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The Champions League knockout stages get underway on Tuesday as Man City travel to Denmark to face record Danish champions FC Copenhagen. The Danes came through an extremely tough group featuring Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and City’s cross-town rivals Man United, and despite being heavy underdogs here they have proven they can get results against some of Europe’s biggest sides.
City, the holders, will be looking to end this tie early, but they will respect their opposition, with Pep Guardiola all too aware of what can happen in this competition. He has seen his side unexpectedly knocked out by Monaco and Lyon during his City tenure. City are favoured for a reason, however, last failing to make it past the Last 16 stage in 2016/17 and making it to the final in two of the last three seasons, falling at the semi-final stage in the other.
Copenhagen will not make this easy and it should be a great game, both to watch and to bet on, so read on for our heavily researched FC Copenhagen v Man City bet builder tips. Our Stats Pack Guide is your first port of call for a greater understanding of the data below.
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Copenhagen vs Man City Predicted Lineups
First competitive fixture in two months for the Danes
The Danish Superliga is in the middle of its extended winter break, with Copenhagen last playing a competitive fixture on December 12, their 1-0 win over Galatasaray to secure their place in the Champions League last 16. Midfielder Lucas Lerager is suspended after being sent off in that one, so it is expected that the striker on that day, Viktor Claesson will drop into midfield and teenage sensation Roony Bardghji will slot in up front. The rest of the XI from that game are injury-free so Jacob Neestrup’s is not expected to make any other changes.
Games coming thick and fast for Man City
By contrast, City are entering the period of the season where they play at least twice a week for most of the run-in. They were able to rotate against Everton, bringing Manuel Akanji and Matheus Nunes into the side, to give Josko Gvardiol, Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne some rest. John Stones is also back from injury and is expected to start here, whilst De Bruyne should return for Nunes and Gvardiol and Walker are expected to come back in for Nathan Ake and Akanji. Erling Haaland is expected to make a third consecutive start following his two-month injury lay-off.
Copenhagen vs Man City Team Stats
Confident on home soil
In front of their fierce Parken crowd, Copenhagen put in some exceptional performances in the group stages. They scored in all three group games at home, netting once against Bayern and Galatasaray and scoring four times in a 4-3 win over 10-man Man United. They have generated at least 1 xG in each of these three games and will pose a threat today. City had gone 11 games without a clean sheet before their game against Everton at the weekend, and backing both teams to score could be a nice long-shot option here, sitting at evens.
City on a roll right now
As we enter the latter stages, it appears City’s familiar winning run is in full swing, Guardiola’s side have won their last 10 games, going unbeaten in their last 13, a run which stretches back to early December. They are heavily favoured here, so the best value can be found in the handicap markets, where they can be backed to win with a -1 handicap at 1.67. They have also won the first leg of their last 16 ties by more than one goal in two of the last three campaigns, the one exception being a tricky away tie to RB Leipzig last season that they drew 1-1.
Copenhagen vs Man City Shots and Shots on Target Stats
Mohamed Elyounoussi makes a strong case
The Norwegian winger had a strong campaign for Copenhagen before their winter break, notching seven goals and two assists in all competitions. Not afraid to shoot, Elyounoussi has taken 14 shots in his last five competitive starts for Copenhagen, all the while racking up seven shots on target, including two against Bayern Munich and one against Man United in this competition. Having taken two or more shots in 10 of his last 11 starts, backing him to do so again here at 2.1 offers fantastic value.
Phil Foden in the form of his life
With nine goal contributions in his last eight starts, including a hat-trick last week at Brentford, Phil Foden is a great option in the shots markets, having had at least two shots in each of those eight games. He has had at least one shot on target in seven and had two or more shots on target in four of those eight starts. Available at 1.4 for one shot on target, or at 2.88 for two if you want to push the boat out, Foden should be strongly considered for a bet builder here.
Copenhagen vs Man City Goals and Assists Stats
Elias Achouri a nice longshot play
With it being two months since a competitive fixture for much of the Copenhagen side, Achouri is better placed than most to be up to speed for this one, having featured for Tunisia in their Africa Cup of Nations campaign. He scored or assisted in each of his last three starts for the Danish side, including in their final group stage game against Galatasaray, and will look to pose a threat down the left flank. Achouri has three goals and seven assists this season and could be a solid longshot play on the goalscoring or assist markets.
