Champions League knockout round play-offs with a comeback 3-1 win over Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium.
The reigning Premier League champions were rocked by Raphael Onyedika’s goal on the stroke of half-time, but responded in confident fashion after the interval to avoid a dramatic early exit from Europe.
Mateo Kovacic and Savinho scored either side of an own goal from Brugge’s Joel Ordonez, booking City’s place in the top 24 of the reformatted league phase.
Liverpool lost 3-2 to Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven but still topped the table ahead of Barcelona, who were unable to overcome a dogged Atalanta in a pulsating 2-2 draw.
Arsenal, Inter, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen all booked their places in the last 16 of the competition with wins, with Mikel Arteta’s side the most stretched during a tense 2-1 win over Girona. Goals from Jorginho and teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri rendered Arnaut Danjuma’s opener irrelevant, sealing a sixth win in eight games for the Gunners.
The final two automatic qualification spots for the last 16 were taken by Lille and Aston Villa, who overcame Feyenoord (6-1) and Celtic (4-2) respectively in two hugely entertaining games.