Champions League: Danes head to England with nothing to lose

Manchester City vs Copenhagen

When previewing the first leg of this Champions League tie a month ago, I billed it as something of a mismatch.

That was not being disrespectful to the Danish club FC Copenhagen, who are a true example of what can be achieved on a limited budget, as demonstrated when they sent Manchester United and Galatasaray packing in the group stages.

However, when taking on the billionaires of Manchester City, who also happen to be the best club side in world football, it’s hard to ignore the gulf between the two set-ups.

To my mind, only two clubs are capable of stopping them from retaining the European crown—RReal Madrid and Bayern Munich—and it should be remembered that City proved far too strong for both of those European superpowers in this tournament last term.

So full respect to the side that currently sits third in the Danish Superliga, but this truly is David versus Goliath—without the same ending.

Talking Points

Head coach Jacob Neestrup acknowledged after the first leg that City are ‘a level or two above the opponents we faced in the group’, but considering they are competing in the knockout stages of this tournament rounds for only the second time in their history, Copenhagen have nothing to lose as they pit themselves against the best.

Since losing the first leg 3-1, they responded well by claiming back-to-back domestic victories over Silkeborg and Nordsjaelland, yet they suffered a blow in the title race last Friday when they went down to a 2-0 defeat to leaders Midtjylland to slip three points off the pace.

Lukas Lerager, the man whose goal clinched progression from the group stages, is available to return following a one-match ban but is a doubt through injury, along with Theo Sander, Davit Khocholava (both knee), and Viktor Claesson.

That could mean the son of Henrik Larsson, Jordan, leading the attack. He is certainly one of the options at Neestrup’s disposal, alongside Elias Achouri and former Southampton winger Mohamed Elyounoussi.

They are also set to be without the services of Emil Hojlund, brother of Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund.

City have a much healthier roster, with Jack Grealish (groin) their only major absentee.

After their dominant victory in the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon, a game in which Phil Foden scored twice to prompt manager Pep Guardiola to describe him as the best player in the league, a few men could be rested to give the likes of Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Rico Lewis, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, and Julian Alvarez starts.

Not a bad bunch of substitutes!

This is a team coming into form and strength at precisely the right time of the campaign, and more Champions League 2024

 highlights seem inevitable.

History

Three City wins and two draws are the sum total of their five meetings, all recent.

In the last 32 of the UEFA Cup in 2009, the sides fought out a 2-2 draw in Denmark.

Nedum Onuoha and Stephen Ireland twice put City in front before the Danes fought back through Ailton Almeida and Martin Vingaard.

City edged the second leg to record a 4-3 aggregate success as Craig Bellamy netted a double before Vingaard was on target once more.

That was in the early stages of the Sheikh Mansour City reign.

When they met in the group stages of last season’s Champions League, it was rather one-sided.

Erling Haaland (two), Riyad Mahrez (penalty), and Julian Alvarez (plus an own goal) were the scorers in a 5-0 romp before a goalless draw in Scandinavia a week later.

Of course, last month, City recorded a 3-1 success in the first leg of this tie as Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Foden were on target, with Magnus Mattsson replying for the Danes.

Betting Tip

It’s virtually impossible to back against City, who are priced at 1X2 @ 1.13 and Asian Handicap -2.50 @ 2.17, in contrast to Copenhagen, who are available at 1X2 @ 12.00 and Asian Handicap +2.00 @ 2.28.

Even the draw is not expected, given that it’s priced @ 7.20 with the SBOTOP Champions League 2024 betting odds.

Another 3-1 City victory will pay out @ 10.50, whereas plenty of goals—as this fixture so often throws up—include bets on total goals of 0-1 @ 6.40, 2-3 @ 2.32, 4-6 @ 2.22 and over 3.75 @ 2.26.

I do think City will ease their way through to the quarterfinals, although I think they will rest some key personnel given they have a healthy advantage in the first leg, not to mention a big league game at the weekend.

 

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