slides in the speedy Talbi down the right wing. He fizzes a cross into the middle but it's too close to Ederson, in goal, who claims for Man City.

Savinho dances down the left side of halfway before cutting back and feeding Akanji on halfway. He sends it right to Nunes, who speeds down the flank and crosses. Ordonez nods it behind for a corner...

CHANCE - Foden, City's man in form at the moment, has their first chance! Haaland scoops a short pass into his feet, dancing down the left of the penalty area. Foden takes on the strike early, from 14 yards and rifles a shot in which ruffles the left side-netting on it's way behind.

Just inside his own half, Stones pings a short ball into the feet of Lewis. He, in turn, lays it off to Kovacic, inside the attacking half. Pressed by Nwadike, Kovacic turns and retreats to the centre circle, City sustaining possession, with ease. 

SAVE - Ederson keeps Man City level! Tzolis turns Stones inside out, on the edge of the box, before unleashing a left-footed scorcher that Ederson paws back out! Nunes, just, gets to the rebound before the chasing Tzolis, hurriedly clearing the ball away for City, inside his own penalty area, on the right.

De Bruyne tries to release an underlapping Gundogan, haring down the right side of the penalty area. But De Bruyne's ball is slightly overhit and Mechele holds off Gundogan to expertly usher the ball behind for a goal-kick to Club Brugge.

CHANCE - Seys, this time, is guilty of a poor pass, gifting the ball straight to De Bruyne, high up. De Bruyne squares the ball inside to Silva, 25 yards out centrally but he pulls at his strike, shooting wide of the left post, first-time!

Vanaken, midway inside his own half, comes under pressure from the pressing Silva but does well to get the ball back to Seys, on the right touchline. He goes back inside to Ordonez, on the edge of his own box, as Club Brugge sustain possession for a bit.

BACK UNDERWAY - Manchester City kick off the second half as Foden fires the ball back into Gvardiol's feet, down the left touchline. He goes forward to De Bruyne as City start a half of football they have to turn around to stay in Europe! One change for City at half-time: It's attacking with Savinho on for Gundogan.

CLUB BRUGGE SENDING MANCHESTER CITY OUT AS IT STANDS - Manchester City, unless they can come from behind to win, will be out of the Champions League, as things stand! Knowing this was a must-win, City have hogged possession but done precious little with it: Gundogan's disallowed goal for offside the nearest they've come. Club Brugge's gameplan is working to perfection so far: They've sat deep and countered menacingly, Tzolis the liveliest attacking player on the left wing. After giving City a few scares, such a counter led to a goal right on half-time when Tzolis teed up Nwadike to arrow in the opener. Whatever happens from here, the second half is going to be unmissable: Don't go anywhere! 

Club Brugge carelessly give possession away in a dangerous area as goalkeeper, Mignolet, sells Seys short, on the edge of his own box. Foden nips up to intercept, cuts onto his right foot and clips an inviting cross in. Haaland seems unsure of what to do, though, and heads the ball down straight to Mechele, who lashes clear for Brugge, from his six-yard line. 

Stones strides forward through the attacking half. He fires it to Kovacic who's faced by Nwadike in front of him. Kovacic goes left, locating Foden. Foden wastes no time in crossing from out by the left touchline but Haaland is beaten to the ball by Ordonez, who clears from his own penalty spot.

CHANCE - Nwadike charges through the attacking half, centrally, before releasing his midfield partner, Jashari. Pelting towards the box, Jashari goes for goal from 35 yards away and Ederson has to hold onto his effort!

Inside the centre circle, Stones dribbles into the attacking half. Stones then finds Silva, darting down the right-side of the box. Silva crosses quickly but Mignolet, using his experience, comes off his line to smother the ball into his grasp, relieving the pressure on his defence, for now. 

Gvardiol races onto a short pass from Silva. He then pops it off to Savinho, dribbling inside. He goes back to Akanji, stationed inside the centre circle. It's sent right to Foden, who tamely sends a strike into Mignolet's gloves, from 35 yards out.

Manchester City Team News - Relatively simple after the weekend’s 3-1 win over Chelsea. With January signings Khusanov and Marmoush both ineligible for tonight’s game, Stones and De Bruyne come in to replace them.  

Club Brugge counterattack as Tzolis is played into space by a nice ball from Jashari, inside his own half. Tzolis dribbles inside of Nunes but, looking to feed Jutgla centrally, overhits his pass beyond the by-line to gift City a goal-kick.

CHANCE - Gvardiol surges down the left wing, at pace and hooks a cross in to the box. Mechele heads it out but only as far as Savinho. He lays it off to De Bruyne, 20 yards out, who's stinging shot is well held by Mignolet! 

