Man City vs Copenhagen LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as Erling Haaland secures spot in last-eight
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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.
Manchester City ease past Copenhagen but the real test begins in the Champions League quarter-finals
For Manchester City, the Champions League tends to start in earnest in the quarter-finals these days. The defending champions cruised through to the last eight for a seventh successive season. Now, finally, it gets tougher. City’s propensity to win weak groups and draw one of the lesser lights in the last 16 can delay the meaningful contests. FC Copenhagen were brushed aside, as they were always going to be, while Pep Guardiola granted nearly all of his strongest side some kind of rest before the visit to Liverpool. For City, the Premier League, like the Champions League, is about to become more difficult, too. The phoney wars are ending.
This had the feel of a formality. Copenhagen had helped eliminate one Manchester club from Europe. There was no danger of a second, and not merely because City brought a 3-1 lead back from Denmark. A rematch was over inside 10 minutes, a swift double serving as an indictment of Manchester United, who had found it rather harder against the Danish champions. In contrast, City now have 10 consecutive Champions League victories and a 30-game unbeaten run at home in Europe, with the added distinction that only two were even draws.
Man City ease past Copenhagen but the real test begins in the quarter-finals
Manchester City 3-1 FC Copenhagen (6-2 agg): Manuel Akanji, Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland ensured it was an easy night for Pep Guardiola’s men
FT Man City 3-1 Copenhagen (6-2 agg)
In the other last-16 tie of the night, Real Madrid have beaten RB Leipzig 2-1 on aggregate following a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu. That means they join Bayern Munich, PSG and Man City in the next round.
The quarter-finals are shaping up beautifully.
Full-time! Man City 3-1 Copenhagen (6-2 agg)
90+3 mins: There goes the full-time whistle and Manchester City get the job done. They came into the match with a two goal cushion and ended it four ahead of the Danish side.
It wasn’t as one-sided as expected but Copenhagen never really threatened to upset the rhythm of the tie. City go through to the next round without too much trouble.
Man City 3-1 Copenhagen (6-2 agg)
90 mins: Three minutes of added time to play before the end of this match.
Man City 3-1 Copenhagen (6-2 agg)
87 mins: Erling Haaland’s night is done and he is replaced with teenager Jacob Wright has makes his Champions League debut this evening.
He doesn’t have long to play but he’ll savour every minute of it.
Man City 3-1 Copenhagen (6-2 agg)
84 mins: Well inside the final 10 minutes now with Man City in complete control of the match and the fixture. Copenhagen are creating a few chances against City’s substitutes but so far they haven’t been able to break them down.
Man City 3-1 Copenhagen (6-2 agg)
81 mins: Cornelius is strong at the top of the pitch and chests the ball under control before slipping it back to Mattsson. He threads the ball into the box where Elyounoussi looks to shoot but gets bungled off the ball before ha can.
Man City 3-1 Copenhagen (6-2 agg)
78 mins: Slick move from Copenhagen as Mattsson sweeps up the pitch and gets to the box with a one-two. He shoots and wins the visitors a corner.
The ball is swung into the penalty area and Ederson fumbles his attempted clearance.
Copenhagen recycle the ball and send it back into the box. It drops to Elyounoussi who blazes a shot over the top.
Man City 3-1 Copenhagen (6-2 agg)
75 mins: Yep. Matheus Nunes is replaced with Micah Hamilton after having his fingers strapped together. It’s a quick fix and shouldn’t be too serious for Nunes.
15 minutes to play.
Man City 3-1 Copenhagen (6-2 agg)
72 mins: Matheus Nunes is down on the pitch with what looks like a dislocated finger. The physios have come onto the pitch and slotted the finger back into place.
He doesn’t look in a good way and will probably need to come off the pitch.
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