Manchester City are like the Terminator on nights like this, unafraid and unstoppable. Copenhagen showed bravery by countering Kevin De Bruyne’s opener with Magnus Mattsson’s equalizer, which led to Bernardo Silva’s second.
All these goals came before halftime. Before and after De Bruyne was the City version of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in the Hollywood blockbuster “I’ll be back,” which may apply to the attractive 32-year-old.
Copenhagen’s Champions League home games include Boomtown Rats’ I Don’t Like Mondays.
De Bruyne is back after a five-month injury layoff and in great form, so who has any valid grounds for Pep Guardiola’s team to lose the trophy?
As seen, City’s street-tough attitude has been added to their high-octane game. Phil Foden’s late third, created by De Bruyne, was a devastating blow to the Danish club.
Guardiola said: “We played well, at the right pace. We controlled the game, and the guys played brilliantly.
Copenhagen wait for mistakes and defend space, not take the ball. You must wait. Refuse transitions. We had five great players behind us, and Kevin and Phil were great too.”
Jack Grealish and Silva were hurt. “Bernardo has a big ankle knock,” Guardiola remarked. It appears muscular with Jack, but I didn’t ask the doctor.
His crotch is muscular, and he’s gutted. Testing will occur Wednesday. Hope Bernardo isn’t a problem. We play Chelsea at home on Saturday, so maybe he can recover quickly.”
Guardiola also updated Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, who did not travel. Josko has an ankle ligament damage and is out for two to three weeks. Kova may return shortly, the management added.
As usual, the home crowd roared, although only briefly due to the opening. Foden turned and passed to De Bruyne, who finished inside Kamil Grabara’s right post.
Guardiola had to adjust his gameplan after Grealish was substituted after 21 minutes. Silva entered on the left after Jérémy Doku entered. Copenhagen survived after Grabara’s arm pinballed the Portuguese cross onto the bar.
Foden was the next City injured, and while he recovered as the visitors stayed in control, the injury interruptions disrupted their relentless flow.
They are so skilled that this may be found instantly. The magnificent sequence involved Rodri chipping left to Doku, who slipped the ball over for Erling Haaland to volley just over.
European Guardiola mantras include how any opponent can succeed. Copenhagen first threatened when Magnus Mattsson nearly shot himself in a crowd.
He equalized moments later. After Rúben Dias blocked Mohamed Elyounoussi’s shot, the ball went to the midfielder, who struck into the top right corner.
Contest resumed. The Danish fans’ noise level rose again. Mattsson entered again, spraying. Guardiola says he made City believers in continental combat. Now was the time to demonstrate.
They did it well and at the right time, near the end of the 45 minutes, thanks to De Bruyne, who now provided. Silva scored as he beat Grabara to his right, earning a Guardiola arm-pump as City lead.
City controlled the game in the second half’s early minutes. However, Doku miscontrolled, the hosts recovered a corner, Mattsson delivered from the right, and Elyounoussi came near. A warning for City, so De Bruyne took over.
He unloaded first, prompting a Grabara save. An attack from the right resulted in a free-kick that Foden attempted to score, but Grabara saved it. Next, Kevin Diks upended him in the center circle.
Rodri and Haaland are City’s most important players, but De Bruyne’s latest move is a flank run.
His mistakes are collector’s pieces, but once Foden made one, Copenhagen used the transition to hurtle upfield and a Nathan Aké diving header cleared the threat.
Foden won with a straightforward close-range shot. City should win the three-week home return.
