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Six of Riyad Maharez's 14 Champions League goals were scored against Club Bruges
Raheem Sterling broke his 12-game goal drought to win an easy Champions League win for Manchester City against Club Bruges at Etihad stadium.
Sterling converted Ilkay Gundogan’s cutback to score only the second goal of this season. He also scored his first Champions League goal for more than a decade.
After successive defeats to Crystal Palace and West Ham, Pep Guardiola's team were back in winning form with Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden finishing off Joao cancelo crosses. Gabriel Jesus also scored a goal into the far corner.
Two minutes after City took the lead, Bernardo Silva scored an own goal that was so bizarre it ruined a routine win. He sliced a clearance in the face of the defender and then put the ball in the net.
After Paris St-Germain's draw at RB Leipzig, City has taken the top spot in Group A. They need one point from the remaining two games of the group to secure a place in the last 16 for their ninth consecutive season.
Guardiola was so confident of winning that he made all five substitutions well before the end. This included a home European debut for Cole Palmer, a 19-year-old forward. He also gave a home European debut to Cole Palmer, a former Liverpool goalkeeper who saved the day with exemplary late saves.
The City supporters were already thinking about their Saturday lunchtime trip at Manchester United. They have only lost twice in eight visits under Guardiola's leadership.
Grealish is a catchy name
Recently, a lot has been said about Jack Grealish and Kevin de Bruyne.
Grealish won the weekend defeat to Palace, but De Bruyne lost. Guardiola, who was defending the Belgian during the build-up to this game, stated that it was impossible for any player to remain in top form over a long career.
Despite this, De Bruyne was unable to face his countrymen after a rare experience with successive defeats. The visiting fans even sang his name once, highlighting how far he has fallen behind the pace.
Grealish is still adjusting to his new surroundings. However, the first-time effort he made against Mignolet and against his post was a triumphant one.
Club Bruges had to clear before Mignolet could save Foden. Foden was able to score from a tight angle as Cancelo crossed low.
The City's second goal was similar. They had to concentrate to resist repeated attacks from Foden, Grealish and Silva. Mignolet was able to make saves to deny Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte and Mahrez.
As Cancelo floated his cross towards the far post, Mahrez was unassisted and the Algerian walked home completely unmarked from just five yards.
Sterling took over Mahrez's place as Guardiola started replacing half of his team. Although the future of England's City remains uncertain, Sterling's goal will not affect his confidence. Gundogan's cross was simple.
City's total against their opponents was nine after Jesus scored.
Their passing was sometimes mesmerizing at times. This will be a concern for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, given the difficulties Manchester United had defending not only their record loss against Liverpool, but also their two Champions League meetings with Atalanta.
Club Bruges runs out of ideas
Although they conceded five goals at home a fortnight back, the Belgian champions' two first group results prove they are a good team. City also had some difficult moments in the first half.
Noa Lang and Charles de Ketelaere were all in danger from forward positions. However, Stones didn't have time to react when Silva sliced a clearance into Silva's face. The ball bounced past Ederson.
Their defense was unable to cope with City's speedy ball movement, as Guardiola demanded from the touchline. However, they remain well-placed to win the consolation prize of a spot in the Europa League playoffs.
