Bellingham strikes late as City hand advantage to Real

Manchester City are fighting for Champions League survival and a place in the last 16 after Jude Bellingham’s injury-time winner settled a tense play-off first leg in Real Madrid’s favour. Pep Guardiola’s side rediscovered more of their true form early on at Etihad Stadium as Jack Grealish and Josko Gvardiol combined to set up Erling Haaland for a confident finish after 19 minutes. An action packed second half saw the game ebb and flow with Bellingham popping up to secure a winner for Los Blancos.

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Manchester City survive Brugge scare to progress

Manchester City survived a huge scare as they scraped into the Champions League play-offs with victory over Club Brugge at Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s men knew only victory would suffice to avoid the abject embarrassment of slipping out of the top 24 places in the tournament’s new format. They were left facing that grim prospect after Raphael Onyedika gave Club Brugge a shock lead but a second half turnaround was enough to see them progress.

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Guardiola says City need ‘something special’ to survive in Champions League

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has described his side’s Champions League situation as “not a problem” but “an opportunity” but will need something special tomorrow. The 2022-23 champions are 25th in the 36-team league, two points out of the positions that qualify for the knockout phase play-offs. They must beat Belgians Club Brugge at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to avoid being eliminated at the group stage.

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City capitulate in Paris to leave progression in peril

Paris Saint-Germain clawed back from two goals down to stun Manchester City 4-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday and leave the English club outside the playoff places and in danger of elimination. Goals from Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, João Neves and Gonçalo Ramos turned the match on its head after City had taken control with an early second half double from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland.

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Manchester City sign defender Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens

Manchester City have signed Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov on a four-and-a-half-year contract until 2029. The fee is believed to be in the region of €40 million a tidy profit for French side Lens who only paid £84,000 for Khusanov from Belarusian club Energetik-BGU 18 months ago.

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