Already 2-0 after 10′ with goals from Akaji and the Argentinian. The Danes shorten with Elyounoussi, then Haaland closes. Nunes gets hurt and Liverpool are on Sunday
Mission accomplished. Manchester City are in the Champions League quarter-finals for the season’s week in a row, crushing Copenhagen 3-1 also in the second leg for their eighth win out of 8 this year in the cup they hold, always scoring three goals. There was practically no match, because Guardiola’s team is the point of reference for European football and Neestrup’s team stuck their noses in the Champions League round of 16 for the second time in their history. The Danes tried, but in the 9th minute they were already two goals down and, despite the thrill of pride of Elyounoussi’s goal in the 29th minute, they never really got back into the game. And City sailed calmly towards their 7th quarter-final appearance in a row, quickly shifting attention to what could be one of the key matches of the season: the match at Liverpool on Sunday in the Premier League.
the keys
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Guardiola had the usual goal from Haaland, the number 41 in 37 career matches in the Champions League, but Julián Álvarez made the difference in less than 10 minutes. First with the corner from which Akaji scored the 1-0 in the 5th minute, then with the shot that pierced Grabara’s hands for the second goal in the 9th minute. Álvarez did everything he could as the creative behind Haaland, as the perfect deputy to De Bruyne as he has been for most of the season. His creativity was the light of an inspired team, which immediately went into cruise control, surprised by Copenhagen’s outburst of pride but always in control of the match. Rodri did well, who Guardiola left in the locker room thinking of Liverpool, Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis did well, very young players who had important minutes to continue to grow. The only bad news is the injury to Nunes, who was out before half an hour of the second half due to a problem with his left hand. Copenhagen played an anonymous match, as a sacrificial victim in which in addition to Elyounoussi’s goal, an episode, the best figure was made by the Danish fans, always active with their scarves despite it being clear that Copenhagen’s Champions League adventure it was over.
the match
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City already had a foot and a half in the quarterfinals at kick-off: before the 10th minute struck, they got both of them. Because in the 5th minute Akanji invents a volley from Álvarez’s corner and freezes Copenhagen, and in the 9th minute the Argentine comes into his own by collecting a rebound after a sensational crossbar from Rodri and punching holes in Grabara’s hands. The hosts dominate, but the guests sensationally return to the game in the 29th minute, with Elyounoussi finishing a splendid restart from his own midfield with an unstoppable diagonal. The dream was interrupted in the last 3′ of injury time in the first half, when Rodri caught Haaland in the area with a splendid long throw and the Norwegian did what he does best: scoring. Guardiola starts again 3-1 ahead and without Rodri, replaced by Gómez. City continues to dominate, Copenhagen has no idea how to stop them, but the result no longer changes.
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