City Keep UCL Dreams Alive with Dramatic Comeback

A shock opener, a stunning equaliser, and a late surge—Manchester City fought back from the brink to secure their place in the knockout stages.

January 29, 2025
11:27 pm

Manchester City secured their spot in the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds with a big win on the final day, coming back from a goal down to beat Club Brugge 3-1.

For a team that just won the UCL trophy last season, needing a win on Matchday 8 to stay in the game felt almost unreal. But that’s exactly what Pep Guardiola’s squad faced, and you could see their nerves early on. A defensive slip gave Christos Tzolis a golden chance right away, but the Brugge forward missed it, letting City off the hook.

Even though City had most of the ball, frustration grew as the first half went on. İlkay Gündoğan thought he had calmed things down by scoring, but the offside flag had other ideas. Guardiola, usually so chill, was pacing along the touchline, clearly frustrated with his team’s struggles. His mood took a hit just before half-time when Brugge struck first. Raphael Onyedika sneaked in unmarked at the back post and scored, leaving the visitors with a surprising lead at the break.

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City needed a spark, and it came from Mateo Kovačić. The Croatian, who had been solid in midfield, took charge right after the restart, charging forward and curling a beautiful shot into the far corner. The Etihad erupted, feeling the momentum shift.

The equalizer fired up City, and they turned the game around just after the hour mark. Joško Gvardiol’s cross forced Brugge defender Joel Ordóñez into a desperate lunge, and the ball ended up in his own net.

City should have sealed the deal with 15 minutes left. Erling Haaland, usually deadly in these moments, had his one-on-one saved, and Savinho’s close-range follow-up was somehow cleared off the line by Brandon Mechele. But the Brazilian winger wasn’t to be stopped; he connected with John Stones’ perfect pass moments later and fired it home at the near post to make it 3-1.

The final minutes didn’t have much intensity, as both teams knew they were safe. Brugge, sitting in the last knockout spot, were happy to defend, while City controlled the game without rushing, confident in their progression.

In the end, it was a nerve test that Guardiola’s team passed, but they know they can’t rely on such close calls in the later rounds of the competition.