Man City triumphs 5-1: Manchester City returned to the Champions League with a 5-1 demolition of host Club Brugge on Tuesday, thanks to a spectacular away effort from Riyad Mahrez.
Manchester City returned to the Champions League with a 5-1 demolition of host Club Brugge on Tuesday, thanks to a spectacular away effort from Riyad Mahrez.
At the Jan Breydel Stadium, a goal from Joao Cancelo and a penalty from Riyad Mahrez placed the English champions 2-0 up at halftime, with Kyle Walker, teenage substitute Cole Palmer, and Mahrez adding three more goals after the interval.
With nine minutes remaining, Hans Vanaken scored Brugge’s consolation goal.
Man City triumphs 5-1: City’s convincing win came after a loss to Paris Saint-Germain in its previous Group A match, and it now has six points, two more than its Belgian opponents.
The visitors were in control nearly from the start, dominating possession and having several early chances thwarted by close offside calls.
It took a fantastic pass from Phil Foden over the top of the home defense on the half-hour mark to set up Cancelo, who deftly trapped the ball with his chest and finished from close range.
Two minutes before halftime, Mahrez was dragged down by. Stanley Nsoki’s poor charge, but the winger rose to take the kick alone and increase the lead.
On his return to his homeland, Kevin De Bruyne teamed with Riyad Mahrez to set up Walker for the third goal in the. 53rd minute, highlighting the team’s rapid distribution and powerful running onto the ball.
In the 64th minute, Raheem Sterling and Palmer were introduced as substitutes at the same time. And three minutes later, the 19-year-old scored his first European goal. Palmer stabilized himself before finishing with his left foot after Sterling hit a cross-field ball for him.
“Cole has a rare quality in front of the box, a talent that is hard to come by”. Pep Guardiola stated.
“Most of the time when he has the ball there, it ends up in the net”. That’s difficult to come by.”
He made it obvious, though, that Palmer would be brought along at his own pace.
“I’m familiar with how young players operate. We must remain calm and patient.
“His position is with the second team, but he practices with us and follows our beliefs,” the manager explained.
Palmer is only the third youngster to score in the Champions. League for City, following Phil Foden and Kelechi Iheanacho, and he is the 10th youngest. Englishman to do so at the age of 19 and 166 days.
“I’m pleased with the result. He could have done a couple things a little better, but that’s to be expected. It’s a matter of practice “Guardiola added.
12 minutes from time, Charles De Ketelaere’s header forced a quick save from Man City goalkeeper. Ederson, and shortly after, Vanaken finished from a square pass that took the City defense off guard.
In the 84th minute, Mahrez capped off a sparkling night for. City by beating the offside trap to score off Fernandinho’s long pass for City’s fifth goal.
In their next group encounter on November 3, the two clubs will face in Manchester.
Click here: Young Haider Ali the courageous adventure-seeker expected to bring the same jazbaa & dileri to the T20 WC
Read more about: Sania Mirza plans to take a break from social media on the day of India vs Pakistan clash: T20 World Cup 2021