Copenhagen vs Man City facts

Copenhagen's second foray into the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds could scarcely be more daunting as they take on holders Manchester City, who have won every game in this season's competition.

The Danish champions – who held City to a goalless draw at Parken in last season's group stage after a 5-0 away defeat – are in the round of 16 for only the second time, the first in 2010/11 ending in elimination against English opponents. City, by contrast, are making their 11th successive knockout appearance and have won their last six contests at this stage.

Copenhagen qualified as Group A runners-up, eight points behind section winners Bayern München but three ahead of Galatasaray and four above City's local rivals Manchester United, who lost a remarkable Matchday 4 contest 4-3 in the Danish capital.

City won all six games in their section for the first time, finishing six points above Leipzig in Group G and scoring 18 goals in total against the German club, Young Boys and Crvena zvezda.

Previous meetings

Copenhagen wins 0
Man City wins 2
Draws 2
Copenhagen goals 3
Man City goals 9

The teams are meeting for the second time in as many Champions League campaigns. City took four points off their Danish opponents in last season's group stage, Erling Haaland (7, 32) scoring the first two goals in Manchester on Matchday 3. A Davit Khocholava own goal (39) stretched the lead before the break, the win rounded off by second-half strikes from Riyad Mahrez (55pen) and Julián Álvarez (76).

A week later the teams drew 0-0 at Parken, the first points City had dropped in last season's competition. Mahrez missed a 25th-minute penalty for the visitors, who had Sergio Gómez sent off five minutes later.

Pep Guardiola's side went on to finish top of Group G on 14 points with Copenhagen eliminated having come bottom with three.

This is the sides' second knockout contest, City winning 4-3 on aggregate in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup round of 32.

Copenhagen twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 first-leg draw at Parken, goals from Nedum Onuoha (29) and Stephen Ireland (61) cancelled out by Aílton (56) and Martin Vingaard (90+1).

Vingaard also struck in added time at the City of Manchester Stadium, but Craig Bellamy's double (73, 79) proved enough to take the English side through.

City went on to beat another Danish side, Aalborg, in the last 16 before losing 4-3 on aggregate to Hamburg in the quarter-finals.

Form guide

Copenhagen

Record vs English clubs: W2 D5 L8 F9 A22
Home record vs English clubs: W2 D3 L2

The Danish side were in the same Champions League section as City's neighbours Manchester United this season, going down 1-0 at Old Trafford on Matchday 3, a game in which Jordan Larsson had an added-time penalty saved with the last kick of the game.

Two weeks later Copenhagen came from 0-2 and 2-3 down to beat United 4-3 at home, late goals from Lars Lerager (83) and substitute Roony Bardghji (87), then aged 17, securing a famous victory.

That ended Copenhagen's run of eight games without a goal against Premier League clubs.

It was also only Copenhagen's second victory in their 15 competitive matches against English clubs – and one of only five matches in which they scored.

Copenhagen's aggregate record in knockout ties against English clubs is W0 L4, their most recent defeat a 1-0 extra-time loss to Manchester United in the one-off 2019/20 UEFA Europa League quarter-final in Cologne.

The Danish champions' only previous appearance in the Champions League round of 16 ended in defeat against English opponents, Chelsea beating them 2-0 in the Copenhagen first leg and on aggregate in 2010/11.

Copenhagen are in the Champions League proper for the sixth time, having made their first appearance since 2016/17 last season. No other Danish side has featured more than twice.

The Danish club finished fourth in their section for the third time in their five group campaigns in 2022/23, failing to win a game in Group G. They did, however, draw all three home matches, losing all three away including the 5-0 reverse at City that equalled their biggest European defeat.

The Danish champions eased past Breidablik of Iceland in their first European tie this season in the second qualifying round (2-0 a, 6-3 h), but had to come through a tight third qualifying round contest against Sparta Praha, the first leg at Parken finishing scoreless before a 3-3 draw in Prague in which both teams scored twice in extra time, Copenhagen eventually prevailing 4-2 on penalties. They then edged past Polish champions Raków Częstochowa in the play-offs (1-0 a, 1-1 h).

Having let slip a two-goal lead late on to draw 2-2 at Galatasaray on Matchday 1, Copenhagen were then beaten 2-1 at home by Bayern and went down 1-0 at Manchester United in their third fixture. They turned the tables on the English club on Matchday 4 with a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory in Denmark before ending Bayern's record 17-match winning run in the group stage by grinding out a 0-0 draw in Munich.

A 1-0 win at home to Galatasaray on Matchday 6 sealed Copenhagen's place in the round of 16 and ensured they would progress from the group stage for only the second time.

That Matchday 6 win against Galatasaray is one of only five in Copenhagen's last 18 European games (D8 L5) and their third victory in nine at home (D5 L1) – although they have now won the last two at Parken.

The Matchday 2 reverse against Bayern is one of just two losses in Copenhagen's last 12 home European matches (W5 D5), the other a 4-0 defeat by PSV Eindhoven in the 2021/22 UEFA Europa Conference League group stage.

