Match preview
The Champions League round of 16 kicks off tonight as defending champions Manchester City travel to Denmark to take on FC Copenhagen in the first leg.
Tonight marks Copenhagen’s first game in two months due to their winter break. Their last match was at home against Galatasaray, which they won 1-0 to qualify for the knockout stages. Their last league match was in early December.
Despite not playing a competitive fixture in two months, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is expecting a hungry Copenhagen tonight.
“I’m happy to be here [at this stage of the competition] as we’ve done our job in the group stage. Now, it’s back to business. In the last 16, you maybe don’t yet have the rhythm. We have seen what they can do against Man Utd and Galatasaray in a really tough group.
“Tomorrow will not define the tie as we will have to finish it in Manchester. They will be starving to compete and full of energy [first competitive game in two months]. I don’t know what their rhythm will be like but hopefully we will be at a good level to compete.”
Manchester City travel to Copenhagen tonight in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie
Credit: Liselotte Sabroe/Getty Images
The two sides have met on four previous occasions in the Champions League, with both games in Denmark ending in a draw.
“We had qualified when we were last here so this is different. The crowd are so close here and I have a huge respect for them. When I saw what they did in the group stage, I thought ‘wow’. We have to be prepared mentally. We have to be ready to suffer as it will be a tight, tight game. Normally, my gut doesn’t lie to me.”
Manchester City won all six games in Group G as they sailed into the knockout stages. Copenhagen finished second in Group B behind Bayern Munich on eight points, finishing ahead of Galatasaray and Manchester United.
The last time Copenhagen faced a side from Manchester at the Parken Stadium was in the group stages, when they won a dramatic match 4-3 against Manchester United back in November.