With a brilliant Julián Álvarez, Manchester City overwhelmed Copenhagen and advanced to the quarterfinals

Manchester Citydefending champion, reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League by beating 3-1 at home against Copenhagenin the second leg of the round of 16, after having already won 3-1 in the first leg, in Denmark, with a goal and an assist from the Argentine Julian Alvarez.

Despite the rotations and rest of several regular starters, the team led by Pep Guardiola He came out with impetus and before the first ten minutes he had already distanced himself with the Swiss’s goals. Manuel Akanji (5′) and Julian Alvarez (9′). The Norwegian Mohamed Elyounoussi shortened for the Danes at 29′ and another Norwegian, Erling Haalandmade it 3-1 at 45+3′.

“It was difficult to attack them because they are well organized, with four or five players behind them. The result is there and so is the classification,” declared the coach of the Manchester CityJosep Guardiola, to TNT Sports. There are now twenty games in a row in which City did not lose and at the Etihad Stadium they have not lost since November 2022. Copenhagen He did not seem to be the most capable rival to end those streaks and, as expected, he had no choice.

Without time to digest, the English team scored the second at 9′, when Julian Alvarez he took out and finished off the Spanish Rodri. The rebound was left to the forward who emerged from Riverwho sent a cross shot that caused a big error from the Polish goalkeeper Kamil Grabarawhose hands bent when trying to catch the ball when he seemed to have everything in his favor.

That 2-0 already turned a comeback into a chimera for Copenhagen. Elyounoussi’s goal at 29′ after a quick counterattack was simply anecdotal and this was made clear before the break by Haaland, who received from Rodri at the door of the area, controlled it, entered it and among three rivals found the space to sign the third, with a shot that hit the post at 45+3′.

Erling Haaland added his sixth goal in this Champions Leaguereaching the top of the scoring table Kylian Mbappé (PSG) now Harry Kane (Bayern Munich). Julian Alvarez He follows that trio, with five goals. In the second half the scoreboard did not move. Manchester City took his foot off the accelerator, Ederson It was a wall and the only bad news of the night for the locals was the change of the Portuguese Matheus Nunes with twenty minutes left, after injuring his hand in a fall.

It was the only thing that clouded the seventh consecutive classification of the Manchester City of Julian Alvarez to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. “The most important thing is to be there for the seventh consecutive year, it is quite impressive,” said Guardiola.

Manchester City is now aiming for the Premier League

Already before the game, almost everyone in the galaxy citizen They were inevitably thinking about the team’s great challenge this week: Sunday’s visit to Anfield to face the Liverpoolthe leader of the Premier League. With only one point less in the English classification, that match is of capital importance for Guardiola, who decided to make seven changes to his starting eleven this Wednesday compared to the one he used on Sunday in the 3-1 victory against Manchester United.

Regarding the starters of the derby, only the Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Haaland repeated in the starting eleven against Copenhagen. This gave a rest to several regular starters, especially Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Fodenthe latter the player who has played the most minutes for City this season.

With minimal physical and mental wear, Manchester City You can now focus 100% on the Liverpoolwho will have one less day of rest because on Thursday he visits the Prague Spartain the first leg of the round of 16 of the Europa League.