Man City vs Copenhagen LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as Erling Haaland secures spot in last-eight
Follow all the live action from the Champions League fixture
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester City move into the quarter-finals with a comfortable and easy 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen at the Etihad Stadium.
Any nerves were settled in the opening minutes as Manuel Akanji met a Julian Alvarez corner to volley home the opening goal and it wasn’t long before the second goal went in.
Alvarez took control of a clearance out of the box before fizzinf a ball back into the middle and seeing Kamil Grabara fumble the ball over the line.
Copenhagen threatened to mount a comeback after a fine finish from Mohamed Elyounssi after the visitors broke up the pitch but Erling Haaland’s strike before half-time secured a spot in the next round.
Relive the live action in the blog below and get the latest odds and tips here.
Pre-match thoughts from Jacob Neestrup
Copenhagen coach, Jacob Neestrup, said: “I know we are behind and away to the best team in the world; it is close to impossible.
“But we saw against City at Parken last season that you can be down for 35 minutes, and then one situation changes the dynamic. We have to chase those situations.
“I have a lot of focus on coefficient points [which determine when Danish sides enter Uefa competition}. That’s why we mustn’t lie down.”
Pre-match thoughts from Guardiola
Man City coach, Pep Guardiola saud: “Copenhagen are really well-organised and very compact. We were really good in the first leg over there - we know what happened to Manchester United and Galatasaray, and they are really strong.
“It’s nice to have won the Champions League, and hopefully we can progress to the quarter-finals again. But we have respect for Copenhagen and we know that anything can happen.”
Guardiola on Rodri
Pep Guardiola spoke about Rodri and the impact the midfielder has on Manchester City.
He said: “It is difficult to understand what we have done in recent years without him. It would’ve been difficult. He is the best midfield player, currently, in the world by far.”
Man City vs Copenhagen
Aside from their five games against Copenhagen, City have played only four other matches against Danish clubs, with six of their nine matches overall coming in that 2008/09 Uefa Cup campaign.
That run started in the second qualifying round when both legs of their tie against Midtjylland ended in a 1-0 away win, City ultimately prevailing 4-2 on penalties.
After knocking out Copenhagen in the round of 32, they beat AaB in the last 16, also on spot kicks, winning the shoot-out 4-3 after two 2-0 home wins.
City’s record in knockout ties against Danish opponents is three wins and no defeats.
Neestrup on facing Man City
Jacob Neestrup, Copenhagen’s head coach, spoke about the difference between playing Manchester United and Manchester City.
“It’s simple: Manchester City right now are a better team,” he said, “We played three very good clubs in group stage but this is a step or two up.
“All teams can feel that difference when they play City.”
The Champions League is getting better and tougher says Guardiola
Pep Guardiola claims winning the Champions League is getting tougher every season.
Guardiola finally ended Manchester City’s long wait for European glory when he guided the club to success in the competition last season.
It had been City’s 12th successive campaign in the Champions League and their seventh under Guardiola, who had previously won it twice as Barcelona boss.
The Champions League is getting better and tougher – Man City boss Pep Guardiola
Guardiola guided the club to success in the competition last season.
Man City vs Copenhagen
City are making their 11th successive knockout appearance and have won their last six contests at this stage. By contrast, Copenhagen’s sole previous round of 16 tie, in 2010/11, ended in elimination against English opponents.
Man City vs Copenhagen
Copenhagen reached the round of 16 for only the second time as Group A runners-up, eight points behind section winners Bayern Munich but three ahead of Galatasaray and four above City’s local rivals Manchester United.
Copenhagen line-up and team changes
Jacob Neestrup has faith in his young players and that show with his line-up for tonight.
Copenhagen XI: Grabara; Ankersen, Jelert, Vavro, Mckenna, Diks; Froholdt, Oskarsson, Clem; Achouri, Elyounoussi
Man City vs Copenhagen
Manchester City are closing in on a seventh successive Champions League quarter-final as Copenhagen travel to England needing to overturn a 3-1 home defeat.
City – 5-0 victors at home to the Danish side in last season’s group stage – won all six games in their section this season for the first time, finishing six points above Leipzig in Group G and scoring 18 goals in total against the German club, Young Boys and Crvena zvezda.
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