SM
Barcelona vs. Brann: 4 hrs 46 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
MC
Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 3, 2021 at 8pm UK
Etihad Stadium
CB

Man City
4 - 1
Brugge

Foden (15'), Mahrez (54'), Sterling (72'), Jesus (90+2')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Stones (17' og.)

Preview: Manchester City vs. Club Brugge - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Manchester City vs. Club Brugge - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Champions League clash between Manchester City and Club Brugge, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Manchester City will endeavour to produce another five-star showing when they battle Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday in Group A.

Pep Guardiola's men eased to a 5-1 win when the sides met in Belgium on matchday four, but the Citizens are not exactly on cloud nine heading into this clash.


Match preview

Facing a side who had held Paris Saint-Germain to a draw and defeated RB Leipzig may have led to some apprehension within the City camp, but Guardiola's side asserted their dominance in Europe with a crushing 5-1 win over Club Brugge last month.

Cole Palmer, Joao Cancelo, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez (2) were all on the scoresheet while Hans Vanaken pulled one back for Brugge, but the Premier League champions have posted a pair of worrying domestic results ahead of this encounter.

After their perennial reign of dominance in the EFL Cup was ended by West Ham United, City failed to produce the goods in front of their own fans and slumped to defeat against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, with Wilfried Zaha and Conor Gallagher netting at the Etihad.

Now at risk of losing three games in a row across all competitions - something they have not done since April 2018 - City remain in the top two of Champions League Group A behind PSG, although Brugge would leapfrog Guardiola's men with all three points here.

While that defeat to Palace had alarm bells ringing for Guardiola, the Citizens can take confidence from their seven-game winning run on home soil in the Champions League, during which they have never failed to score at least twice in a game.

Despite pitting their wits against PSG and Leipzig and coming away with a respectable four-point haul to show for their efforts, attempting to get one over the rampant Guardiola machine proved a step too far for Club Brugge.

However, the Belgian outfit have done remarkably well to hold their own in a group that many expected them to finish dead last in, and with Leipzig yet to claim a point in Europe this term, Brugge are guaranteed to sit in the top three by the close of play on matchday four.

Philippe Clement's side were indebted to an old head in Bas Dost during their league encounter with Sint-Truiden at the weekend, as the 32-year-old netted the opener after 40 seconds before repeating the trick in the second half in a 2-1 success.

Brugge have strung together a five-game unbeaten run away from home in all competitions ahead of their trip to the Etihad, but they have also conceded in each of their last four on the road, while their last clean sheet in the Champions League on rival territory came all the way back in August 2019.

Manchester City Champions League form:
  • W
  • L
  • W

Manchester City form (all competitions):
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L

Club Brugge Champions League form:
  • D
  • W
  • L

Club Brugge form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • W

Team News

Ferran Torres remains Man City's only injury concern with a fractured foot, while Aymeric Laporte's red card at the weekend means nothing for the Champions League.

Ahead of the weekend's Manchester derby, Guardiola should certainly shuffle the pack for this game, with Mahrez and Raheem Sterling both in line to return to the attack.

Kevin De Bruyne is supposedly at risk of losing his starting place for the meeting with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men, and Guardiola may be tempted to recall Ilkay Gundogan here.

As for Brugge, midfielder Eder Balanta has now picked up three bookings in the Champions League and will not be available here, so Ruud Vormer and Mats Rits ought to line up in midfield.

Highly-rated winger Noa Lang is suspended for his side's next league fixture but is fine to line up here, while Stanley Nsoki returns from a domestic ban of his own to displace Brandon Mechele in defence.

Dost has certainly put himself in the frame to lead the line with his game-winning brace at the weekend, and he may be granted his wish after Kamal Sowah was nowhere to be seen.

Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Gundogan, Rodri, Silva; Mahrez, Foden, Sterling

Club Brugge possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Mata, Hendry, Nsoki, Sobol; Rits, Vormer; Lang, Vanaken, De Ketelaere; Dost


We say: Manchester City 3-1 Club Brugge

City's confidence has been rocked by two dampening domestic results in recent weeks, but Guardiola's men are almost always unplayable at home in Champions League group-stage matches.

Brugge will hope to take inspiration from Palace's Etihad triumph, but after conceding five to the Citizens on home soil, we can only envisage Clement's side coming up short once again.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__468960 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-11-02 14:03:49:
html db last update - 2021-11-01 09:30:08 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Five memorable Man City victories under Guardiola
Lionel Messi reveals decision over retirement
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

How Man United could line up against Brentford

1

HM

Preview: Brentford vs. Man Utd - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PB

Preview: Almeria vs. Osasuna - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PA

Preview: Rangers vs. Hibernian - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

4

PR

Arsenal 'draw up 10-man striker shortlist'

5

A'

Arsenal injury, suspension list vs. Man City - Saka, Gabriel

6

AI

Real Madrid injury, suspension list vs. Athletic

7

RM

England attacking duo 'in danger of missing out on Euro 2024'

8

EA

Liverpool injury, suspension list vs. Brighton

9

LI

Manchester United could be missing nine players for Brentford clash

10

MU


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .