FC Copenhagen vs Man City final score, result, highlight as De Bruyne, Silva and Foden seal Champions League victory

Dom Farrell

•
FC Copenhagen vs Man City final score, result, highlight as De Bruyne, Silva and Foden seal Champions League victory image

Kevin De Bruyne produced a masterful performance as Manchester City claimed an authoritative 3-1 win at FC Copenhagen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

De Bruyne was making his first appearance in the competition since last season’s final and silenced a partisan Parken crowd when he drilled home Phil Foden’s pass in the 12th minute.

Pep Guardiola’s side completely dominated the opening exchanges but an injury to Jack Grealish disturbed their momentum and Copenhagen debutant Magnus Mattsson finished emphatically following a dreadful error by Ederson.

Last season’s treble winners ensured they went in at the break 2-1 ahead, however, with De Bruyne assuming his customary role of provider for Bernardo Silva to deliciously dink beyond home goalkeeper Kamil Grabara. 

FC Copenhagen vs Man City final score

  Fulltime Goal scorers
Copenhagen 1 Mattsson '33
Man City 3 De Bruyne '11, Silva '45, Foden 90+2

Lineups:

Copenhagen (4-3-3 right to left): 1. Kamil Grabara (GK) — 2. Kevin Diks, 26. Scott McKenna, 3. Denis Vavro, 19. Elias Jerlert — 8. Magnus Mattsson (11. Jordan Larsson), 33. Rasmus Falk, 9. Diogo Goncalves (39. Oscar Hojlund) — 30. Elias Achouri (6. Christian Sorensen), 7. Viktor Claesson (14. Andreas Cornelius), 10. Mohamed Elyounoussi.

Man City (4-3-3, right to left): 31. Ederson (GK) — 2. Kyle Walker, 3. Ruben Dias, 5. John Stones, 6. Nathan Ake — 17. Kevin De Bruyne, 16. Rodri, 20. Bernardo Silva (27. Matheus Nunes) — 47. Phil Foden, 9. Erling Haaland, 10. Jack Grealish (11. Jeremy Doku).

MORE: Back-to-back Champions League winners: Teams to win consecutive European Cup titles as Man City bid for repeat

City re-established their early control for the majority of the second half, with several instances of brave defending and fine saves from Grabara to deny De Bruyne and Erling Haaland keeping the scoreline down.

Copenhagen’s resistance faltered at the last as De Bruyne teed up Phil Foden for his 15th goal of the season that crowned an 11th successive win in all competitions for Guardiola’s men.

What happened to Jack Grealish?

England international Grealish was integral to City’s treble success last season but has had a tough time of things of late. He was restricted to just 16 minutes, all from the bench, over City’s past four Premier League games as Guardiola publicly challenges him to recapture his best form. During the early stages at Parken, Grealish was exemplary, completing all 20 of his passes to assist City’s suffocating dominance. 

It was therefore a cruel blow to see him sustain an apparent groin strain that was then aggravated in a challenge with Diogo Goncalves. The prognosis is unclear at this stage, but it feels incredibly unlikely that we will see Grealish involved in Saturday’s Premier League encounter against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium. 

"I didn't speak with the doctor but it looks muscular," Guardiola told TNT Sports afterwards. "It's a pity. In the last days his attitude in training was much, much better. He helps us find the right tempo."

When do Man City play FC Copenhagen again in the Champions League?

All being well, Grealish will be back in contention by the time Copenhagen arrive in Manchester for the second leg on March 6. Where that game lands in the calendar does much to explain the relentless conclusion to City’s performance. Rather than playing out a tidy 2-1 win away from home, they set about Copenhagen with wave after wave of attacks.

Grabara twice saved impressively from Haaland, bodies were put on the line time and again until De Bruyne and Foden unpicked an exhausted defence in stoppage time. Guardiola is loath to take any chances in the Champions League but a two-goal advantage means there should be an opportunity to rest some weary legs in the return game.

The City boss might well want to do just that, given his team have Manchester United in the derby on March 3 before travelling to face Premier League leaders Liverpool on March 10. “It’s not done,” Guardiola insisted. Barring anything absurd, it is.

Ederson error highlights Man City’s one key problem

Tuesday’s game was the first time since this season that Grealish, Haaland and De Bruyne lined up at kickoff together. Injuries have prevented Guardiola from fielding what might be considered his best XI for many months but this looked something like it, with John Stones roving into midfield once more to help bring about a performance of almost total control.

Despite this, Ederson’s misjudged pass to Nathan Ake was punished clinically by Mattsson. In 37 games this season, City have kept only 11 clean sheets - the lowest return after this many games in any of Guardiola's eight seasons at the helm. Two of those were against Urawa Red Diamonds and Fluminense in the FIFA Club World Cup. You sense that record will have to improve if they are to retain their European title.

MORE: Bold predictions for Champions League: The Sporting News predicts 2024 UEFA tournament knockout stage

FC Copenhagen vs Man City live updates, highlights, and commentary

Fulltime: If you look at where the return fixture sits, it's easy to understand why City weren't sitting on 2-1 Copenhagen visit the Etihad Stadium in between the Manchester derby on March 3 and City's trip to face Liverpool at Anfield on March 10. There should now be a bit of an opportunity to rest one of two weary legs. This wasn't a victory that game without a cost, as Guardiola lost Jack Grealish to an apparent groin strain before halftime and saw Bernardo Silva take thundering blow on the ankle. But City were excellent, showing plenty of the composure that underpinned their run to glory, especially if we discount Ederson's horrible rick for Magnus Mattsson's goal. Thanks for joining us.

90th minute+2: GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!! Phil Foden!!!!

Finally the dam bursts and City have the two-goal lead they've been trying so hard to claim. It's a classic City goal and De Bruyne gets to the byline down the inside right channel. Foden is on hand to finish his return pass emphatically.

Available in the US

Available in the UK

90th minute+2: Haaland turns on the afterburners, round the outside and Grabara saves well. Nunes has an attempt blocked from the rebound. And Haaland again!! Grabara saves from his header.

90th minute: Haaland is on the move but De Bruyne uncharacteristically makes a bit of a mess of his through ball. There'll be three minutes of added time.

87th minute: De Bruyne scoots one under the wall but Grabara reads the deception.

86th minute: Doku now on the right. His cross is just over Haaland. City ending as they started with suffocating pressure. McKenna handballs as he tries to stop Foden from slipping through. Copenhagen will face a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the box.

83rd minute: They will need the ball to do that, alas...

81st minute: Double change for Copenhagen, with Sorensen and Larsson on for Achouri and the goalscorer Mattsson. It's not been easy but Jacob Neestrup's side have reached the final 10 minutes still in this game. Can they rally to force an equaliser?

78th minute: City can't force anything from the corner and Foden volleys over. Nunes is on for his compatriot Silva.

77th minute: Lovely intricate play from City. Doku finds Silva, who is mobile enough to produce a fine cross. McKenna stays close enough to Haaland to deflect his header behind.

75th minute: De Bruyne launches an attempt onto the top of the netting. Silva is limping very heavily. Now he goes down under a challenge from Cornelius. Very much in the wars!

74th minute: Oof, Diks catches Silva above the boot. He's booked, City have a free-kick on the left wing and their Portugal playmaker has a torn sock. 

72nd minute: Hojlund's first involvement sees him smash Haaland to the floor. He's fairly harshly penalised for a foul, the home fans are furious and Falk gets booked for dissent.

71st minute: For fans of narrative, Copenhagen have just brought on Oscar Hojlund. Brother of Manchester United striker Rasmus.

69th minute: Ake's decoy run allows Doku to cut inside Diks and let fly. It's a fine effort and Grabara adds to his increasingly impressive body of work.

66th minute: Doku darts inside and feeds Foden for a first-time shot that McKenna deflects behind.

65th minute: Jalert makes a brilliant interception and goes off on a scampering run forward, past a scything De Bruyne challenge. He finds Achouri, whose cross is easily collected by Ederson.

63rd minute: Falk coughs up possession to De Bruyne in his own half. Profoundly unwise stuff. He doesn't pay for it as Haaland is unable to head his team-mate's dinked delivery over Grabara.

61st minute: But here come the home side with a searching ball towards Cornelius. Ake makes a brave and vital diving headed clearance.

60th minute: A lovely move from City slices through Copenhagen, who are started to look tired now. Jalert is back to make a brilliant tackle on De Bruyne, though.

59th minute: Not that Stones' centre-back/roving midfielder act is getting out of hand, but he's just run a good half-yard offside trying to get on the end of a De Bruyne through ball.

56th minute: City free-kick on the left, which Foden hammers goalwards to try and catch out Grabara. He's playing too well to fall for that schtick, however.

54th minute: Magnificent save from Grabara. Rodri slips a pass forward to De Bruyne approaching the edge of the box. He catches the shot sweetly but the Copenhagen goalkeeper thrusts out his left arm at full stretch to turn behind. Cornelius comes on for Claesson before the corner.

