Kevin de Bruyne has now been involved in eight goals (two goals and six assists) since returning from injury on 7 January
Manchester City resumed their Champions League title defence with a comfortable victory at FC Copenhagen in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
After Kevin de Bruyne gave Pep Guardiola’s side an early lead it looked like they would go on to claim a big win as the hosts barely laid a glove on them.
But Ederson gifted the ball straight to Copenhagen with a poor clearance and Magnus Mattsson took full advantage with a fantastic strike.
Bernardo Silva put Manchester City ahead again just before half-time with a clever flick after a ball from De Bruyne deflected through to him.
De Bruyne and Erling Haaland had further chances to add to the lead after the break and, although City were not quite at their attacking best, they ensured they left with a two-goal cushion thanks to Phil Foden’s late strike.
Manchester City will host Copenhagen in the second leg on Wednesday, 6 March.
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City avoid potential banana skin
This was Copenhagen’s first game in two months after football in Denmark was paused for a winter break but Guardiola had warned before the game that they would still not make things easy for his side.
The Danes had beaten Manchester United 4-3 at the Parken Stadium in the Champions League group stage back in November, and also held Manchester City to a goalless draw there in 2022.
Guardiola’s side started like a train, but while they failed to sustain that momentum they did have plenty of chances to win by a greater margin.
However, ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Kamil Grabara played a key role in limiting the visitors to two goals, making good saves to deny Ruben Dias early on and Jeremy Doku in the second half.
But in the closing stages, the visitors stepped it up again to ensure they got a healthy advantage for the second leg and secured it when Foden drove in from De Bruyne’s cutback.
Guardiola waits on Grealish injury
Jack Grealish was making his first start since the FA Cup third-round win against Huddersfield on 7 January
Manchester City’s early momentum was clearly disrupted by the early departure of Jack Grealish to injury.
The England forward was making his first start in six games but pulled up with what appeared to be a muscle injury after challenging for the ball with Diogo Goncalves.
Grealish, who missed three games in September with a hamstring injury, was then taken off in the 21st minute and City will be hoping the issue is not as bad as it initially looked.
Player of the match
De BruyneKevin De Bruyne
with an average of 8.43
FC Copenhagen
Squad number26Player nameMcKenna
Squad number1Player nameGrabara
Squad number8Player nameMattsson
Squad number19Player nameJelert
Squad number3Player nameVavro
Squad number10Player nameElyounoussi
Squad number2Player nameDiks
Squad number7Player nameClaesson
Squad number33Player nameFalk
Squad number9Player nameDiogo Gonçalves
Squad number30Player nameAchouri
Squad number6Player nameSørensen
Squad number39Player nameHøjlund
Squad number11Player nameLarsson
Squad number14Player nameCornelius
Manchester City
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
Squad number47Player nameFoden
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Squad number5Player nameStones
Squad number6Player nameAké
Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number11Player nameDoku
Squad number10Player nameGrealish
Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
Squad number2Player nameWalker
Squad number9Player nameHaaland
Squad number27Player nameMatheus Nunes
Squad number31Player nameEderson
Line-ups
FC Copenhagen
Formation 4-3-3
1Grabara
19Jelert3Vavro26McKenna2Diks
9Cupido Gonçalves33Falk8Mattsson
10Elyounoussi7Claesson30Achouri
1Grabara19Jelert3Vavro26McKenna2DiksBooked at 74mins9Cupido GonçalvesSubstituted forHøjlundat 70’minutes33FalkBooked at 71mins8MattssonSubstituted forLarssonat 81’minutes10Elyounoussi7ClaessonSubstituted forCorneliusat 55’minutes30AchouriSubstituted forSørensenat 81’minutesSubstitutes6Sørensen11Larsson14Cornelius18Óskarsson22Ankersen24Meling31Rúnarsson36Clem39Højlund40Bardghji47Froholdt61Gadeberg-Buur
Man City
Formation 4-2-3-1
31Ederson
2Walker5Stones3Rúben Dias6Aké
16Rodri20Bernardo Silva
47Foden17De Bruyne10Grealish
9Haaland
31Ederson2Walker5Stones3Rúben Dias6Aké16Rodri20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forNunesat 78’minutes47Foden17De Bruyne10GrealishSubstituted forDokuat 21’minutes9HaalandSubstitutes11Doku18Ortega19Álvarez25Akanji27Nunes33Carson52Bobb56Wright76Susoho82Lewis
Referee:José María Sánchez Martínez
Attendance:35,853
Live Text
Match ends, FC Copenhagen 1, Manchester City 3.
Second Half ends, FC Copenhagen 1, Manchester City 3.
Goal! FC Copenhagen 1, Manchester City 3. Phil Foden (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matheus Nunes.
Attempt blocked. Matheus Nunes (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Matheus Nunes.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Denis Vavro (FC Copenhagen).
Attempt saved. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Hand ball by Scott McKenna (FC Copenhagen).
Substitution, FC Copenhagen. Jordan Larsson replaces Magnus Mattsson.
Substitution, FC Copenhagen. Christian Sørensen replaces Elias Achouri.
Attempt missed. Phil Foden (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
Substitution, Manchester City. Matheus Nunes replaces Bernardo Silva because of an injury.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Scott McKenna.
Attempt blocked. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Bernardo Silva with a cross.
Attempt missed. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from long range on the left is too high from a direct free kick.
Kevin Diks (FC Copenhagen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Kevin Diks (FC Copenhagen).
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