Man City star sets Champions League record with performance against Club Brugges

Manchester City did their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League a world of good with a convincing 4-1 victory over Club Brugges at the Etihad stadium.

One of the major talking points of the game was the performance of Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo. The defender (who often rampages forward) picked up three assists for the Citizens in an all-round exceptional performance.

It was a difficult first half for the Citizens, although they did find the breakthrough when Joao Cancelo fired a low shot across the box and Phil Foden poked home after quarter of an hour.

John Stones own-goal set up an uncomfortable night for City but Riyad Mahrez, Sterling and Gabriel Jesus secured victory for Pep Guardiola’s side in the second half though.

His second assist then came in distinctly unorthodox fashion after a strange one-two. Mahrez had turned away in disappointment at his own misdirected cross. It transpired it was so bad it was good. Cancelo collected the loose ball, crossed and Mahrez headed in what was his sixth Champions League goal against Bruges.

Gabriel Jesus then got onto the scoresheet himself when Cancelo again burst into the box from the right hand side this time and fed the Brazilian, who stroked the ball past Simon Mignolet.

In doing so, he became the first defender since Achraf Hakimi (in 2018) to provide a hat-trick of assists in a Champions League game, a truly impressive feat.

Cancelo’s exploits may have been less dramatic than Cristiano Ronaldo’s last-gasp intervention against Atalanta but his hat-trick of assists put Manchester City on the brink of booking their spot in the last 16 for a ninth successive season.