On Wednesday night Manchester City booked their place in the Quarter finals of the Champions League, long are the days City routinely struggled in the competition’s early stages. A regular in the semi finals and beyond. Promising talent on display and the best preparation for Anfield away.

If you haven’t already, make sure you subscribe to not miss out on future reviews. Let’s get into the game. 👇

Follow us on X | Subscribe to our Newsletter

Manchester City 3 - 1 Copenhagen Match Review

Champions League

MOTM: Manuel Akanji

Other standout performances include: Alvarez

Notable Stats:

• Manchester City have become the third team to win 10 Champions League games in a row. Also having won 28 of their last 30 home games in the Champions League. Only Barcelona (September 2013 - November 2020) has matched that record, going 38 games unbeaten.

• Erling Haaalnd has now scored 41 Champions League goals, making his way into the top 20 goalscorers of all-time.

• Manchester City are the first side in major European competition history to score 3+ goals in nine consecutive home matches.

Main Takeaways:

• Quite an interesting team to see when released, was not expecting as much rotation from Guardiola but beyond pleased to see it. We will need the legs for the Liverpool game.

• Akanji put in a man of the match performance and has no doubt been our best defender across the 23/24 season. Stones injury meant more minutes at CB for him. He will never be as good as Stones stepping into the midfield but is serviceable for a good amount of games, tough role to learn and he took it in stride.

• Julian Alvarez showed all his strengths in this game, providing from corners and taking his chances to shoot. Yes, all the keepers mistake but we don’t have many players who will shoot on sight like Alvarez. Up and down the pitch pressing and running. Looked better making one-two passes to midfielders in this game as well.

• Oscar Bobb was given the opportunity to play centrally and drift across the pitch. He is exceptional in small spaces with his quick feet and close control. The more congested the better for Bobb. Mistake for the goal will be a good lesson for him to learn, something you have to understand if playing in the middle.

• Rico Lewis is tenacious in duels, very mobile and intelligent with his actions on the pitch. Has put in very good performances in all his appearances in the Champions League this season and despite his weakness physically when having to play fullback. He’s now approaching the same number of minutes played as last season.

• Gvardiol back into the team and to the role he’s done so well for City this season at leftback. Lacking in his touch and passes a few times, that put Dias in uncomfortable position but is understandable for his first one back. Expect him to be on the bench against Liverpool but push Ake for starts each game after that.

• This looks like the role Nunes will be playing for the remainder of the season, out wide similar to how Grealish is used to hold and recycle the ball. Make a lot of touches. Had a few dribbles bursting past a couple players but wasn’t able to make anything happen after them. Nothing spectacular but his decision making is not as extreme as it was early in the season. That’s a good thing!

• Mateo Kovacic is everything we thought Kalvin Phillips could be for us, doing a job without Rodri against Luton Town in the FA Cup and in this game showing himself a worth partner for Rodri in a double pivot/moving into a left eight.

• Gomez in the second half the one player really looking to make something happen as City know they have a big game coming up and this tie wrapped. Had some bright moments in the midfield but will always be behind a lot of players for minutes, one I expect to be looking at a summer move. Should be at a club where he can start left wing regularly.

• Hamilton and Jacob Wright are two names to watch in the summer. Both very limited minutes but have shown promise in those. Hamilton should be looking for a loan spell for 24/25 and Jacob Wright to go on pre-season tour with City, get some minutes in the team the following season.

Moving Forward:

• City winning on Wednesday night meant that they joined Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich in the quarter final draw. Taking place on Friday 15th March, 12:00 CET. Unlikely to get anymore favorable draws as all ties will bring their own difficulties, it would be easy to overlook poor performances of Real Madrid against Leipzig or PSG struggling to get through their group. Champions League always has surprises for you.

• Rotation in the game gives City the best chance they would hope for against Liverpool at Anfield. Bernardo, Foden, De Bruyne, Walker and Ake all getting a full rest. John Stones and Rodri getting at least half the game off.

• Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb showing once again that they have the ability to play in this City team long term. Bobb being so tidy in the small spaces. Both will be useful in the remaining fixtures for rotation as the games pile up and Guardiola keeps the starting eleven fresh. Playing Crystal Palace away, three days after the Villa game is one. Luton Town at home another.

Preview for the Liverpool game at Anfield will be published on Saturday. City could not ask for a better week of preparation for it, knowing key players have been rested. Only a few headaches remain for Guardiola for selection. With Walker rested, he will probably start at RB and Kovacic the leading candidate to take the spare spot in the front six.

Interesting Moments and Links

• Erling Haaalnd on the recent comments by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

• Pep Guardiola thoughts post match.

• Man of the match, Manuel Akanji post game.

That’s all for this newsletter covering Manchester City. We are always looking for other ways to provide value to our subscribers so we appreciate any feedback provided in the comments below.

If you haven’t already, subscribe to get all this Manchester City content right to your inbox. 👇

Subscribe to Sky Blue Times

Up the Treble Winning Blues.