When the Champions League took its new form at the beginning of the season, Manchester City was rated almost guaranteed qualifying within the re-36-league phase of the League.
After all, who could believe that European champions of 2022/23 and current Premier League holders would be overcome by the likes of Brest, Feyenoord and Celtic in the main competition of the continent?
Well, City's deplorable European campaign has taken it all by surprise and they now sit dangerously near lost in the Nokau phase. Cityzens were traversed in the 25th place going on the day of match 8, sitting only outside the Play-Off place before their last meeting of the League phase.
Supporters will bite their nails with anger between Wednesday's European clash, but the positive news is that qualification in the play-off round remains in their hands.
Here as Manheser may qualify for the next stage of Champions League.
The task is simple. If the City Beat Club Brugge in Etihad Stadium, they will secure their place in the play-off, dancing the Belgian dress and ending at the 24th at least.
However, given that they are two points outside the Play-off qualification points, a draw or loss Wednesday evening would eliminate the side of Pep Guardiola from the competition.
In any other season, home win for the Brugge club – who have reached only the knockout phase once during the Champions League – would be a very safe bet, but the frequent landslides at home and abroad, this The term means that the nerves will be annoying around Etihad.
The city has at least found any form in recent weeks, including 3-1 weekend win over ChelseaBut their 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League for the last time highlights an ability to include.
City's record against Club Brugge would suggest that Wednesday could not prove the banana skin that some are anticipating. They faced the Belgians twice during the Champions League group stage 2021/22, winning 5-1 in Brugge before an equally pronounced 4-1 win at home.
None of the four players who scored at the triumph Away – Cole Palmer, Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo and Riyad Mahrez – are not lonely in the club, while Phil Foden is the only scorer from the home winner still playing in Sky Blue.
In eight past meetings with Belgian opposition, City has lost only once. This loss came to the standard Liege at the 1978/79 UEFA Cup, when they were beaten 2-0 on the street.