51st minute: Now a promising Copenhagen move through midfield and Stones makes an important sliding challenge on Goncalves.

50th minute: Corner from the right for Copenhagen, flicked on at the near post but Elyounoussi can't convert.

47th minute: Diks goes careering into the back of Rodri to concede a free-kick. The Copenhagen man appears to have come off worse.

46th minute: We're back underway. City kickoff and keep the ball for ages.

Halftime: An excellent half of football comes to an end. Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva have produced excellent finishes for the holders. Mind you, Magnus Mattsson's strike to capitalise upon an Ederson howler wasn't half bad either. Pep Guardiola will be hoping Jack Grealish's injury isn't too serious but, aside from that and the aforementioned goalkeeping mishap, things have gone pretty swimmingly for his team. See you back here shortly.

45th minute: GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!! Bernardo Silva!!!

Hard to argue City don't deserve that on the overall balance of play but what a sickener for the hosts. It's a high-quality goal, with De Bruyne bustling in from the right to send Silva scampering into the box for a delightful dinked finish. 

42nd minute: Doku tries to run Jerlert but the young full-back is more than equal to the task.

39th minute: Space for Mattsson at the back post but he can't get the ball under control and skies over. That was a good chance for the home side. City yet to recover their fluency from before Grealish's injury.

34th minute: GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!! Magnus Mattsson!!!

The hosts are level and it's an absolute gift from Ederson. The City goalkeeper completely duffs a clearance and Elyounoussi looks set to score. Dias makes a fine block but it falls to debutant Mattsson, who rifles home a superb finish.

Available in the US

Available in the UK

32nd minute: Better from Copenhagen, with Diks and Mattson involved in a cute little move inside the City box. Silva clears into touch.

31st minute: Grabara reads Silva's audacious attempts at a chip from inside the box and holds on. The Copenhagen goalkeeper wouldn't mind a minute or two to draw breath.

30th minute: The pressure from City is relentless again as Doku has an attempt blocked. Chaos in the box afterwards but Copenhagen survive.

29th minute: Doku crosses on the volley and Haaland looks to pull off a spectacular acrobatic finish. Not quite...

27th minute: Another injury worry for City as Foden receives some treatment. He's continuing for now.

24th minute: Copenhagen have an actual attack and win an actual corner. It's a smart in-swinging delivery that Dias heads clear at the near post.

23rd minute: Off the crossbar! Silva gets goalside of his compatriot Goncalves. His cross deflects against the bar. Grabara saves from Foden's follow-up.

21st minute: Grealish is back on the pitch for now, but Jeremy Doku is stripped and ready on the touchline.

18th minute: Goncalves has a bit of a nibble at Grealish and the City winger goes down, signaling to the bench immediately. This doesn't look great for the England man.

16th minute: Copenhagen continue to chase shadows. City have set high standards over recent seasons under Guardiola, but this really has been as good as it gets so far. 

11th minute: GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!! Kevin De Bruyne!!!

It's been on the cards and that's a wonderful opener from Manchester City. Dias switches play to Foden on the right, who weights a perfect ball into the channel. Mattsson and McKenna appear to leave the midfield maestro for one another and he responds by drilling an unerring strike across Grabara and in.

Available in the US

Available in the UK

9th minute: De Bruyne clatters his strike into the top of the wall.

8th minute: Claesson telegraphs his intentions, flying in on Grealish, who dinks the ball over his man and takes the contact to win a free-kick on the edge of the box.

6th minute: More City possession. It's getting harder for the Copenhagen fans to keep up this booing, fair play to them. Mattsson has had enough and commits an agricultural foul on Stones. City work the free-kick smartly, Silva crosses and Grabara makes a fine save from Dias' header. It's all the more impressive as he managed to push the rebound away from the on-rushing Ake.

3rd minute: Grealish sets it back to Ake, who clips a lovely cross in from the left. De Bruyne arrives in the box but fluffs his lines, barely making contact with the header. That was a better chance than the Belgium star made it look.

2nd minute: City settle into some early possession to a cacophony of boos. Walker launches a ball over the top for Haaland. There's too much on it and the home fans collectively guffaw.

1st minute: Copenhagen get us underway. Rodri gets an early whack from Claesson and Ederson restarts at the edge of his own box.

5 mins before kickoff: The teams are in the tunnel. Parken Stadium is absolutely rocking. Here come the players into a wall of noise.

