Manchester City are looking to get an advantage in the Champions League against FC Copenhagen, as they meet for the Round-of-16 leg 1. These two squads only have four matches prior to this match, where Copenhagen remains to be winless against Man City. During their group stage, Man City won their group, winning all their group matches. Moreover, Man City were able to prove why they are the title holders, as they finished the group stage with 18 points. Meanwhile, for Copenhagen, they finished the group stage at the second of their group. However, despite being second, Copenhagen had an underwhelming campaign in the Champions League. The meeting between these two teams is on February 14, 2024, at 4:00 AM (GMT+8).
Manchester City
Man City, the reigning Champions League holders, have dominated the group stage of Europe’s premier competition, securing a maximum total of 18 points. RB Leipzig, Young Boys, and Red Star Belgrade were attempting to challenge Guardiola’s dominance, but their efforts were fruitless. Real Madrid, the 14-time winners, also made it to the last 16 without dropping a single point. Their winning run in the Champions League has extended to eight games, the longest streak for an English side in the tournament’s history. Since a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, Man City has reverted to their winning streak, briefly atop their Premier League position with a 2-0 win over Everton. This is the first time since Guardiola’s maiden campaign in 2016-17 that Man City has packed their bags in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Man City faces Copenhagen without injured or suspended players, except Ruben Dias, who will miss the second leg if cautioned. Guardiola’s selection will be influenced by the team’s ‘Pep roulette’ against Everton, with Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva, and Kevin De Bruyne returning as substitutes. Haaland leads the charge after 50 Premier League starts.
FC Copenhagen
Copenhagen, a Danish team, secured a spot in the Champions League knockout stages after a three-match unbeaten run from November to December. The team’s success over Manchester United and Galatasaray, along with a goalless draw with Bayern, helped them secure a place in the Europa League. The team has only competed in the knockout stages of the Champions League once before, in 2010-11, losing to Chelsea. However, this time, the team faced inconsistency in their domestic league, dropping to third in the Superliga after a three-match winless run. The mid-season Atlantic Cup tournament also played a role, but Copenhagen’s team had to settle for fourth place, taking six points from an available nine. The team’s second chance at the knockout stage comes at a time of inconsistency in the Danish football landscape.
Copenhagen midfielder Lerager was suspended for two bookable offences, causing him to miss the first leg of the match against Galatasaray. Potential substitutes include Rasmus Falk, Viktor Claesson, and Oscar Hojlund. Other options include Alex Runarsson, Scott McKenna, and Roony Bardghji, who scored a goal in their recent match against Manchester United.
Prediction:
Manchester City (2.0)
Odds: -0.81
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