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Manchester City vs Club Brugge predictions, odds, betting tips & team news

Manchester City host Club Brugge in a Champions League showdown on Wednesday, January 29th, at 8pm (UK time). Pep Guardiola’s side must win if they are to stay in the competition, while a win or draw for Club Brugge would see them qualify for the playoffs. Check out our match preview and best bets for this clash at the Etihad. 

Man City to Win & Under 4.5 Goals  (4/5 with Sky Bet)

Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 33 UEFA Champions League matches at the Etihad (W28 D5). I’m backing the hosts to come out on top, but I do think the goal line is set too high here, with Brugge expected to park the bus.

The Belgians have beaten Sporting Lisbon and Aston Villa in this competition and held Juventus to a goalless draw last time out. A draw or better would guarantee a spot in the playoffs for Brugge and although City looked a lot more comfortable at the weekend against Chelsea, but I’m struggling to see their being over four goals here. 

Phil Foden to Score & Mateo Kovacic to be Carded (12/1 with bet365)

Phil Foden found the net in the win over Chelsea on Saturday and has been in good form since the turn of the year. The 24-year-old has scored six goals across his last six appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side, including a brace against Ipswich and Brentford. With Erling Haaland priced at just 1/2 in the anytime scorer market, Foden appeals more at the 6/4 currently on offer. 

Brugge are unbeaten in their last four in the Champions League and unbeaten in their last 20 across all formats since a defeat to AC Milan in October. They can hit teams on the counter and with so much on the line, I can envisage City taking no chances and being happy to take a couple of yellow cards in the process of stopping attacks. Mateo Kovacic has six yellow cards this season and combining him to find his way into the book with Foden to score pays 12/1 with bet365.

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How both teams go into Manchester City vs Club Brugge

Manchester City have had an incoherent Champions League campaign, with very few predicting Pep Guardiola’s team would find themselves in 25th place out of 36 teams after seven matches in this new league format. They began with a goalless draw against Inter Milan, which was soon forgotten as they secured back-to-back wins over Slovan Bratislava and Sparta Prague, scoring a combined nine goals without conceding. However, the momentum quickly faded with a humbling 4-1 loss at Sporting CP, followed by a shocking draw at home against Feyenoord after squandering a three-goal lead. As of now, City’s most recent outing ended in another loss, this time a 2-0 defeat at Juventus. Last week they gave up a lead against PSG and were beaten 4-2, meaning they must win on Wednesday to make it to the playoff stage of the tournament.

In contrast, Club Brugge have enjoyed a strong Champions League campaign and sit 20th heading into the final round of fixtures. The Belgian side are unbeaten in their last four in the competition (W2 D2), with victories over Aston Villa and Sporting Lisbon and a point against Celtic and Juventus. Club Brugge visitors will assure themselves of a spot in the playoff round with just a draw at the home of the Premier League champions.

Manchester City team news

Rodri is a long-term absentee for Manchester City, accompanied on the sidelines by Oscar Bobb and Ruben Dias. Nathan Ake and Jeremy Doku are both a doubt.

Club Brugge team news

Club Brugge have a relatively clean bill of health, with captain Hans Vanaken the only player a doubt after missing the game at the weekend due to illness.

Manchester City vs Club Brugge head-to-head

This marks the third encounter between Manchester City and Club Brugge, following their previous meetings during the 2021/22 Champions League group stage, where City secured victories of 5-1 in Belgium and 4-1 at their home ground.

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