Will Bruges also surprise against the Citizens?

When the Champions League group stage draw was made at the end of August, Club Brugge officials nearly had their jaws dropped. With Manchester City, Paris St. Germain and RB Leipzig, the Belgian champions were assigned three absolute top teams, so that even before the first preliminary round match kicked off, the chances of the blue-and-blacks advancing were reduced to a minimum.

After two games, coach Philippe Clement’s team is one of the positive surprises of the current season in the top flight. The underdogs have four points, which means that their dream of reaching the last 16 in Group A is still alive, at least in theory. The bookmakers, on the other hand, are still not convinced by the Belgians, which is why they are offering very high odds on a home win before the match between Brugge and Manchester City. The clear underdog role is not to be shaken.

In order to make a suitable bet between Bruges and Manchester City, it should also be taken into account that the English side has been much more stable and consistent at national level than the home side from the province of West Flanders, who have been on top form twice in the Champions League. Nevertheless, it is not necessarily to be expected that the Belgians will manage another surprise on Tuesday evening. More realistic seems a commanding success of the Citizens.

Brugge – statistics & current form

Continuity has been Club Brugge’s trump card in their first two Champions League fixtures. In fact, the Belgian champions were only one of three teams to field exactly the same starting eleven in both games. Coach Philippe Clement also made fewer changes than any of his 31 colleagues. Five changes instead of the ten possible show on the one hand that the coach trusts only a limited number of quality players. On the other hand, the first eleven usually did such a good job that there was no reason to change much.

Only the boldest optimists would have believed that the clear underdogs would have four points after two match days. After a remarkable 1-1 draw at home against the star ensemble from Paris, the Belgians turned an interim 0:1 deficit into an equally surprising 2-1 victory in Leipzig. Club Brugge have therefore now gone unbeaten in four consecutive group matches. The eight points collected in that span equate to the best “top flight run” in the club’s own history.

Will Brugge rise above themselves for a third time?

The fact that we are nevertheless far from predicting a point win for the hosts between Bruges and Manchester City is primarily due to the fact that Hans Vanaken and Co. overperformed on the first two matchdays and, in our eyes, it cannot be assumed that the performances can be confirmed against the next top team.

Moreover, there are also statistically acute doubts about a good result for the Clement eleven. In the past twelve encounters with English teams, FC Brugge have not managed to record a single victory (three draws, nine defeats).

In the league, there is often a lack of effectiveness

In addition, there is also a small question mark behind their current form, as they have only managed five points from their last three games at home instead of the nine they were aiming for. The defending champions therefore have to settle for second place in the standings. Especially the offensive lags behind the high expectations time and again, which is why it might even be an option to check the odds between Bruges and Manchester City on the “to-nil” victory of the favourites.

Coach Clement, meanwhile, can draw on a full complement of players. The main focus in attack is certainly on youngster Noa Lang, who is on the wish list of numerous Premier League clubs. But Belgian international Hans Vanaken has been even more impressive of late, scoring at least once in each of his last four CL matches

Predicted Brugge line-up:
Mignolet; Mata, Hendry, Nsoki, Sobol; Vormer, Rits, Vanaken; Sowah, De Ketelaere, Lang

Last matches played by Bruges:

Manchester City – Statistics & current form

At the 2021 European Championship, Raheem Sterling was still one of the standout performers. As a multiple goal scorer, he led the Three Lions to the final and played his way into the hearts of the English fans. But apparently not in the hearts of Pep Guardiola, because at Manchester City the winger is currently not more than a supplementary player. During the week, Sterling finally vented his frustration and spoke publicly of thoughts of leaving.

In general, however, things are going well for Manchester City in the domestic Premier League. After the narrow opening defeat on matchday one, the Sky Blues have won five of their last seven matches and drawn twice. In six of the aforementioned seven matches, keeper Ederson did not even concede a goal. In the clash between Brugge and Manchester City, the prediction of a “to-nil” victory for Guardiola’s team is therefore well-founded in any case.

Does the defence now also work in Europe?

Because the defence has not been so stable in the Champions League lately and only managed a clean sheet in the past seven games, we are almost forced to look for an alternative. A handicap bet in favour of the Citizens might be a good option, as five of their seven wins so far this season have come with at least a two-goal difference.

After the disappointing away defeat at Paris St. Germain on matchday two, the senses are certainly sharpened. Only once in his coaching career has Pep Guardiola lost two consecutive away matches in the top flight (with FC Bayern). We are very confident that this will continue after Tuesday. With the exception of the injured Spaniard Ferran Torres, all players are likely to be available.

Predicted Manchester City line-up:
Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Gündogan, Rodri, De Bruyne; Jesus, Foden, Grealish

Last matches played by Manchester City:

Bruges – Manchester City Direct Comparison / H2H Balance

This is the first time the two teams have faced each other in a competitive match. As mentioned above, Club Brugge have not won any of their last twelve European Cup matches against English teams and have even conceded nine defeats in the process. The Citizens’ record against opponents from Belgium, however, reads much more positively. Five of the six encounters of this kind have been victorious. The only defeat dates back to 1978 and has no relevance to the upcoming clash.

Bruges – Manchester City tip

As things stand, Manchester City would be out of the UEFA Champions League group stage. With three points from two games, the Citizens are currently only third in Group A, trailing Paris St Germain and Club Brugge with four points apiece.

But that is exactly what is set to change on Tuesday evening. Then it comes to the direct duel between Bruges and Manchester City. According to the betting odds, the bookmakers with a German licence have no doubts that the favourites from the island will prevail. A 1.30 at the top implies a probability of 77% for the visitors’ treble.

In our eyes, it is even realistic that coach Pep Guardiola’s star ensemble will win the away match in Belgium with at least a two-goal difference. This is supported by the fact that five of City’s seven victories this season have come with a handicap and that Brugge have never won against an English team in their last 12 attempts.