Phil Foden, Joao Cancelo, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez all starred as Manchester City thrashed Club Brugge 5-1 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
Manchester City made a bright start to the contest and controlled the proceedings against Club Brugge, but were unable to find a breakthrough. However, the first goal finally came in the 30th minute with Joao Cancelo firing the ball into the net after being played through by Phil Foden.
Riyad Mahrez made it 2-0 on the cusp of half-time from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Stanley N’Soki. Eight minutes into the second half, the Cityzens were three goals to the good as full-back Kyle Walker found the back of the net with a low strike. Academy graduate Cole Palmer then made it 4-0 in the 67th minute, after coming on from the bench to heap further misery on the home team.
Club Brugge, however, did manage to pull a goal back in the 81st minute through Hans Vanaken but Mahrez restored City’s four-goal cushion three minutes later with his second goal of the night. The resounding win, after the loss to PSG, means Pep Guardiola’s men are second in Group A, a point below the Parisians. Here are our player ratings for the Manchester City stars after a thumping display in Bruges.
Manchester City Player Ratings
Ederson Moraes: 6/10
Back into the side after missing out on the weekend, the Brazilian had very little to do for most of the contest. But was alert to make a couple of important stops in the second period, although he did get beaten by Vanaken’s strike late on.
Kyle Walker: 8/10
A constant attacking presence on the right side, making great use of his blistering pace to provide an outlet. Could have scored a goal in the first half, but did find the back of the net after the break to make it 3-0 with a neat finish. Stable defensively throughout.
Ruben Dias: 7/10
Captaining the Manchester City side again on Tuesday night, the Portuguese centre-half was rock solid all game long, hardly putting a foot wrong for much of the contest. Will have been disappointed at not keeping a clean sheet. Distribution on point as usual.
Aymeric Laporte: 7/10
Solid in defence, effective on the ball, the Spanish international was key to helping Manchester City control possession and stay on the front foot. Booked by the referee for a foul on Kamal Sowah, who appeared to have dived.
Joao Cancelo: 8/10
Get you a full-back who can finish like Joao Cancelo ? pic.twitter.com/6aaQ2EcuwF
— Goal (@goal) October 19, 2021
Such a threat going forward, the Portuguese offered great movement and link-up in the left-side channel from start to finish. Made a great run and capped it off with a fine finish to open the scoring in the first period. Fairly solid at the back as well.
Kevin De Bruyne: 6/10
Still some way off his best as his passing was off the radar at times while he also spurned a chance in the first period. Did get the assist for Walker’s goal which will boost his confidence. Given a nice ovation by the crowd on his return to Belgium.
Rodri: 7/10
Another reliable display at the base of the midfield from the Spanish international. Rodri was alert to cut out any potential threat from the counters that the hosts embarked on, while he kept things ticking along nicely when on the ball.
Bernardo Silva: 7/10
Yet another bright performance from Silva, who was busy from the off, running at the Brugge defence each time he got on the ball and trying to engineer openings for his teammates. May not have scored a goal, but was still a key performer and was taken off with the result in the bag.
Riyad Mahrez: 8/10
?? Top scorers in the Champions League:
⚽️1⃣3⃣ Riyad Mahrez
⚽️0⃣8⃣ Yacine Brahimi
⚽️0⃣6⃣ Sofiane Feghouli
⚽️0⃣3⃣ Nabil Bentaleb
⚽️0⃣3⃣ Islam Slimani#UCL pic.twitter.com/eT9RWJCHFB— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 19, 2021
Still not quiet at his best, but did well to grab his opportunity on the night. Won the penalty and tucked it away to make it 2-0 late in the first half. Then added his second of the night with a neat finish late in the game to make it 5-1.
Phil Foden: 8/10
A menace for the Club Brugge defence, Foden led the line brilliantly on the night at the Jan Breydel Stadium. Ran the channels well, picked his moments to drop deep and create space for those around him. One such quality moment led to the opening goal as he played a peach of a ball from the middle to set Cancelo up.
Foden ➡️ Cancelo
A beautiful pass from Phil Foden is finished off by a striker's touch and finish from their Portuguese full-back ?#UCL pic.twitter.com/tNFUhi123P
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 19, 2021
Jack Grealish: 6/10
Looked dangerous when he got on the ball and ran at the opposition full-back, but lacked that bit of incision and cutting edge in the final third to make a telling difference. Yet to hit his peak since making the big-money move to Manchester City in the summer.
SUBSTITUTES
Nathan Ake: 6/10
On for Laporte in the 57th minute. Fairly solid, although there were a few nervy moments.
Ilkay Gundogan: 6/10
Marked his return from injury when he replaced Silva in the 57th minute. Quietly effective.
Raheem Sterling: 6/10
Sent on in the 65th minute, got the assist for the fourth goal. Could have scored a couple of goals himself.
Cole Palmer: 7/10
Came on for De Bruyne in the 65th minute and scored a stunner soon after to make it 4-0. A bright prospect in the Manchester City ranks.
Fernandinho: 6/10
Played the last twenty minutes after replacing Rodri. Fine assist for Mahrez’s second.
