Copenhagen vs Man City Champions League round of 16 first leg preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, possible line-ups

Copenhagen and Man City meet in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg on Tuesday 13 February.

Where to watch Copenhagen vs Man City on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

What do you need to know?

The story since completing the group stage has been somewhat different for these two sides. Copenhagen's victory against Galatasaray on Matchday 6 was their last competitive game, with friendlies and the Atlantic Cup keeping them occupied in recent weeks as they gear up for the visit of the European champions.

City, meanwhile, have been making more history. The 4-0 win against Brazilian side Fluminense in the Club World Cup final in December brought their fifth trophy of the calendar year, making them the first English club to achieve the feat. That proved to be the second of ten straight wins in all competitions.

Starting line-ups

Copenhagen: Grabara; Jelert, Vavro, McKenna, Diks; Mattsson, Falk, Diogo Gonçalves; Achouri, Claesson, Elyounoussi
Misses next match if booked: Meling, Vavro

Man City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Aké; Rodri; Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Grealish; Haaland
Misses next match if booked: Dias

Squad changes

Copenhagen
In: Magnus Mattsson, Oscar Gadeberg Buur*, Scott McKenna, Rúnar Rúnarsson
Out: Andreas Dithmer, Victor Froholdt, Valdemar Lund Jensen, Thomas Jørgensen, Mateo Tanlongo

Man City
In: None
Out: Kalvin Phillips

* List B

Form guide

Copenhagen
Form: WWLLDL
Most recent result: Copenhagen 1-0 Galatasaray, 12/12, Group A
Danish Super League table

Man City
Form: WWWWWW
Most recent result: Man City 2-0 Everton, 10/02, English Premier
English Premier League table

Expert predictions

Sture Sandø, Copenhagen reporter
Copenhagen have not played a single competitive match since securing their last 16-spot on Matchday 6. Hence, their first leg against Manchester City will be a baptism of fire. But the Lions were also underdogs when City visited the Danish capital in autumn 2022 and only took one point back to England. Former Celtic and Southampton forward Mohamed Elyounoussi in particular looks in good shape with five goals for the Danish champions in their last two friendly matches leading up to this game. Looking back at Copenhagen's home results under Jacob Neestrup in the Champions League is also good reading for the home fans (W2 D3 L1). They will not give anything away.

Steve Bates, Man City reporter
Since ending the group stage with a 100% winning record, City added to their trophy haul, becoming Club World Cup champions to make it five major titles in a calendar year. With a successive European and domestic treble possible, Pep Guardiola's imperious team are in impressive form, boasting ten straight wins in all competitions as the knockout phase begins. Haaland and De Bruyne missed a big chunk of winter with injuries but both are fit – and in ominous form.

What the coaches say

Jacob Neestrup, Copenhagen coach: "We know that Manchester City are a really, really good team, but just like Bayern, Manchester United and Galatasaray, their players are only human. So we play knowing we have a chance of winning, and it goes without saying that our stadium will be rocking."

Pep Guardiola, Man City coach: "We will not decide the tie tomorrow, but we need a good result to finish the tie in Manchester. When I arrived eight years ago I had the feeling that 'maybe this competition is too much for us'. Now the whole club believes we can do it, that is the best legacy we give to the club."

Where is the 2024 Champions League final?

©Getty Images

The best of the best will be crowned on the ultimate stage when the 2023/24 Champions League season concludes at London's prestigious Wembley Stadium on Saturday 1 June.