Key events
Manchester City make four changes to the starting XI named for their 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday afternoon. Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker come on for Julián Álvarez, Matheus Nunes, Jérémy Doku and Manuel Akanji, all of whom drop to the bench.
København have not played since beating Galatasaray 1-0 in their last group game two months and a day ago. They have made two changes to their starting XI since that game. Lukas Lerager, who scored the winning goal against the Cimbom Only to be sent off in the final stages, he is suspended while Peter Ankersen falls to the bench. They will be replaced by Magnus Mattsson and Scott McKenna, who makes his club debut after joining on loan from Nottingham Forest.
The teams
Copenhagen: Grabara, McKenna, Vavro, Diks, Jelert, Mattsson, Jensen, Goncalves, Elyounoussi, Claesson, Achouri.
Substitutes: Sorensen, Larsson, Cornelius, Oskarsson, Ankersen, Meling, Runarsson, Clem, Oscar Hojlund, Bardghji, Froholdt, Gadeberg-Burr.
Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake, Rodri, Foden, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Grealish, Haaland.
Substitutes: Doku, Ortega, Alvarez, Akanji, Matheus Luiz, Carson, Bobb, Wright, Susoho, Lewis.
Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez (Spain).
Today’s squad in 🇩🇰
XI | Ederson, Walker (C), Stones, Dias, Ake, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Carson, Doku, Alvarez, Akanji, Nunes, Bobb, Wright, Susoho, Lewis#ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/jE78xUkmHT
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 13, 2024
preamble
Manchester City is the five-time European and world champion. Copenhagen is playing in the knockout phase of the Champions League for the second time. Manchester City have won all of their last ten games. Copenhagen hasn’t played for two months due to Denmark’s winter break. Manchester City beat Copenhagen 5-0 last season. Copenhagen have never beaten Manchester City.
But! You never know in football. Copenhagen have never beaten City, but they have never lost to City at home either. In the last round they held the defending champions 0-0 and in a Europa League game in 2009 there was a 2-2 draw. What’s more, they won their last game against English opposition at the Parken Stadium, the absurd 4-3 comeback victory over Manchester United in this season’s groups. While City are the biggest favorites tonight – and to win overall – And for the overall competition – you never know. Kick-off is at 20:00 GMT, 21:00 in Copenhagen. It’s on!
