Summer signing Savinho started the season promisingly with an eye-catching assist for Erling Haaland at home to rivals Arsenal.

From the right touchline just behind the halfway line, Savinho dribbled past Riccardo Calafiori before playing an inch-perfect pass. It really was liquid football.

Before Wednesday night, he had registered a respectable seven assists in all competitions, but he had to wait until December 29 for his first goal in City colours.

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Pep Guardiola named his most trusted line-up with the players he had available to him for the game at home to Club Brugge on Wednesday night. Manchester City had to win to qualify for the Champions League play-off round and after a rocky start they got the job done.

Ilkay Gundogan has scored many important goals for City, but he was hooked at half-time for Savinho, who justified his £30million price tag in City’s hour of need.

He played a part in the own goal from Joel Ordonez as City made it 2-1 and took a giant stride towards the play-off round. The 20-year-old then had a shot cleared off the line before adding a third for City. The Brazilian attacker volleyed the ball under goalkeeper Simon Mignolet on his weaker right foot, showing his return to confidence.

Despite scoring a coolly-taken half-volley in the 4-2 defeat at PSG, Jack Grealish was an unused substitute on Wednesday night. Omar Marmoush could not be registered for City’s European squad, while Oscar Bobb remains sidelined through injury. Both are likely to be a huge part of City's future plans.

Pep Guardiola’s rebuild is well underway.