Manchester City Face Brugge 'Final' In Last Shot At Champions League Salvation

Manchester City have reached do-or-die territory in the Champions League earlier than expected ahead of what Pep Guardiola has described as a "final" against Club Brugge on Wednesday. City have disproved the suggestion a new format to Europe's top club competition would remove any jeopardy for the top clubs as Guardiola stares down the barrel of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in his career. The English champions have endured a torrid season both in their Premier League title defence and on the continent.

A run of one win in 13 games, which included Champions League defeats to Sporting Lisbon and Juventus, between October and December was the nadir of City's fall from grace.

Guardiola's men have since turned a corner in the Premier League, winning four of their last five games to climb back into the top four.

But the deeper problems at the heart of City's struggles were exposed last week as Paris Saint-Germain roared back from 2-0 down to inflict a damaging 4-2 defeat on the 2023 champions.

The loss of Ballon d'Or winner Rodri to a season-ending knee injury in September has been a devastating blow and compounded by a series of fitness issues at centre-back, where Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and John Stones have all missed large chunks of the campaign.

Former captain Kyle Walker shocked the club with a request to leave earlier this month before joining AC Milan on loan.

All of which has forced City to rip up their initial plans and spend big in the January transfer window.

More than 120 million pounds ($150 million) has already been splashed on Egypt forward Omar Marmoush and young defenders Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.

However, that trio will not be able to help against Belgian