Haal’s well that ends well for Pep and his 10 men

GOMEZ IS OFF BUT CITY HANG ON MINUS ERLING

IT WILL be a frustration for Pep Guardiola that having chosen to demonstrate they are no one-man team, Manchester City put in their worst performance of the season.

A draw against a wellorganised Copenhagen, who have lost just once in 14 Champions League matches here in the Danish capital, was no calamity.

And with Sevilla failing to beat Dortmund later in the evening, City’s qualification from Group G was confirmed.

But after leaving goal machine Erling Haaland on the bench to rest up, ending his run of 10 club matches on the scoresheet, manager Guardiola watched a lifeless display.

In mitigation, City had a goal disallowed, a penalty saved and Sergio Gomez sent off in a first half high in VAR interventions.

Guardiola can now unleash a hungry Haaland against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Only Jack Grealish emerged with much credit from a poor City show. And not all of it can be put down to the fact Guardiola made five changes.

VAR dominated the opening period, which was frustrating and damaging for City.

Firstly, the visitors had a goal disallowed for handball after Rodri crashed a half-volley into the top corner from 25 yards. Referee Artur Dias saw nothing in real time but was called to the touchline by his masters to review the passage of play.

On second thoughts, he ruled Riyad Mahrez had handled in the build up, the ball falling on to his arm after the defender in front of him missed his header.

That was harsh but 10 minutes later the fates balanced things up, with a City corner seeing Manuel Akanji head into

the arm of Nicolai Boilesen from point-blank range. Again, the referee saw no offence but it was spotted by the VAR.

It looked contentious, for the defender’s arm was outstretched, but after another delay Kamil Grabara delivered justice for the home side, guessing right as Mahrez placed his spot kick low.

On the half-hour the game went in favour of the Danes when VAR deemed Gomez guilty of a last-man foul on Hakon Arnar Haraldsson. City could have no complaints as Gomez clearly pulled him back, only for the official to wave play on.

VAR corrected that one with a red card and a free kick, the first gratefullly received, the latter wasted. City were ragged from back to front all night.

Ederson was woeful with the ball, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan were off form while Julian Alvarez failed to shine in place of Haaland. Copenhagen went close late on when Isak Bergmann Johannesson was just too late to meet a brilliant cross.

Real Madrid won here when they lifted the trophy in 2014.

City must hope it is not another omen that they will fall short once again this season.

FC COPENHAGEN (3-4-3): Grabara 7; Khocholava 7 (Diks 80), Boilesen 7, Lund; Jelert 6, Stamenic 6 (Mukairu 90), Lerager 7, Kristiansen 7; Haraldsson 7 (Johannesson 60), Daramy 7, Claesson 6.

MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Ederson 5; Cancelo 6, Akanji 5, Laporte 5 (Ake 88), Gomez 4; Rodri 5, Gundogan 5; Mahrez 5 (Dias 33), De Bruyne 5 (Bernardo 77), Grealish 7 (Foden 78); Alvarez 5. Sent off: Gomez 30.