Defending champions Manchester City advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory against FC Copenhagen in the second leg on Wednesday, their tenth consecutive win in the competition and 6-2 aggregate victory. City’s early goals by Manuel Akanji, Julian Alvarez, and Erling Haaland helped them maintain their two-goal lead. Mohamed Elyounoussi scored the lone goal for Copenhagen. With a top-of-the-table Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday, March 10, City’s manager Pep Guardiola had the luxury of resting key players such as Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden, making seven changes to his side that defeated Manchester United 3-1 in the league rivalry last Sunday.
After 27 league games, City is a point behind Liverpool and one point ahead of Arsenal in a tight title chase. They are also in the FA Cup, with a quarter-final match against Newcastle United scheduled for March 16.
City started well and played an attacking game from the first minute. As a result, Akanji scored City’s first goal, volleying in Alvarez’s corner in the fifth minute of the game. Four minutes later, Alvarez doubled City’s lead, owing to poor goalkeeping by Kamil Grabara, who let the City forward’s shot slide past his hands seconds after Rodri’s effort hit the crossbar. Mohamed Elyounoussi, a former Southampton player, pulled one back for the Danish champions in the 29th minute, but City’s goal-scoring machine Haaland tucked in a low, powerful shot through two defenders seconds before halftime, his 29th goal of the season overall. Rico Lewis had a late chance to score a fourth City goal, but his shot struck the crossbar.
City joined Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain in the quarterfinals, with the last four teams to be decided next week. City will find out their quarterfinal opponent in the draw on March 15. I know how tired, and exhausted some of my players were today. We play on Sunday. So, I need fresh legs. To be part of the titles, we need everyone. For one more year, we are in the best eight teams in Europe. Incredibly happy we are still in all competitions, Guardiola said after reaching the last eight.
Copenhagen boss Jacob Neestrup believes City can retain their Champions League title. They’re going to win it, they are, he said. We have played City two seasons in a row and they are getting better. City has top players, and the structure they have is amazing. It is not just the technical and tactical. They work hard, Neestrup added.
