Bruges (Belgium) (AFP)
Manchester City are back in the race to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League with an easy 5-1 win over Brugge after losing to PSG last month.
The Mancuniens, with six points, temporarily take first place in Group A before the meeting between Paris and Leipzig (9:00 p.m. Paris time).
"With all due respect for PSG, it is much more difficult to find spaces against City. In my opinion, they are currently the best team in the world with Bayern," Philippe Clément said ahead of the game.
The coach of the Belgian champions did not believe in saying so.
Bruges, which had hooked Paris in the first match of this C1, was under pressure from the Mancunians from the first minutes.
After two goals logically canceled for offside, City opened the scoring at the half-hour by Cancelo on a bright opening from Foden.
Shortly before the break, Riyad Mahrez did justice to the penalty after a foul by the former Parisian Nsoki.
(0-2, 43rd).
On a superb pass from Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker pushed the Blauw into Zwart shortly before the hour mark (53rd).
The control was British, the Brugeois failing to set foot on the ball.
When he was replaced in the 66th by the young Cole Palmer (first match of C1 at 19), the Belgian Kevin De Bruyne received a standing ovation from the Bruges public, admiring his performance.
Raheem Sterling got him time by replacing Phil Foden and offered on a plateau the 4-0 to Palmer (67th).
The locals saved the honor late in the game by Vanaken.
Little consolation because in the wake Mahrez scored 1-5, signing a double.
© 2021 AFP