25 mins before kickoff: There's a face that will be familiar to some Premier League fans in the Copenhagen team tonight. Scott McKenna joined the Danish giants on loan from Nottingham Forest last month and this is some setting for his debut. The treble winners are in town and the Copenhagen fans are making some racket.

40 mins before kickoff: It feels like a big night for Jack Grealish. The England winger was a mainstay of Guardiola's treble-winning team last season but has fallen out of favour recently, restricted to just 16 minutes across City's past four Premier League matches. Grealish's capacity to cherish possession, carry the ball and control the tempo are all qualities his boss views as vital on occasions such as this, however, so it's not a huge surprise to see him back in the fray.

Jack Grealish of Man City
Getty Images

1 hour before kickoff: The hosts kept us waiting but here's the Copenhagen XI.

1hr 10 mins before kickoff: The visiting team sheet is in and Jack Grealish is back in the City starting lineup. There are also returns for Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker after they rested up on the bench for the bulk of the Everton match.

1hr 20 mins before kickoff: Confirmed team news will be along shortly. Erling Haaland feels certain to feature after returning to the scoresheet at the weekend. Following almost two months out with a foot injury, the Norway superstar's match-winning brace against Everton were his first goals since November.

"If he doesn't score tomorrow, the day after or next week, it's not a big issue," Guardiola said. "He's so strong. It comes from nature. He's coped perfectly because he's so strong mentally. He scores one goal and wants a second and a third.

"You see his numbers at his age. In the Champions League not even [Lionel] Messi or Cristiano [Ronaldo] had these numbers at his age."

Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland of Man City
Getty Images

1 hr 40 mins before kickoff: Guardiola has been fulsome in his praise of Copenhagen, who he expects to be refreshed rather than rusty after their prolonged winter break. Caution is usually the order of the day for the City boss in away knockout games. All of City's games on the road en route to Istanbul in 2023 — at RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid — finish 1-1. However, if you look at where the return fixture nestles in City's schedule, in between a home Manchester derby and a trip to Anfield in the Premier League, then it might be wise to take care of business here and now.

2 hours before kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Copenhagen vs. Manchester City in the Champions League last 16. Will the reigning champions make it seven wins out of seven in the competition this season or will their Danish opponents claim a second Mancunian scalp this term?

FC Copenhagen vs Man City kick off time

This Champions League clash takes place at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark and kicks off on Tuesday, February 13 at 9:00 p.m. local time.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:

  Date Kickoff time
USA Tue, Feb. 13 3:00 p.m. ET
Canada Tue, Feb. 13 3:00 p.m. ET
UK Tue, Feb. 13 8:00 p.m. GMT
India Wed, Feb. 14 1:30 a.m. IST

FC Copenhagen vs Man City lineups, team news

Copenhagen have not played a competitive match since December and their domestic season restarts this weekend. Roony Bardghji and Rasmus Hojlund's younger brother Oscar start on the bench, with Diogo Gonvalves and Mohamed Elyounoussi primed to provide most of the creative attacking threat from kickoff.

Lukas Lerager misses out through suspension for the home side.

FC Copenhagen (4-3-3 right to left): Grabara (GK) — Diks, McKenna, Vavro, Jelert — Mattsson, Falk, Goncalves — Achouri, Claesson, Elyounoussi.

FC Copenhagen subs (9): Runnarsson (GK), Buur (GK), Sorensen, Larsson, Cornelius, Oskarsson, Ankersen, Meling, Clem, Hojlund, Roony, Froholdt.

Guardiola has Erling Haaland back up to full speed after scoring twice in their 2-0 Premier League win over Everton. Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva all come back into the starting XI.

Croatia duo Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic did not travel to Copenhagen.

Man City (4-3-3, right to left): Ederson (GK) — Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake — De Bruyne, Rodri, Silva — Foden, Haaland, Grealish.

Man City subs (9): Ortega (GK), Carson, Doku, Alvarez, Akanji, Nunes, Bobb, Wright, Susoho, Lewis.

FC Copenhagen vs Man City live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this Champions League match across selected areas of the world's major regions:

Region TV Streaming
USA CBS Fubo, Paramount+,
ViX
Canada —

DAZN
UK TNT Sports 1 discovery+
India — JioTV, Sony LIV

STREAM EVERY UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GAME

USA: Champions League matches are available to stream on Paramount+ (English) and ViX (Spanish) for subscribers, and when matches are televised on CBS or Univision channels, they can be streamed on Fubo.

Canada: Every Champions League game streams live on DAZN.

UK: Matches are broadcast on TNT Sports and streamed on discovery+.

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.