UCL: Man City Thrash Club Brugge To Seal Last 16 Spot

Manchester City thrashed Club Brugge 4-1 on Wednesday to move within touching distance of a place in the Champions League last 16.

Pep Guardiola's side recovered from the shock of conceding a John Stones own goal after Phil Foden's early opener at the Etihad Stadium.

Riyad Mahrez put City back in front in the second half and Raheem Sterling came off the bench to end his goal drought before Gabriel Jesus capped the rout.

City sit top of Group A, one point above Paris Saint Germain, after their third win in four matches in the competition.

Last season's Champions League runners-up are five points clear of third-placed Brugge and will reach the knockout stages with one point from their last two games against PSG and Leipzig.

"Fully deserved. I liked how we played. After conceding we dropped a little bit, but the second half was really good," Guardiola said.

"When you're at Manchester City, you realise nobody will help you. Everything to do, we've done it.

"All the titles I won before were because I was at big clubs. Absolutely, the pleasure is higher (to win with City)."

After a strong start to the season, City had suffered their worst period of the campaign.

Saturday's shock home defeat against Crystal Palace came hot on the heels of a penalty shoot-out loss at West Ham that ended their four-year reign as League Cup holders.

Guardiola responded to those setbacks by defiantly claiming City were playing at an "incredible" level, labelling their current form among the "best moments" of his time at the club.

Having thrashed Brugge 5-1 in Belgium last month, City once again picked on Philippe Clement's team, although the victory wasn't without a few scares.

Guardiola had described Brugge's visit as "much more important" than Saturday's derby at Manchester United and his players got the message.