Manchester City-Copenaghen is a match valid for the return leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League and is played on Wednesday at 9 p.m.: live TV, streaming, probable formations, predictions.
Qualification in the bag already after the first leg match for reigning European champions Manchester City, which mortgaged passage to the round thanks to a 3-1 victory in Denmark three weeks ago. Nothing to do for stout Copenhagen, which despite everything in the first half had managed to create some headaches for Pep Guardiola’s battleship, finding the momentary equalizing goal on the half-hour mark through Mattsson. Then a gigantic De Bruyne, after scoring the lead goal, provided the assist for the 2-1 goal, sealed by Bernardo Silva.
Closing the accounts once and for all was the usual Foden in the midst of recovery, allowing Manchester City to sleep soundly ahead of the return leg. For Guardiola, in fact, it was most important to be able to concentrate on the league, in which his Cityzens are protagonists in a gripping title fight with Liverpool and Arsenal. Haaland and his teammates are currently forced to chase the Reds, who, however, have only one more point. Over the weekend they both won: City won the city derby with Manchester United in a comeback, overwhelming them 3-1 at Etihad Stadium, while Jurgen Klopp’s men came out on top at the last second over Nottingham Forest. The Catalan coach in the Champions League could also decide to rest some starters, as the weekend sees precisely the direct clash with Liverpool at Anfield Road, a match that can become a crucial junction.
City, head to Liverpool?
In any case, we’re talking about a team that hasn’t lost since December 6 and has only drawn two games in the last three months, with Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
Copenhagen recently resumed league play after the long winter break: after the defeat at Parken with City, Jacob Neestrup’s men beat Silkeborg and Nordsjaelland, 3-0 and 2-0 respectively, while last Friday came an ugly and peremptory defeat at home to Midtjylland, which caused the Danish capital club to slip to third place, -3 from first. Formation chapter: Guardiola will not have Grealish alone, and the likes of Akanji, Lewis, Nunes and Julian Alvarez could start from 1′, or at any rate will find space in the second half. Absent in Copenhagen are Sander, Khocholava, Claesson in addition to former Genoa man Lerager.
The Prediction
Although rotating several players, Manchester City should be able to achieve a comfortable victory against Copenhagen, landing in the round of 16: the gap between the two roses is abysmal. However, it cannot be ruled out that the Danes will manage to score at least one goal at Etihad Stadium.
The probable lineups of Manchester City-Copenaghen
MANCHESTER CITY (4-1-3-2): Ederson; Akanji, Stones, Rúben Dias, Aké; Rodri; Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Foden; Julian Álvarez, Haaland.
COPENAGHEN (4-3-3): Grabara; Jelert, Vavro, McKenna, Meling; Mattsson, Falk, Diogo Gonçalves; Achouri, Cornelius, Elyounoussi.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1