Manchester City hosts FC Copenhagen on Wednesday with excellent odds of advancing to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals yet again. The Citizens dealt Copenhagen a 3-1 beating in Denmark three weeks ago, and City coach Pep Guardiola has a perfect 9-0 record in two-legged Champions League ties in which his side has won the first leg on the road. This campaign has been particularly solid for Phil Foden, who has four goals and three assists in this Champions League season, already his most goal involvements in any Champions League cycle. Can Copenhagen mount what would be a mammoth upset, or will City glide through? Check out our Champions League betting preview before you lock in your wagers.
UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Betting Analysis: Manchester City vs FC Copenhagen, Second Leg
City leads aggregate, 3-1
When: Wednesday, March 6, 2024, 3:00 pm ET
Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
TV: CBS
Radio: No National Broadcast
Live Stream: Paramount+ / ViX
Champions League Betting Odds: Manchester City -800 / Draw +825 / FC Copenhagen +1800
Why should you bet on Manchester City?
City continued their fine form on Sunday as they came back from an early one-goal deficit to beat Manchester United in their derby, 3-1. They are now just one point out of first in the English Premier League table, trailing Liverpool ahead of their visit to the Reds next weekend. In their win over Copenhagen, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden all found the back of the net. Foden also had a brace in this weekend’s derby, including a highlight-reel goal from distance. He now has 18 goals across all competitions this season, already his best performance in a single season.
De Bruyne leads City with a dozen goals in knockout Champions League rounds. In his last 22 appearances in these situations, he has been involved with 20 goals (10 goals and 10 assists). Jack Grealish is the only player on the injured list, but given the sizable advantage that City hold in the aggregate and the pending match at Anfield, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see City with some changes in the XI, or at least some early substitutions. Copenhagen would need to win by two to push things to extra time, but they will have to do so against the team that has the best pass completion rate under pressure in this Champions Leauge (90.6%).
Man City Betting Lines to Win
Why should you put your money on FC Copenhagen?
Copenhagen took a 2-0 loss to FC Midtjylland on Friday, one of their rivals for the Danish Superliga title. Midtjylland are now three points clear of Copenhagen at the top of the table. When they start sequences in the Champions League, their average startoing point is just 38.6 meters from their own goal. City averages 46.1 meters, a huge advantage in terms of field position.
In Champions League play, Copenhagen does not have a lot of experience at the knockout level. In fact, in three all-time knockout round Champions League matches, they have one draw and two losses. They haven’t even won in group play on the road in Champions League play since 2016, when they won at Club Brugge, 2-0. They have been held to a clean sheet in four of their last six away games in Champions League play.
Copenhagen Betting Lines to Win
Man City vs Copenhagen Final Score and Prediction
Manchester City have never lost to FC Copenhagen in five meetings all time, with three wins and two draws. The last time the sides met at the Etihad came in October 2022, as Erling Haaland scored a brace for City in a 5-0 laugher. I see City coming in with a conservative approach, given their two-goal aggregate lead and the advantage of the three away goals – as well as this weekend’s date with Liverpool. I predict a final score of City 2, Copenhagen 0.
Copenhagen 1-3 Manchester City HIGHLIGHTS
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