'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Last season’s finalists Manchester City welcomed Club Brugge to the Etihad Stadium in their fourth Champions League Group A fixture on Wednesday night. Pep Guardiola’s side registered an emphatic 5-1 win in the reverse fixture and were in an equally destructive mood last night as well.
As expected, Manchester City dominated possession and did not allow Brugge to settle on the ball throughout the 90. With nowhere to run from City’s frantic, organized pressing, the Belgian outfit eventually crumbled.
Manchester City’s golden boy Phil Foden was the first to strike in the 15th minute, moments after Joao Cancelo hit the post. The Englishman’s effort was canceled a couple of minutes later by a John Stones own goal, but City did not lose their footing.
Trending
The English champions came out all guns blazing in the second half and restored their cushion through Riyad Mahrez’s perfectly-placed header at the far post. They added another, 20 minutes later, this time through Raheem Sterling. Finally, Gabriel Jesus joined the party and dispatched City’s fourth of the night.
The 4-1 victory marked another convincing performance from the Sky Blues, who now sit atop Group A. The Champions League aspirants clearly had a lot going for them, but few players were a smidgen more assertive than others.
Here are City’s five best performers in their convincing 4-1 win over Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League.
#5 Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez started on the right flank to add width to City’s attack. In the 15th minute, the Algerian international intelligently took part in the build-up that eventually led to Cancelo’s cross for Foden’s first-half opener.
Mahrez did not do much else in the first half, but sprung back to life in the second.
Nine minutes after the restart, Mahrez collected the ball on the right flank and fed it to Cancelo. The Algerian rushed into the box anticipating a cross, and Cancelo did not disappoint.
Mahrez cleverly cushioned the ball down at the far post to put Manchester City 2-1 up.
#4 Ilkay Gundogan
Sitting in the middle of the park, Ilkay Gundogan made sure Manchester City dominated possession as usual. The German was a little static in the first half but got the license to push ahead in the second 45.
Gundogan looked a lot sharper in the second half and was Manchester City’s best midfielder on matchday four.
His forward runs were well-timed and allowed the Premier League outfit to overload the Brugge box when they needed to. Gundogan assisted Raheem Sterling’s goal at an important moment to seal the game for Manchester City.
#3 Gabriel Jesus
Manchester City’s failure to get Harry Kane during the summer transfer window should have allowed Gabriel Jesus to become an important part of the squad.
Unfortunately for the Brazilian centre-forward, Pep Guardiola has not yet made him a part of his plans. So to get into the manager's good graces, Jesus must make the most of his opportunities, and that is exactly what he did on Wednesday.
To no one’s surprise, Guardiola went with a false nine system, leaving Jesus on the bench. The 24-year-old had to wait on the wings to get his shot, which finally came in the 68th minute.
Coming in for Jack Grealish, Jesus was like a live wire on the pitch and was eager to get on the scoresheet as quickly as possible. Thankfully, he did get his chance to shine, even though it was at the very end.
In injury time, Cancelo found Jesus inside the area and the Brazilian opened his body to dispatch a low, curling effort at the far post. Jesus scored the goal he needed and City went home with a comfortable 4-1 win.
#2 Phil Foden
Leaving Jesus on the bench, Pep Guardiola went with a false nine system, handing Phil Foden the most advanced role. The young Englishman, who has proven to be impressive both as a midfield and a forward, did not look out of place and made a tangible impact.
Foden was deployed as a floating forward of sorts, always switching his position to keep the defenders guessing. His passing was precise and he made impressive, intelligent runs all night long.
The 21-year-old scored the opener for City in the 15th minute, tapping home from close range after Cancelo sliced Brugge open with his cross.
Foden also demonstrated his creativity during City’s third goal, carving the Brugge resistance open with a perfect through ball to Gundogan. The German then fed the ball to Sterling for Manchester City’s insurance goal.
#1 Joao Cancelo
Manchester City left-back Joao Cancelo was the star of the show against Club Brugge on Wednesday night. The Portuguese made full use of Brugge’s conservative approach and made their life miserable with his passing and movement.
Cancelo started his night by hitting the post and then assisting Foden for Manchester City’s opener in the 15th minute. He came out even stronger in the second half and put the perfect cross in to set up Mahrez’s header.
Finally, in added injury time, he found Jesus inside the area and saw the Brazilian find the back of the net.
Cancelo, who had three assists to his name on Wednesday, created seven chances alone in the game. The full-back also made two important tackles and attempted three shots.
