Man City vs Club Brugge: Preview, predictions and lineups

Manchester City must beat Club Brugge on Wednesday evening to avoid a calamitous early Champions League exit.

Three defeats and two draws from their seven matches have left the Cityzens in an awkward position heading into the final league phase encounter, with victory against their Belgian opponents at the Etihad Stadium the only route to the play-offs for the reigning Premier League champions.

A draw or defeat would see them eliminated, failing to make the knockout rounds of Europe's premier competition for the first time since 2012/13.

Club Brugge currently sit three points ahead of Man City and know that a draw would secure their place in the play-offs, with even defeat potentially seeing them progress depending on results elsewhere. Nicky Hayen's side know the challenge of visiting the Etihad but they will be confident heading to Manchester following a 20-game unbeaten run.

Here is 90min's guide to a must-win match for the resurgent Man City.

What time does Man City vs Club Brugge kick-off?

• Location: Manchester, England
• Stadium: Etihad Stadium
• Date: Wednesday 29 January
• Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
• Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez (SPA)
• VAR: Alejandro Hernandez (SPA)

Man City vs Club Brugge H2H record (All time)

• Man City: 2 wins
• Club Brugge: 0 wins
• Draws: 0

• Last meeting: Man City 4-1 Club Brugge (3 November 2021) - Champions League

Current form (all competitions)

How to watch Man City vs Club Brugge on TV - UK and US

Man City team news

Rodri and Oscar Bobb are long-term absentees for Man City but their injury list doesn't end there. Talismanic centre-back Ruben Dias has suffered another setback and will be missing for the foreseeable future due to a groin problem.

Fellow centre-half Nathan Ake is unlikely to feature midweek having been absent since the collapse against Brentford, while speedy winger Jeremy Doku is out for "a while" and will miss the clash with Club Brugge - and likely the Premier League fixture with Arsenal on Sunday.

John Stones will return to the starting XI after Abdukodir Khusanov's difficult debut against Chelsea last weekend, with the Uzbek defender ineligible to feature alongside new signings Omar Marmoush and Vitor Reis.

Man City predicted lineup vs Club Brugge

Man City predicted lineup vs Club Brugge (4-3-3): Ederson; Nunes, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; De Bruyne, Kovacic, Silva; Foden, Haaland, Savinho.

Club Brugge team news

Club Brugge's only concern on Wednesday evening is skipper Hans Vanaken, who missed the 1-1 draw with Kortrijk at the weekend with illness. The influential midfielder has scored eight goals and provided ten assists in all competitions this season.

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will be a face familiar to Man City supporters and the stopper will be busy at the Etihad. At the other end, Sweden international Gustaf Nilsson will be relied upon for goals having scored nine this term.

Club Brugge predicted lineup vs Man City

Club Brugge predicted lineup vs Man City (4-1-4-1): Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Jashari; Skoras, Vetlesen, Vanaken, Tzolis; Nilsson.

Man City vs Club Brugge score prediction

There will be plenty of nerves inside the Etihad on Wednesday given Man City's inconsistencies this season but the Cityzens are beginning to find some form. They have won five of their last seven, including the recent 3-1 win over Chelsea.

Man City are still iffy in defence and Club Brugge will fancy their chances of breaching Ederson, but the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne should condemn the Belgians to their first defeat since late October.

Prediction: Man City 3-1 Club Brugge

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