- Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2024
- Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
- Teams: Manchester City vs FC Copenhagen
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City hold two goal advantage in last 16 tie as they bid to retain trophy
Holders Manchester City face FC Copenhagen in the last 16 as Pep Guardiola’s side continue their bid to retain the trophy. City are 3-1 up after the first leg in Denmark and anything other than a routine home victory and a safe passage into the quarterfinals would be a major shock, However, the Danish champions have proved that they are no pushovers after emerging from a group containing Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and the Citizen’s city rivals, Manchester United. So while the tie looks like a lost cause Copenhagen will be playing for pride and will be determined to show that they have the quality to compete with the best in Europe.
Manchester City
Manchester City’s recent performance showcases their dominance across competitions. They secured their 17th victory in a remarkable 19-game unbeaten streak by overcoming rivals Manchester United 3-1 at the Etihad, boosting their Premier League title aspirations. Initially trailing to Marcus Rashford’s early strike, City rallied in the second half with Phil Foden’s standout brace and an added-time goal from Erling Haaland.
With 11 Premier League fixtures remaining, Manchester City trails league leaders Liverpool by just one point. A crucial clash awaits at Anfield, promising a thrilling showdown.
Their FA Cup quarter-final fixture against Newcastle United looms on the horizon, but focus first shifts to the Champions League. Manchester City seeks to extend their streak against Copenhagen and secure passage to the quarter-finals for the seventh consecutive season. Having triumphed in their last encounter, City aims to become only the third team in Champions League history to achieve 10 consecutive wins, following Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Manchester City’s remarkable depth and resilience, as evidenced by Phil Foden’s standout performance and Haaland’s late goal, suggest they are formidable contenders across all competitions this season.
Jack Grealish (groin) is City’s only injury concern. The Citizens were boosted by the return of Josko Gvardiol to the matchday squad last weekend after six games out with an ankle issue. Gvardiol could come into the side at left-back, which could lead to Nathan Ake moving into the centre of defence or to the bench. With a huge match against Liverpool at the weekend, Guardiola could be tempted to shuffle his pack to ensure his big hitters are fresh for a pivotal game in the title race and to get minutes into the legs of his fringe players.
Can City win the treble? Check out our blog!
FC Copenhagen
Copenhagen finds themselves facing a daunting challenge as they prepare for the second leg of their Champions League encounter against Manchester City. Despite showing flashes of promise in the first leg, they ultimately fell short against the reigning champions.
The debut goal from Magnus Mattsson provided a brief moment of joy for Copenhagen supporters, but Manchester City’s superior quality shone through with goals from De Bruyne, Bernardo, and Foden. Coach Jacob Neestrup admitted to the significant gap in class between his team and City, especially compared to their previous opponents in the group stage.
Nevertheless, Copenhagen can approach the second leg with a sense of liberation, knowing they have little to lose. They can take pride in testing themselves against Europe’s elite, even if the odds seem stacked against them.
Despite a setback against Midtjylland in their domestic league, Copenhagen responded well with consecutive victories. However, their Champions League away record and the memory of a heavy defeat at the Etihad Stadium in 2022 loom large as they strive to make history by defeating English opposition on foreign soil.
Despite the challenges, football is unpredictable, and Copenhagen will aim to defy expectations and leave a lasting impression against Manchester City.
Prediction
With all due respect to FC Copenhagen, anything other than City progressing to the last eight on aggregate and City winning on the night would be a huge shock. A City win, whatever XI they put out looks inevitable. Bettors looking for value might want to use an Asian Handicap or may want to go for BTTS.
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