02 November 2021, 10:21 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The UEFA Champions League Group A fixture, Manchester City vs. Club Brugge KV, kicks off at 21:00 (GMT+1) on Wednesday, November 3, at the City of Manchester Stadium. Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP) will have the final say on the pitch, while receiving help from the Video Assistant referee, Ricardo de Burgos (ESP).
Preview Manchester City Champions League, Nov 3, 2021
Preview Manchester City picked up a comfortable 5-1 win over Club Brugge on Matchday 3. A brace from Riyad Mahrez (43’ P. & 84'), coupled with goals from João Cancelo (30’), Kyle Walker (53’), and Cole Palmer (67'), saw Manchester City pick up their second win in the UEFA Champions League this season. Brugge’s Hans Vanaken (81’) bagged a consolation goal for his side with nine minutes left on the clock. Following the weekend’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on the home front in the Premier League, the Cityzens aim for a quick return to winning ways. The Premier League outfit is 2nd in Group A with 6 points after 2W, 0D, & 1L. A win for City could see the Premier League champions move to the top of the group if Leipzig stuns the nine-time French champions, PSG, in another Group A fixture. A confident Pep knows his side remains unbeaten in 15 home European matches (14W, 1D, & 0L) since a 2-1 defeat to Lyon on Matchday 1 of the 2018/19 UCL season. Pep’s 4—3—3 formation could see Jack Grealish on the left, playing alongside Gabriel Jesus and Phil Foden in attack. Meanwhile, Riyad Mahrez could be pushing for a start. Following his return, Oleksandr Zinchenko will be available for Pep on Wednesday, while Ferran Torres is ruled out for at least a month following a foot injury.
Preview Club Brugge Champions League, Nov 3, 2021
Preview Having been on the receiving end of City's Matchday 3 victory, Club Brugge aims for at least a point against City, while hoping for a favorable outcome in the fixture between PSG and RB Leipzig. Brugge slipped one spot from 2nd to 3rd place in Group A after Matchday 3's defeat, having 4 points from 1W, 1D, & 1L. Philippe Clement's side has only one defeat in five games across all competitions: WLDWW, and Brugge. However, Clement is aware that his side has never progressed to the UEFA Champions League knockout stage in eight previous appearances. On Wednesday, he will aim to break the eight-time jinx by picking up as many points as possible in Group A. A 4—4—1—1 formation with Charles De Ketelaere positioned ahead of Vanaken in attack is expected from the 47-year-old when the Belgian outfit takes on the sky-blue-wearing side once again.