A fire near the Etihad Stadium caused moments of tension just hours before Manchester City’s crucial Champions League match against Club Brugge, where Pep Guardiola’s side is fighting for a place in the next round.

Emergency and Evacuation Near the Etihad

The fire broke out in a merchandise store near the stadium’s main entrance, prompting an immediate evacuation of the affected area. Although firefighters quickly contained the blaze, Manchester City took extra precautions, suspending the traditional team arrival ritual, where fans welcome the players before kickoff.

Security measures taken:

• Immediate evacuation of nearby areas.
• Some stadium gates were temporarily closed.
• Entry resumed 30 minutes later without further issues.

Changes to Pre-Match Events

The incident also impacted pre-game plans, forcing the club to cancel the presentation of its winter signings for both the men's and women's teams due to safety concerns.

Despite the scare, the match will proceed as scheduled, and the Champions League qualification scenario remains clear for Manchester City:

• Win = Qualification secured.
• Draw or loss = Elimination.

With a tense build-up to the game, Guardiola’s squad will now aim to overcome this unexpected setback and book their place in the knockout stage of Europe’s most prestigious competition.