Feb 13, 2024, 5:02 PM ET
The defending champion, Manchester City, obtained a contradictory victory this Tuesday in Denmark against Copenhagen in the match of first leg of the round of 16 from UEFA Champions League 2023/2024.
De Bruyne was the one who opened the scoring. Getty Images
Why contradictory? Because although he exerted strong dominance throughout the development, and ended up winning 3-1, he needed a bit of luck to take the three points.
The team led by Pep Guardiola had one of its classic overwhelming starts against Copenhagen, monopolizing the ball and the situations. The award came quickly, when Belgian Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring in the 10th minute.
Everything indicated that it was headed for a rout: rapid opening of the scoreboard, possession of more than 75% of the ball… But the years go by and football remains football because of its perennial unpredictability.
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When everything was calm, the Citizens’ Brazilian goalkeeper, Ederson, tried to play with a pass and made a mistake. He left it short and the Danes, attentive, made him pay dearly: Magnus Mattsson finished quickly towards the right post and scored.
1-1.
34 minutes had passed and the unexpected happened.
City felt the blow and, although they immediately regained possession of the ball, they were no longer as incisive as before.
The game became more difficult and even the local team had a couple of approaches to the rival goal.
Everything was starting to get complicated for the favorite.
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But at 44 minutes, that bit of luck that is always needed arrived for the visitor. Just when the game was starting to go uphill, De Bruyne lost the ball long in a typical possession play on the right. Stubborn, he went to fight and, when colliding with a defender, generated an involuntary rebound that fell facing the goal to the Portuguese Bernardo Silva, who did not forgive.
The moment was also part of that portion of fortune. Because everything happened at 46, just before halftime.
The complement was the demonstration that Copenhagen had not been 1-1 by pure chance.
Foden sealed the victory only in the 92nd minute. EFE
At a disadvantage, they did not despair and withstood the attacks of the English team, dressed on this occasion in black and turquoise. He closed his defense and once again had a chance to tie. He never allowed City to relax.
Maybe that’s why The third goal, the one that would seal the victory – and perhaps the series – would only arrive at 92 minutes and from the hand of Englishman Phil Foden.
Guardiola’s relieved face said it all.
Despite the territorial dominance, the British team not only did not enjoy the match, but they suffered from it.