Manchester City 3-1 Copenhagen: Erling Haaland hits 41st UEFA Champions League goal as Citizens ease into quarter-finals

Manchester City remain on course for the double-treble after cruising into the UEFA Champions quarter-finals courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Copenhagen.

Former Southampton man Mohamed Elyounoussi pulled one back for the Danes with a delightful finish, and that led to a spirited period for visitors, until Erling Haaland put the tie to bed before half-time.

It was plain sailing from there on in for City, as although Ederson made one save from Magnus Mattsson, they were largely untroubled in a quiet second half.

At the other end, the hosts created very little against a compact defence, failing to even register a shot on target in the second half. However, they knew their job was already done, and a seventh successive Champions League quarter-final awaits.

Manchester City have arguably their biggest game of the season so far when they face Liverpool at Anfield in a top of the Premier League clash on Sunday.

With that in mind, they just wanted to get through this match unscathed and by exerting as little energy as possible.

Things therefore could not have gone better for Pep Guardiola’s side, who had a four goal aggregate lead by the break, meaning they could afford to take Rodri off at half-time, while also allowing some rest to Ruben Dias and Haaland, who were substituted later on.

The Argentine’s goal was more than fortuitous, as he profited from a goalkeeping clanger, but his performance on the night was much more than that.

He barely put a foot wrong in the centre of the park, driving his forward and rarely giving the ball away as City largely controlled the tempo of the game.

It was a performance that certainly gives Guardiola something to think about as he heads to Anfield at the weekend, pondering whether or not to play the second striker in support of Haaland.

MANCHESTER CITY: Ederson 6; Lewis 7, Dias 7, Akanji 7, Gvardiol 7; Bobb 7, Rodri 8, Alvarez 8, Kovacic 7, Nunes 7; Haaland 7. Subs: Gomez 6, Stones 6, Hamilton n/a, Wright n/a

COPENHAGEN: Grabara 4; Anderson 6, Jelert 5, Vavro 6, McKenna 7, Diks 6; Froholdt 6, Oskarsson 6, Clem 6; Achouri 5, Elyounouissi 7. Subs: Mattson 6, Bardghji 6, Cornelius 6, Hojlund 6, Meling n/a

5’ GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 COPENHAGEN (Manuel Akanji). City get off to the perfect start, and what a way to open the scoring! They win a corner on the right which is swung into the box. Akanji is waiting just in front of the penalty spot, and he perfectly guides a volley into the top corner.

9’ GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 COPENHAGEN (Julian Alvarez). Oh dear! That is an absolute howler from goalkeeper Grabara! Rodri hits the bar with a header and the ball works its way back out to Julian Alvarez on the left. He swings in a cross, it’s going straight at the ‘keeper, but slips straight through his hands. 2-0.

29’ GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2-1 COPENHAGEN (Mohamed Elyounoussi). That is glorious! A rapid Copenhagen counter-attack is led by Mohamed Elyounoussi, who gets the edge of the area before exchanging a quick one-two with Orri Oskarsson and then guiding into the back of the net! Game on?

45+3’ GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 3-1 COPENHAGEN (Erling Haaland). Erling Haaland gets his goal! The Norwegian runs on to a quite magnificent ball over the top by Rodri, brings it down, holds off his man and then hooks into the bottom near corner.

90+3’ LEWIS HITS THE BAR! That was nearly 4-1! Wright feeds Lewis, who comes incredibly close with a shot that takes a deflection, loops up and rattles the woodwork

• Manchester City set a club-record of 37 unbeaten games at the Etihad Stadium, dating back to November 2022
• Copenhagen remain winless in England, having played eight European matches in the country, losing six and drawing two