De Bruyne immediately back to his best
The return of Kevin De Bruyne was a sight for sore eyes for Man City fans, and he has not disappointed. Despite starting just two of the six games he has played since his return, De Bruyne has either scored or assisted in five of these six games, scoring once and assisting five times in just 276 minutes of action, racking up a goal or assist every 46 minutes. Available at 1.62 to score or assist, few would back against De Bruyne adding to his tally in a game City should dominate from start to finish.
Copenhagen Cards and Fouls Stats
Diogo Goncalves to struggle in midfield battle
Portuguese midfielder Goncalves jointly tops the fouls charts with Elias Achouri, both committing one foul per game this season. Up against Rodri and De Bruyne, it is likely to be a tough test for Goncalves here, with both City players drawing around a foul per game and being exceptionally good at protecting the ball. With De Bruyne being City’s biggest dangerman, and likely to be breaking through the space Goncalves will be defending, a booking for a deliberate foul to break up an attack could be on the cards here, and looks a nice play at 4.33, especially with the referee in this one averaging 5.33 cards per game.
Tough assignment for Peter Ankersen
Fouled more times than any other likely City starter, Jeremy Doku will be encouraged to take on Ankersen plenty here, as Guardiola’s side attempts to break through what will be a well drilled Copenhagen backline. Drawing 2.04 fouls from 9.44 dribbles per game, Doku will keep going at Ankersen all game, so either backing the Belgian to be fouled twice at 1.44 or backing Ankersen to commit a single foul at 1.73 look like solid plays here.
Man City Cards and Fouls Stats
Josko Gvardiol on a fouling streak
Man City’s young Croatian full back is expected to be recalled here, and faced with Mohamed Elyounoussi, arguably Copenhagen’s most threatening attacker he may well continue his fouling streak. Gvardiol has committed 10 fouls in his last seven Premier League starts and has committed a foul in his last five straight league starts. Elyounoussi draws 1.07 fouls per game, whilst Gvardiol has been averaging 1.6 fouls per game across his last five games.
Rasmus Falk’s foul winning to be huge for the Danes
Copenhagen’s central midfielder Rasmus Falk is excellent at winning fouls in the centre of the park to help alleviate pressure on his side. He has drawn a foul in five of Copenhagen’s six group stage games and has drawn at least one foul in six of his last seven competitive starts for Copenhagen. As Falk cannot be found on the fouls won market, instead back his opposite number Rodri to commit a foul at 1.3. The Spaniard commits 1.41 fouls per game, the most of any City player, and he will be directly up against Falk all game.
Copenhagen vs Man City Key Matchups
Diogo Goncalves vs Kevin De Bruyne
Peter Ankersen vs Jeremy Doku
Mohamed Elyounoussi vs Josko Gvardiol
Rasmus Falk vs Rodri
Copenhagen vs Man City Bet Builder Tips and Picks of the Pack
We have combined our four strongest Copenhagen vs Man City bet builder fancies and you can add it to your betslip below.
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Copenhagen vs Man City
13th February
kick off 20:00 Man City (-1 Handicap)
City have won 2 of their last 3 last 16 first legs in the Champions League by more than one goal.
Man City have won 8 of their last 10 games in all competitions by more than one goal.
Phil Foden 1+ shots on targetFoden has had at least two shots in 8 straight games in all competitions.
He has had at least one shot on target in 7 of his last 8 starts in all competitions.
Kevin De Bruyne to Score or AssistDe Bruyne has scored or assisted every 46 minutes since he returned from injury.
He has scored or assisted in 5 of his last 6 games, despite only starting 2 of these 6 games.
Peter Ankersen 1+ foulsAnkersen will be up against Jeremy Doku, who draws 2.04 fouls per game.
Ankersen has committed a foul in his last 2 Copenhagen starts, and in both Champions League games in which he has completed 90 minutes.
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