Nunes nearly reaches a sumptuously weighted pass down the right wing. As he races onto the ball, Tzolis gets back to defend brilliantly, sprinting and sliding in to pinch the ball off of Nunes's toes on the right touchline. City will have an attacking throw-in.

Akanji, centrally, plays a ball wide left to Foden. Cutting inside, Foden tries to switch play with a wide, looping pass to Nunes on the right. Tzolis, back defending, gets up  to head the ball out for a throw-in to City, down the right wing. 

City regain possession with Kovacic prowling through the centre circle, assessing his options. He opts to feed Silva wide right. Silva wriggles inside of De Cuyper to cross from outside the box. Mechele stays tight to Haaland, though and then rises higher to head away from inside his own box, centrally.

Thanks for joining me here on Tribe as Manchester City beat Club Brugge with both clubs squeaking into the Champions League playoffs: I hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage: I’ve been Rory Morrow, and I look forward to seeing you again soon for another live text commentary! 

KOVACIC CLAWS MAN CITY BACK ON TERMS - One back for Man City, who still need to win this game to go through! It's brilliant from Kovacic who collects the ball from Stones, inside the centre circle. Unable to get a tackle in, Club Brugge back off as Kovacic directly pierces the away defence with a superb, individual run. It takes him to the edge of the penalty box, where Kovacic tucks the ball into the bottom left corner! Are City on their way to a comeback win that would take them through?

Club Brugge have won three of their seven matches, attaining a highly credible seven points from games against Aston Villa, Sporting Lisbon and Juventus, all in Belgium. They are among a cluster of teams hoping to edge into the top 24, to seal a playoff place. Away from home, they’ve beaten Sturm Graz, lost at AC Milan and drew at Celtic. Unlike their opponents tonight, Brugge haven’t conceded many goals up to this point and know that the longer they stay in the game, the more nervous the Etihad will get. A draw would be enough to see them safely advance, at City’s expense. 

City try to build from deep as Kovacic finds Nunes, from the centre circle. Nunes tries to suge away down the flank but runs into De Cuyper who 

De Bruyne finds the underlapping Gvardiol, on the edge of the box. Faced by several black shirts, Gvardiol goes back to Stones. He lofts a nice pass over the top to Foden, down the left. Foden dances his way into an inch of space and then crosses. Mignolet, again, comes and claims on his six-yard line.

Still a long way to go for Man City. But they're on the hunt for a third goal as Foden races down the right wing, trying to reach a pass from Kovacic. De Cuyper does well to usher it behind and out of play for a Club Brugge goal-kick. One goal for The Belgians changes everything.

From the left, Tzolis delivers. De Bruyne hammers the ball clear, at the front post.

CLUB BRUGGE ARE THROUGH - Confirmation that Club Brugge have done enough, securing a place in the Champions League playoffs as other fixtures finish up! They clinch 24th, the final spot to advance! For 45 minutes, they gave City a proper fright with central defenders, Mechele and Ordonez, exceptional at the back. Out wide, Tzolis and Talbi caused City so many problems on the counter and Club Brugge will be awkward opposition for whoever they draw: They celebrate out on the Etihad pitch as they join Man City in the top 24!

From the right, Silva rolls it short to Nunes. His swirling cross is nodded away by a stooping Mechele, on his own penalty spot.

NWADIKE STUNS THE ETIHAD AS CLUB BRUGGE LEAD - Nwadike's first ever Champions League goal and what a time to get it! As they have all half, Club Brugge threaten and, this time, score on the counterattack! After Kovacic gives possession away on the halfway line, Jutgla makes a fool out of Nunes, driving down the left wing and scampering inside. Jutgla pulls the ball back across to the advancing Nwadike, the ball taking a slight nick off Stones on it's way through. On the edge of the box centrally, Nwadike's low shot arrows into the bottom right corner, despite Ederson getting a hand to it! That's a goal with massive implications for both Manchester City and Club Brugge: As it stands, it's sealing City's exit and Brugge's progression!

Midway inside the attacking half, De Bruyne fires a pass wide right to Silva. He recycles it inside to Gundogan, who scoops it to his left, finding the advanced Akanji as City keep a hold of possession early on.

CHANCE - De Bruyne peels off of Seys, down the left wing. De Bruyne's ball into the six-yard box is brilliant but Stones, peeling off at the back post, heads wide of the right post!

City continue to see almost of the ball as Foden tries to run at Seys directly down the left wing. But a heavy touch from Foden lets Seys nip in and take the ball for Brugge, midway inside his own half, on the right. 

CHANCE - It's end-to-end, this game! De Bruyne, this time, takes on possession from Silva, races off down the left side of the box and pulls a wicked effort only inches wide of the far right post!

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