Manchester City scraped through to the Champions League playoff knockout stage with a 3-1 win over Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium.
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City scrape through Champions League playoff
City needed a victory to avoid slipping out of the top 24 spots in the tournament’s new format.
Pep Guardiola’s side experienced a first-half scare when Raphael Onyedika gave Club Brugge the lead by converting Ferran Jutgla’s cross.
Mateo Kovacic gave City a glimmer of hope with a low drive past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, before Joel Ordonez turned Josko Gvardiol’s cross into his own net, allowing City to dictate the pace.
The boys at Etihad Stadium sealed the victory when Savinho scored with a low shot, as they progress in the playoff round.
The result means Pep Guardiola continues his record of progressing from the opening stage of the competition as manager.
Playoff matchups
City survived uncharacteristic collapses in Europe, beginning with a 4-1 humbling loss to Sporting CP.
They then squandered a three-goal lead at home to Feyenoord, suffered a 2-0 defeat at Juventus, and conceded four against Paris Saint-Germain last Wednesday, casting doubt on their hopes of progressing.
City will have to wait for their opponent this Friday.
Elsewhere, Liverpool finished at the top the league phase table.
Arsenal and Aston Villa both won to secure spots in the top eight, guaranteeing direct progress to the round of 16, as well as Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich won their final games against Brest and Slovan Bratislava, respectively.
Here is the preview of this year’s knockout stage.
