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Man City face play-off hell as Pep Guardiola's Champions League crisis not over yet

Manchester City survived Champions League elimination - but their European hell isn't quite over yet as they face one of two continental superpowers in the play-offs

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City will now face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City will now face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich(Image: Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola probably didn't know whether to laugh or cry after seeing Manchester City limp into the Champions League play-offs.

Because while City's European dream is still just alive, waiting for them in the two-legged tie is either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. And on this evidence, if anyone thinks the 2023 champions will now go on to conquer Europe again, they had better give their heads a wobble.


The truth is, Guardiola's side barely deserved to survive this by the skin of their teeth. Club Brugge took the lead on the stroke of half time through Raphael Onyedika, and wasted more chances to inflict further damage on City.

And when the hosts finally decided to wake up, City made them pay thanks to second half strikes from Mateo Kovacic and substitute Savinho, with an own goal from Joel Ordonez sandwiched in between.

Yet Guardiola's side progressed courtesy of goal difference, and still down in 22nd place in the table. Which will hardly strike fear into the likes of Liverpool, Real and Barcelona.


Savio of Manchester City goal celebration with Matheus Nunes of Manchester City after scoring to put Manchester City 3-1 ahead during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between Manchester City and Club Brugge KV at City of Manchester Stadium on January 29, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Man City had to come from behind against Club Brugge(Image: Getty Images)

The equation for City had been simple. Win to keep their European dream alive, or fail to do so and face the indignity of an embarrassing nightmare.


City had never failed to reach the knockout stages under Guardiola, and the last time it happened was back in 2013 when Roberto Mancini was in charge.

The Spaniard had urged his stars to 'stand up and fight' for their place in the competition. But the visitors also had a lot on the line themselves, and needed a point to be sure of a place in the next phase.

While Nicky Hayen's side had not lost a game in all competitions since October. And Brugge could have gone ahead inside the opening three minutes when two City defenders went for the same header but missed the ball.


Josko Gvardiol of Manchester City goal celebration with Mateo Kovacic of Manchester City after scoring to put Manchester City 2-1 ahead during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between Manchester City and Club Brugge KV at City of Manchester Stadium on January 29, 2025 in Manchester, England.
City's Champions League hell isn't quite over(Image: Getty Images)

Christos Tzolis was allowed a free run on goal, but when he tried to pick out Chemsdine Talbi, Josko Gvardiol got back to block the shot. Phil Foden shot just wide from acute angle, before Ilkay Gundogan had a goal ruled out for off-side.

But Brugge were sitting deep with a blanket defence. They hadn't just parked the bus, they'd deposited a couple of them on the edge of their penalty area.


The challenge would test City's patience and creativity. But when Brugge did decide to foray into the City half, they looked like scoring.

Which is exactly what happened on the stroke of half time. Tzolis and Ardon Jashari had both threatened, before Onyedika went one better.

Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola's side have survived(Image: Getty Images)

Ferran Jutgla completely baffled Matheus Nunes with some sublime skill, before picking out Onyedika, who beat Ederson with a composed finish. Guardiola slumped back into his seat, knowing his team were in deep trouble.

Who was going to haul City out of the brown stuff?


Not John Stones, who should have equalised, but somehow missed with a header from point blank range. But some salvation then came from an unlikely source in the shape of Kovacic, who ran from the halfway line unchallenged, before beating Simon Mignolet with a slide rule finish.

It was his first goal in the competition since 2022. Tzolis missed two chances to put Brugge back in front, as tensions started to run high.

Guardiola was booked for mouthing off at the fourth official.

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But he was smiling soon after when Gvardiol's cross was diverted into his own net by Ordonez, before Savinho pounced to complete City's fightback.

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