That defeat by Bayern ended the Danish side's six-match unbeaten home run in Champions League group games, drawing five, since a 2-0 defeat against Real Madrid on Matchday 6 in 2013/14. Those are two of only three losses in their 19 games at Parken in the Champions League, group stage to final (W8 D8).

Copenhagen claimed their record-equalling 15th Danish league title, all since 1993, and their fifth in eight seasons in 2022/23. They also lifted the Danish Cup to win a sixth domestic double.

Manchester City

Record vs Danish clubs: W4 D2 L2 F12 A6
Away record vs Danish clubs: W1 D2 L1

Aside from their four games against Copenhagen, City have played only four other matches against Danish clubs, with six of their eight matches overall coming in that 2008/09 UEFA Cup campaign. That run started in the second qualifying round when both legs of their tie against Midtjylland ended in a 1-0 away win, City ultimately prevailing 4-2 on penalties. After knocking out Copenhagen in the round of 32, they beat AaB in the last 16, also on spot kicks, winning the shoot-out 4-3 after two 2-0 home wins.

City's record in knockout ties against Danish opponents is therefore W3 L0.

That win at Midtjylland in City's first away game against Danish opponents remains their only victory in their four games in Denmark (D2 L1).

City have featured in the Champions League round of 16 every season from 2013/14 onwards. Their record at this stage is W7 L3, all seven wins after playing the first leg away, all three losses after playing the home leg first. Last season's win against Leipzig was their sixth successive last-16 victory.

This is City's 13th successive Champions League appearance; they have featured every season since 2011/12 and have now reached the knockout stages in each of the last 11 campaigns.

Guardiola's side have also now won their Champions League group for seven successive seasons.

City won the Champions League for the first time in 2022/23, beating Inter 1-0 in the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul thanks to a second-half goal from Rodri. They had finished top of Group G before knockout wins against Leipzig (1-1 a, 7-0 h), Bayern München (3-0 h, 1-1 a) and holders Real Madrid (1-1 a, 4-0 h).

The final victory brought Guardiola level with Zinédine Zidane and Bob Paisley with three European Cup wins as a coach in total. Only Carlo Ancelotti has more with four.

Guardiola, a winner with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, also became the sixth coach to lift the European Cup with two different clubs.

Haaland was the top scorer in the competition with 12 goals. Midfielder Rodri was selected as Player of the Season.

The Cityzens also won the Premier League and the FA Cup in 2022/23, making them England's first treble winners since Manchester United in 1998/99. They became the tenth European team to win the treble and the first since Bayern in 2020.

City have already claimed European silverware this season, beating Sevilla 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Piraeus on 16 August to win the UEFA Super Cup for the first time. The Premier League side were the 25th team to lift the trophy and the sixth from England, Guardiola becoming the first coach to triumph with three different clubs.

In this season's Champions League, City came from behind to beat Crvena zvezda 3-1 at home on Matchday 1 before winning by the same scoreline in Leipzig. They next beat Young Boys 3-1 away and 3-0 at home and then sealed first place by coming from 0-2 down at home against the German team to win 3-2.

Guardiola's side became the 13th team to win all six Champions League group games – and one of two this season, alongside Group C winners Real Madrid – with a 3-2 victory at Crvena zvezda on Matchday 6.

Haaland finished the group stage with five goals, level with Atlético de Madrid pair Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata and former Copenhagen striker Rasmus Højlund, now of eliminated Manchester United, as the competition's top scorer ahead of the knockout rounds.

The Cityzens have won 18 of their last 32 away European matches (D9 L5), although they had drawn five in a row, including three in succession 1-1, before this season's victory at Leipzig.

The Manchester club have not lost a European game since a 3-1 extra-time defeat at Real Madrid in the 2021/22 semi-final second leg – the 20-game unbeaten run since has surpassed West Ham's previous English record of 17.

Links and trivia

Have played in England:
Mohamed Elyounoussi (Southampton 2018–19, 2021–23)
Kamil Grabara (Liverpool 2016–21, Huddersfield 2019/20 loan)
Andreas Cornelius (Cardiff 2013/14)

Elyounoussi scored Basel's first goal in a 2-1 second-leg win at City in the 2017/18 Champions League round of 16; the English side had won 4-0 in the first game in Switzerland.

Have played together:
Diogo Gonçalves & Rúben Dias (Benfica 2008–20)

International team-mates:
Birger Meling & Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb (Norway)

Having scored one goal and set up another in Belgium's 4-2 UEFA Nations League win at home to Denmark on 18 November 2020, Kevin De Bruyne repeated the trick in his side's 2-1 win at Copenhagen's Parken on Matchday 2 of UEFA EURO 2020.

Latest news

Copenhagen

UEFA Champions League squad changes
In: Magnus Mattsson, Scott McKenna, Rúnar Rúnarsson
Out: Andreas Dithmer, Victor Froholdt, Valdemar Lund Jensen, Thomas Jørgensen, Mateo Tanlongo

This is Copenhagen's first competitive game since beating Galatasaray on Matchday 6 to book their place in the round of 16.

The Danish champions are third in the 2023/24 Superliga, three points behind leaders Midtjylland.

Copenhagen had not won for five games (D2 L3) before a 2-1 victory at Silkeborg in the Danish Cup semi-final second leg on 9 December, three days before beating Galatasaray.