Hendry Jack Hendry was the player of the match with an average 7.89 Man City Manchester City Manchester City
Club Bruges Club Bruges Club Bruges Manchester City Avg Squad number 47 Player name Foden Average rating 7.08 Squad number 80 Player name Palmer Average rating 6.89 Squad number 26 Player name Mahrez Average rating 6.86 Squad number 7 Player name Sterling Average rating 6.83 Squad number 9 Player name Gabriel Jesus Average rating 6.79 Squad number 27 Player name Joo Cancelo Average rating 6.73 Squad number 17 Player name De Bruyne Average rating 6.65 Squad number 20 Player name Bernardo Silva Average rating 6.54 Squad number 11 Player name Zinchenko Average rating 6.47 Squad number 2 Player name Walker Average rating 6.20 Squad number 8 Player name Gndogan Average rating 6.19 Squad number 31 Player name Ederson Average rating 6.11 Squad number 16 Player name Rodri Average rating 6.08 Squad number 5 Player name Stones Average rating 5.90 Squad number 14 Player name Laporte Average rating 5.88 Squad number 10 Player name Grealish Average rating 5.73 Club Bruges Avg Squad number 5 Player name Hendry Average rating 7.89 Squad number 22 Player name Mignolet Average rating 6.04 Squad number 10 Player name Lang Average rating 5.99 Squad number 20 Player name Vanaken Average rating 5.96 Squad number 90 Player name De Ketelaere Average rating 5.94 Squad number 25 Player name Vormer Average rating 5.88 Squad number 2 Player name Sobol Average rating 5.85 Squad number 44 Player name Mechele Average rating 5.85 Squad number 26 Player name Rits Average rating 5.82 Squad number 77 Player name Clinton Mata Average rating 5.80 Squad number 4 Player name N'Soki Average rating 5.76 Squad number 18 Player name Ricca Average rating 4.90 Squad number 72 Player name Mbamba-Muanda Average rating 4.88 Squad number 29 Player name Dost Average rating 4.87 Squad number 19 Player name Sowah Average rating 4.83 Squad number 28 Player name van der Brempt Average rating 4.75
Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text Line-ups Man City Formation 4-3-3 31 Ederson 2 Walker 5 Stones 14 Laporte 27 Cancelo 8 Gndogan 16 Rodri 20 Bernardo Silva 26 Mahrez 47 Foden 10 Grealish 31 Ederson
2 Walker Substituted at Zinchenko's 80' Minutes
5 Stones
14 Laporte
27 Cancelo
8 Gndogan
16 Rodri
20 Bernardo Silva Substituted for De Bruyne at 75' minutes
26 Mahrez Substituted to Sterling at 69' Minutes
47 Foden Substituted for Palmer at 80' minutes
Substitutes for Gabriel Jesus in 10 Grealish at 68'minutes Substitutes for 3 RbenDias
6 Ak
7 Sterling
9 Gabriel Jesus
11 Zinchenko
13 Steffen
17 De Bruyne
25 Fernandinho
33 Carson
80 Palmer Club Bruges Formation 5-3-2 22 Mignolet 77 Mata Pedro Lourenco 5 Hendry 44 Mechele 4 N'Soki 2 Sobol 25 Vormer 26 Rits 20 Vanaken 10 Lang 90 De Ketelaere 22 Mignolet
77 Mata Pedro Lourenco Substituted for van der Brempt at 78' minutes
5 Hendry
44 Mechele
4 N'Soki
2 Sobol substituted for Ricca at the 73' minute mark
25 Vormer
26 Rits substituted for Mbamba Muanda at 78'minutes
20 Vanaken
10 Lang Substituted for Dost at 78' minutes
Substitute 90 De Ketelaere for Sowah at about 87' minutes Substitutes: 7 Wesley
11 Maouassa
18 Ricca
19 Sowah
21 Izquierdo
28 van der Brempt
29 Dost
72 Mbamba-Muanda
Referee for 91 Lammens: Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz. Attendance: 50.2228. Match Stats Live text Post update. Match ends, Manchester City 4. Club Brugge 1. Half-time Full, Manchester City 4, Club Brugge 1. Goal Goal! Manchester City 4, Club Brugge 1. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), right footed shot, from the left side box to the bottom right corner. Joo Cancelo assisted. Manchester City, Post Update Corner Brandon Mechele resigned. Club Brugge, Post Update Corner John Stones conceded. Post-update: Attempt blocked. Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), right footed shot from right side box is blocked Club Brugge Substitution Substitution Kamal Sowah replaces Charles De Ketelaere. Post update Foul by Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City Post update Ignace Van der Brempt (Club Brugge), wins a free kick for the right wing. Post update: Attempt saved. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), left footed shot from centre box. Saved in bottom right corner Post update: Attempt saved. Cole Palmer (Manchester City), right footed shot from centre box. Saved in bottom right corner Substitution Substitution Manchester City Cole Palmer replaces Phil Foden. Substitution Substitution, Manchester City. Oleksandr Zinchenko replaces Kyle Walker. Post update Corner, Manchester City. Brandon Mechele conceives. Club Brugge, Substitution Substitution Clinton Mata is being replaced by Ignace van den Brempt because of injury. Club Brugge, Substitution Substitution. Bas Dost replaces Noa Lang. Club Brugge, Substitution Substitution. Noah Mbamba-Muanda replaces Mats Rits. Post update Attempt missed. Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City, left footed shot taken from a difficult angle. Joo Cancelo assisted. Substitution Substitution, Manchester City. Kevin De Bruyne replaces Bernardo Silva. Club Brugge, Substitution Substitution Federico Ricca replaces Eduard Sobol. Page 1 of 4 Rewind Previous Navigate to Next Navigate To The Last Page Forward
