MANCHESTER CITY – COPENAGHEN | Wednesday 9pm
Let’s start with an important fact: the adjectives to define Haaland are now over, and we’re certainly not going to stand here rehashing the Norwegian striker’s numbers. In fact, let’s just make a pass after the former Borussia Dortmund man’s third consecutive hat-trick at home in the Premier League: the moment he brought the ball back for his team-mates to sign, Laporte’s dedication arrived: ‘I have signed more balls for you than contracts,’ wrote the defender. How can you blame him? Indescribable. Well, now that we know Haaland’s desire – someone in Italy (Antonio Cassano) thought he might have difficulties fitting in tactically with Guardiola – to score regularly and break all possible records, we feel like saying “poor Copenhagen”, who will not only have to deal with the sniper, but against an entire team who, in the double-header, want to quickly close the qualification discussion and focus on the championship where Pep’s men are currently experiencing more “difficulties”.
No defeats so far this season for the Citizens, who are clearly going to keep that special stat intact. As it is clear that after the home draw against Sevilla, Copenhagen will return to scorelessness on this night on English soil. Unfortunately for them, the scales are set. The only question is how and when the game will break down. The feeling, also from what we saw in the derby against Manchester United, that this could happen very soon, already within the first half hour of the game.
The Prediction
Manchester City will easily win the match, which will also give them at least three goals in total. Guardiola’s team should unlock it immediately, within the first thirty minutes of play. Of course, it is inevitable to think of Haaland as a goalscorer, as he seems to have no brakes at the moment after his third Premier League hat-trick in a City shirt in just eight league games. And who knows if Laporte won’t be forced to sign another ball…
The Manchester City-Copenaghen line-up probables
- MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; João Cancelo, Akanji, Rúben Dias, Sergio Gómez; De Bruyne, Gündoğan, Bernardo Silva; Mahrez, Haaland, Foden.
- COPENAGHEN (4-3-3): Ryan; Kristiansen, Khocholav, Vavro, Diks; Jóhannesson, Lerager, Stamenic; Daramy, Conelius, Claesson.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 4-0
