Manchester City secured a UEFA Champions League playoff spot with a 3-1 comeback win over Club Brugge, while Liverpool finished top despite a 3-2 loss to PSV. Real Madrid won 3-0 but missed automatic qualification. The UCL preliminary round sets the stage for intense playoff battles.
Manchester City clinched a UEFA Champions League playoff spot after a 3-1 comeback victory over Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium. Despite falling behind to Raphael Onyedika’s first-half strike, City responded in the second half with goals from Mateo Kovacic, an own goal by Joel Ordonez, and a finish from Savinho.
Club Brugge’s early defensive approach frustrated Pep Guardiola’s side, but City regrouped after halftime to turn the game around. Kovacic leveled the score in the 53rd minute before Ordonez’s own goal gave City the lead. Savinho sealed the victory with a composed finish in the 77th minute, marking his first UCL goal for the club.
With this win, City finished 22nd in the league phase with 11 points, ensuring their place in the playoff round. Club Brugge also advanced as the 24th-placed team, taking the final playoff spot.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid secured a dominant 3-0 win over Brest but finished 11th, missing out on an automatic Round of 16 qualification. Meanwhile, Liverpool suffered a 3-2 loss to PSV Eindhoven but still topped their group. Barcelona, who drew 2-2 with Atalanta, finished second.
As the preliminary round concludes, teams now gear up for the playoffs, where City and Brugge will fight for a place in the last 16, while Liverpool and Barcelona await their next opponents.
