Man City vs Club Brugge tips and predictions: Foden to fire City through in crunch clash?

Manchester City state of play

Manchester City must beat Club Brugge in their final league phase fixture, otherwise they will make a shock early exit from the Champions League. 

Pep Guardiola's side are on the brink after last Wednesday's 4-2 defeat at PSG extended their winless streak in the competition to four games to leave them three points behind their Belgian opponents, albeit with a superior goal difference. 

Check out the best UK bookmakers to claim free bets worth up to £850!

The PSG loss was City's first defeat since their horror run before Christmas and they showed their class by bouncing back to record a 3-1 win against Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday. 

Club Brugge state of play

Brugge are guaranteed to progress to the play-off stage if they avoid defeat at the Etihad Stadium. 

A four-game unbeaten streak, which forms part of a wider 20-match run without defeat in all competitions, has been crucial to their rise up the Champions League table to 20th, but the job is not quite done yet and a defeat combined with bad results elsewhere could yet see them drop outside the top 24 and be eliminated.

Nicky Hayen's team ground out a goalless draw against Juventus last Tuesday, but failed to claim all three points against Kortrijk in domestic action on Saturday. 

Key talking point: Can City avoid an early exit?

The pressure presented by this fixture will be a good guide to whether City have truly turned a corner. 

Last week's meltdown in Paris was reminiscent of the fragility that characterised their horror run (W1 D3 L9) between October 30 and December 26, although the recovery from conceding early against Chelsea to claim all three points suggests they have their swagger back. 

The enterprising display at the weekend means they should head into the match with confidence, despite the precarious situation they find themselves in. 

Crucially, City are a dominant force at home and have not been beaten on their own patch in the Champions League in regulation time since September 2018.  

Brugge struggle to score in this competition and it is, therefore, a question of whether they will be able to keep out the hosts, but Phil Foden could be the key.

He has bagged six goals this month and his return to form has coincided with City's improvement. 

FIRST’s top tip for Manchester City vs Club Brugge

Player to score and team to win - Phil Foden - 23/20 (Betway)

City should have the cutting edge to break Brugge down and it's difficult to look past Foden when he's in red-hot form. 

Extra tips

Home shots on target - 8+ - 10/11 (Betway)

City have had 24 shots on target in their three Champions League home games and will be on the front foot from the off.  

Player to be carded - Ardon Jashari - 5/2 (Betway)

Referee Jose María Sanchez awards 4.67 yellows per game and Brugge midfielder Jashari could be in the firing line for a caution as he averages 1.42 fouls per 90 minutes. 

Team news

Ruben Dias has joined Rodri on the sidelines, Nathan Ake and Jeremy Doku are doubts, while Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis are ineligible. 

Brugge skipper Hans Vanaken is hoping to return from illness. 

Manchester City vs Club Brugge predicted line-ups

Manchester City: Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Silva, Kovacic; Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland (4-2-3-1)

Club Brugge: Mignolet; Sabbe, Mechele, Ordonez, De Cuyper; Jashari, Onyedika; Talbi, Vanaken, Tzolis; Nilsson (4-2-3-1)

Form guide

Manchester City: LLDWWWDWLW

Club Brugge: WWDWWWWWDD