That second-leg success against Silkeborg was not enough to prevent Danish Cup elimination after a 2-0 home defeat in the first leg three days earlier.

The win against Galatasaray was Copenhagen's first in four home matches in all competitions (D1 L2).

Copenhagen were beaten 2-1 at home by AGF in the Danish Superliga on 3 December. That was their third home league defeat of the season – as many as they suffered in the whole of 2022/23.

Jacob Neestrup's side have lost five home matches in 2023/24 (W9 D3); they have been beaten only twice away from home.

The capital club have 33 points after 17 games, six more than at the same stage of last season.

Roony Bardghji is Copenhagen's top scorer in the league in 2023/24 with seven.

Bardghji, who got the Matchday 4 winner against Manchester United and turned 18 on 15 November, is also Copenhagen's top scorer in all competitions this season with ten goals.

Elias Achouri has seven assists in this season's Superliga, two more than any other player.

Copenhagen have played six friendly matches in 2024 with the record W3 D1 L2.

After a 2-2 draw against Scottish side Rangers on 16 January, the Danish club lost 2-0 to Sparta Praha four days later before a 5-1 win against AGF the following week, Mohamed Elyounoussi scoring a hat-trick.

Copenhagen then won 5-4 against Sweden's Elfsborg on 4 February but lost 2-1 to domestic rivals Brøndby the following day.

Elyounoussi scored twice more in a 3-1 victory against Norwegian side Molde on 8 February, Jordan Larsson getting the other goal.

January signings Mattsson and McKenna made their Copenhagen debuts against Elfsborg, while Rúnarsson made his first appearance in the defeat by Brøndby.

Birger Meling was replaced shortly before half-time in a 2-1 win against Velje on 21 October after picking up a muscle injury and has not played since.

Davit Khocholava made his first appearance since 2 April in the 4-0 home win against Hvidovre on 28 October; the Georgian had been out with a knee injury. He has since undergone another operation and has not played since.

William Clem returned as a substitute in the friendly against Molde having been out since suffering a fractured foot on 16 October.

Reserve goalkeeper Theo Sander has been sidelined since the end of 2023 after undergoing knee surgery.

Andreas Cornelius suffered a calf injury against AGF on 27 January, returning as a half-time substitute against Molde.

On 21 December, Kamil Grabara was named Best Goalkeeper in Danish Football for 2023. The Polish international will join Wolfsburg in July after a clause allowing him to move in January was not activated.

Man City

UEFA Champions League squad changes
In: None
Out: Kalvin Phillips

City's sole January signing was 18-year-old attacking midfielder Claudio Echeverri, who has been loaned back to River Plate and will link up with his new club in January 2025.

City's record in all competitions since Matchday 6 is W10 D1.

On Saturday two Erling Haaland goals in the final 20 minutes earned a 2-0 victory at home to Everton, City's tenth successive victory in all competitions. Haaland had not scored since the 3-2 comeback win against Leipzig on Matchday 5 on 28 November.

That was Haaland's 50th Premier League start; he has scored 51 goals in those games, more than any other players at the same stage.

Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench to set up Haaland's second goal. It was the Belgian's 12th Premier League assist for the Norwegian; no other player has provided more goals for an individual team-mate since Haaland joined City in 2022.

City have scored 29 goals in that ten-game winning run, conceding only five.

Phil Foden scored all three goals in a 3-1 win at Brentford on 5 February, his second career hat-trick.

Pep Guardiola's side are unbeaten in all competitions since a 1-0 Premier League loss at Aston Villa on 6 December. They have won all but one of their 13 subsequent matches.

City claimed the FIFA World Club Cup for the first time in December, beating Japanese side Urawa Reds 3-0 in the semi-final and Fluminense of Brazil 4-0 in the final, Julián Álvarez scoring twice in the latter match.

Álvarez has seven goals in his last nine appearances.

De Bruyne's assist in a 3-1 home win against Burnley on 31 January was his 104th in the Premier League, taking him above Wayne Rooney and into outright third place in the all-time rankings, behind only Ryan Giggs (162 assists) and Cesc Fàbregas (111). The Belgian, who is now on 105, is also the quickest player to 100 Premier League assists, in just 237 games.

The Cityzens beat Championship club Huddersfield 5-0 at home in the FA Cup third round and were 1-0 victors at Tottenham in the next round, Nathan Aké scoring a late winner.

City will visit Luton in the last 16 on 27 February.

Manuel Akanji started on Saturday having not played since going off with a knee injury in the first half against Huddersfield on 7 January.

John Stones played 90 minutes against Burnley on 31 January, his first appearance since 27 December due to an ankle problem.

Haaland was out between 6 December and 31 January, when he came on as a substitute against Burnley, due to a foot injury. He has started City's last two matches.

De Bruyne returned to action on 7 January having been out since suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury in a 2-0 win at Burnley in City's first Premier League game of the season on 11 August.

Kyle Walker, Rúben Dias, Stones, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne and Haaland were all named in the FIFPRO's Men's World 11 on 15 January. Ederson was named The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper and Guardiola took the coaching prize.