IT’S A COPEN AND SHUT CASE
Too easy for City as Pep’s men breeze past Danes into last eight
Holders Man City strolled into the quarter-finals last night – with erling Haaland netting his 29th goal of the season.
City, leading 3-1 from the first leg, made the second a formality, winning by the same scoreline to book their place in the last-eight draw a week tomorrow in Nyon.
Manuel Akanji set City on their way to victory with the opener, Julian Alvarez claiming the second four minutes later after a howler from keeper Kamil Grabara. The Danish champions pulled a goal back but Haaland – who equalled Sergio Aguero’s total of 41 Champions League goals in just 37 games, 42 fewer than City’s all-time record goalscorer – made it 3-1 just before half-time. City are the team everyone will want to avoid in next week’s draw. They look like the most formidable team in Europe and no one should bet against them repeating the Treble. Manager Pep Guardiola said: “We’re into the next round. Still we are there in this competition. “It was difficult to attack them (FC Copenhagen) because they are well organised playing four or five at the back. “We are well-respected for our openness. Before I arrived we didn’t believe we could do it. It’s a question of time, a process. They (hierarchy) gave me time, gave us time.
“We are a team that believes we can do it. Listen, we’re competing with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
“We don’t know who we are going to face. It’s a question of wait and see. The important thing is seven years in a row we are there.”
City wasted no time to take charge at the Etihad and were ahead inside five minutes. Alvarez’s near-post corner was volleyed in by Akanji.
It was 2-0 inside nine minutes. Alvarez’s corner found Rodri who hit the bar. The ball wasn’t cleared, came back to Alvarez and his fierce shot went through keeper Grabara’s hands.
FC Copenhagen did equalise in the first leg three weeks ago and were determined to have a say again. Former Celtic loanee Mohamed Elyounoussi led a counter-attack, swapped passes with Orri Oskarsson then fired past Ederson.
But it was game over in first-half injury-time. Rodri’s sensational inch-perfect long ball forward picked out Haaland and the City goal machine controlled it, turned and smashed a low shot just inside the near post.
Even Guardiola, arguably the most animated manager on any touchline, looked like he had a cigar on. He was so relaxed as Rodri was subbed at half-time, Ruben Dias was given a breather and Haaland eventually went off to a standing ovation.
There was one horrible moment as City’s Matheus Nunes went off with a dislocated finger. But that was as scary as it got all night.
Rico Lewis hit the bar in injury time but, by then, all minds had switched towards another Treble.