Manchester City look to book their spot in the Champions League Quarter Final draw which will bring a big step up in quality and pressure in the next round. Leading in the first leg, City must be cautious to not to make this game more difficult than it should be. Rotating key players with Anfield in mind is tricky to do when you need the team to perform at their best. Champions League can always has surprises!

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Starting Point

Notable Injuries:

• Manchester City are without Jack Grealish, his duration out on the sidelines has not been confirmed as of yet. Jeremy Doku was not in the open training session on Tuesday morning. Josko Gvardiol is back training and available for selection.

• FC Copenhagen are without Lukas Lerager, Theo Sander (knee), Davit Khocholava (knee) and Viktor Claesson through injury. Emil Hojlund is a doubt and will face a late fitness check.

Interesting Stats:

• In his last nine two-legged ties in the Champions League when winning the first leg away from home, Pep Guardiola has progressed.

• Phil Foden has seven goal involvements in the Champions League this season (4G, 3A) which is his most in a single campaign in the competition.

• Manchester City are unbeaten in five previous meetings with Copenhagen in European competitions, winning three and drawing two.

• FC Copenhagen have won two of the their last three fixtures, all after their defeat to Manchester City.

Manchester City vs Copenhagen Preview

Champions League

General Thoughts:

• Haaland took the press conference alongside Guardiola pre-match and lives for the Champions League nights, no doubt will start and be determined to get on the score-sheet early.

• Pep does not take CL easy, no matter the opposition, so the rotations are going to be a handful of positions where a player needs a rest. Stones and Kevin De Bruyne top of that list and Bernardo third. Foden just had a rest, along with Walker and Dias, against Luton Town (FA Cup).
  
  I have created a sheet of the players minutes this season so you can zoom out and see Pep Roulette in action. Get an idea of injuries and suspensions as well. Allows you to spot who is playing back-to-back 90s easier and have a better guess at who will be rested. Akanji just had his rest on the bench whilst Stones has played four in a row. Bernardo starting four (three ninety minutes) in a row could be in contention. Alvarez has came on in the last three games from the bench, due a start and likely won’t against Liverpool.

• Alvarez playing in place of De Bruyne centrally would be my guess for this match, KDB could do with a rest before Anfield on Sunday. That has him ready to start the next 3-4 games in a row and target a rest at the Palace or Luton games.

• Jeremy Doku didn’t take part in training on Tuesday morning, that will effectively rule him out of the game to start. Nothing serious, just a discomfort that makes him a doubt. More likely he misses Wednesday night and returns at the weekend to the bench.

• Nunes has to be a serious consideration given his solid performances away from home against Luton Town and Bournemouth. Doku is ruled out and Copenhagen will need to come out and play against us with the first leg scoreline. That means he will have space to exploit, using his ball carrying strengths.

• Ruben Dias is one yellow card away from missing a Quarter final match, a risk I think the team take in this game. Only option would be to bench Dias and play Ake at CB if he doesn’t need as rest before the Anfield game.

• Mateo Kovacic getting a start is another strong possibility now he has had a rest, to start this game and be sharp for a start against Liverpool away from home.

• Frankly, it’s a game City at home should be winning and comfortably. Most ideal situation is a couple early goals to allow substitutions in the second half just after half time. But you just never know in the Champions League.

Ones to Watch: 

• Manchester City: Erling Haaland said it himself in the press conference Tuesday afternoon, he misses chances but will forget about it and move on. Always looking to improve and put away the next chance. Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez linked up well against Manchester United, expect the same to follow Wednesday night if they start.

• FC Copenhagen: Roony Bardghji is a talented right winger that we had mentioned prior to the previous game but he has been frozen out the team of late due to not signing a contract extension. Returning off the bench in the last game for 45 minutes and could be involved Wednesday night. Magnus Mattsson was the goal scorer in the first leg and showed some promise in midfield during their very limited time on the ball.

Predicted Lineup: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Rodri, Bernardo, Alvarez, Nunes, Foden, Haaland

Predicted Score: Manchester City 3 - 0 FC Copenhagen (6-1 agg)

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