Things are simple for Manchester City heading into their concluding UEFA Champions League league-phase match against Club Brugge.
If Pep Guardiola’s side win, they will go ahead of their Belgian opponents on goal difference and seal a spot in the playoff round. Anything less and the 2023 winners will be out before the knockout stages for the first time since 2012/13.
City are in this predicament after throwing points away from winning positions against Sporting CP and Feyenoord before going down 4-2 from 2-0 up at Paris Saint-Germain last week.
The reigning Premier League champions claimed a restorative 3-1 win over Chelsea at the weekend and have no option but to build on that against a Brugge side who are undefeated in their past 20 matches across all competitions.
The Sporting News looks at the latest team news for this fixture.
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Man City vs. Club Brugge lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Guardiola confirmed that John Stones will start at centre-back despite continuing to manage a bone spur problem in his foot. Nathan Ake (muscular) and Ruben Dias (abductor) are both out and new signings Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis are ineligible. The same goes for Omar Marmoush after his promising debut against Chelsea.
Savinho and Kevin De Bruyne are each in contention to return after being on the bench at the weekend. Jeremy Doku (muscular) is sidelined alongside long-term absentees Oscar Bobb and Rodri.
Man City predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Ederson (GK) — Nunes, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol — De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva — Foden, Haaland, Savinho
Injured: Dias, Ake, Doku, Bobb, Rodri
Suspended: None
Ineligible: Khusanov, Reis, Marmoush
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Brugge boss Nicky Hayen has an enviable clean bill of health in his first-team squad as the Belgian Pro League giants seek to reach the knockout rounds for the first time since Europe’s premier competition introduced a group phase in 1991/92.
Hayen could go with the same side that played out a goalless draw with Juventus last week, knowing a similar outcome will be enough.
When the two sides met in the 2021/22 group stage, City won 5-1 away and 4-1 at home. The returning Stones inadvertently equalised for Brugge with an own goal in the latter game.
Club Brugge predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Mignolet (GK) — Sabbe, Mechele, Ordonez, De Cuyper — Jashari, Onyedika — Talbi, Vanaken, Tzolis — Jutgla
Injured: None
Suspended: None
Man City vs. Club Brugge live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this UEFA Champions League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
