Manchester City was another team that entered the final matchday of the Champions League’s new format needing a win—and they got it.

Now, Pep Guardiola’s side will compete in the playoff round as they fight to stay alive in the continental tournament.

All the Goals from Manchester City vs. Club Brugge

Pep Guardiola’s Celebration Said It All

He furiously struck a drinks crate as his team, after falling behind, came back against Club Brugge. It was the image of frustration leaving his body, the suffering he endured, and the fear of facing elimination before the knockout stage for the first time in his career.

But City survived. Despite everything—flirting with elimination and playing 45 minutes as if it wasn’t a do-or-die match.

In the first half, they fell into Guardiola’s most criticized game plan: endlessly passing around the edge of the box, waiting for an opponent’s mistake or for Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta to magically appear and link up with Lionel Messi. Without those three geniuses and relying on players far from their best, like Gündogan, De Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva, City couldn’t make it work.

Instead, they resorted to unnecessary crosses and left themselves vulnerable at the back by overloading the final third. Without fast midfielders or full-backs to cover, City was exposed, and Brugge—far from being the Netherlands of ’74—took advantage.

Jutglà, a product of Espanyol’s academy, effortlessly got past emergency full-back Matheus Nunes, making Guardiola long for Kyle Walker, who left for Italy. Jutglà’s cutback found Onyedika, who slotted it home as Kovacic chased from meters away.

The goal, just before halftime, stunned the already silent Etihad crowd. After the break, Guardiola emerged from the tunnel with visible scratches on his head—a sign of his frustration from another dreadful night.

But City’s second-half turnaround worked, thanks to Savinho’s pace and attacking threat. He replaced Gündogan at halftime and made an immediate impact.

Kovacic, unreliable defensively, showed his ability going forward. Given space by Brugge, he drove through the middle unchallenged and found the net with a simple shot, kickstarting the comeback.

The goal came at the perfect time—53 minutes in—and it didn’t take long for Savinho to take control.

First, he slipped a pass to Gvardiol, whose cross was turned into his own net by Joel Ordóñez. Then, Savinho executed a brilliant first touch, dribbled past his marker, and finished calmly past Mignolet.

With the 2-1 lead, Guardiola’s frustration turned into joy. He went from punching a crate to smiling at the stands. His pain—at least for a day—was gone.

Brugge, too, had reason to celebrate, as they secured the final spot in the Europa League knockout round.