At risk of an incredibly premature elimination from the Champions League, Manchester City's final league phase encounter pits them against Belgian outfit Club Brugge at the Etihad on Wednesday evening.
Pep Guardiola's side find themselves outside the top 24 after an astonishing collapse against Paris Saint-Germain last week, but their visitors are currently on course for a playoff spot after holding Juventus to a goalless draw.
Match preview
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The permutations for Man City this week are simple. Win, and they are almost certainly through to the Champions League playoffs. Draw or lose, and their European adventure ends at the first hurdle.
Guardiola's side have largely pulled themselves out of their autumnal rut, and their Parisian sojourn on matchday seven initially had all the makings of a joyous affair, as Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland struck within three minutes of each other in the second half.
However, a PSG side also fighting for their right to continue in Europe's premier tournament produced a dazzling turnaround on their own patch, where Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, Joao Neves and Goncalo Ramos all contributed to the slaying of the Citizens.
Now hovering just outside the unseeded playoff spots, Man City's fate is still in their own hands given that upcoming opponents Club Brugge are only three points better off in 20th place with a worse goal difference; the only scenario where a win might not be enough is if 26th-placed Dinamo Zagreb also beat AC Milan, and do so while scoring 11 goals or more.
Stranger things have happened in the beautiful game, but Guardiola's men are surely safe in the knowledge that victory on Wednesday guarantees progression, and they have not lost in 90 minutes in any of their last 33 Champions League home games.
While it may be too late for the Citizens to complete a fabulous Premier League five-peat, they were too good for Chelsea in Saturday's 3-1 triumph over the Blues, the seventh game in a row where the hosts have scored at least twice.
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While Man City go gung-ho for a crucial three points on Wednesday, they may run into a parked Club Brugge bus, as their 20th-placed visitors will assure themselves of a spot in the playoff round with just a draw at the home of the Premier League champions.
Such an outcome is not beyond the realm of possibility for Nicky Hayen's men, who stunted Juventus - one of the sides to have overcome Man City in the league phase already - on matchday seven, putting them on the brink of knockout qualification.
That hard-fought stalemate preceded a less impressive 1-1 draw with KV Kortrijk in the Jupiler Pro League on Saturday, albeit one that extended the visitors' remarkable unbeaten run; they have now avoided defeat in each of their last 20 matches across all competitions.
Also within touching distance of Genk at the summit of the Jupiler Pro League table, Club Brugge have taken points off of all of Juventus, Aston Villa, Celtic and Sporting Lisbon in the last four Champions League matchdays, but not since 1976-77 have they gone five unbeaten in the European Cup.
The head-to-head column does not make for pleasant Belgian reading either, as Club Brugge were thumped 5-1 and 4-1 by Man City during the 2021-22 group phase, and the time is nigh for Guardiola's men to replicate such results lest they risk an embarrassing exit.
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Team News
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As well as the long-term duo of Oscar Bobb (leg fracture) and Rodri (ACL), Man City lost Ruben Dias to a fresh abductor problem in the loss to PSG, while Nathan Ake (muscle) is a doubt and Jeremy Doku (unspecified) will miss out.
Dias's absence opened the door for new signing Abdukodir Khusanov to earn his Premier League baptism against Chelsea, but a disastrous debut saw him commit the error that led to Noni Madueke's opener with just three minutes gone, and he is now ineligible for this match.
The experienced John Stones will surely be restored to the first XI in Khusanov's place, while Vitor Reis and Omar Marmoush and are in the exact same boat; Kevin De Bruyne and Savinho are vying for attacking recalls over the latter.
Meanwhile, Club Brugge had one concern before flying to Manchester, as captain Hans Vanaken missed the weekend's draw due to illness, but Hayen revealed at his pre-game press conference that the Belgian was 100% fit for this game.
As well as an expected recall for Vanaken, Maxim De Cuyper is now likely to regain his rightful spot in the first XI; the Arsenal-linked left-back has already created 14 chances in the Champions League season, the joint-most of any Club Brugge player in the competition since 2003-04.
Ex-Norwich City winger Christos Tzolis boasts an identical tally and will operate off the left wing, while former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet - now 36 - acts as the last line of defence.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Silva, Kovacic; Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland
Club Brugge possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Sabbe, Mechele, Ordonez, De Cuyper; Jashari, Onyedika; Talbi, Vanaken, Tzolis; Nilsson
We say: Manchester City 2-0 Club Brugge
Club Brugge have been no pushovers in the Champions League in recent weeks, and the Belgian giants could very well just sit back and try to absorb pressure given that a point will do for them.
However, a desperate Man City should carve their way through eventually, and with concerns over the health of Vanaken, their visitors should not respond, as Guardiola's men prolong their Champions League adventure for a little while longer.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
