Manchester City didn’t need Julián Álvarez: De Bruyne’s magic was enough to beat Copenhagen in the Champions League

Julián Álvarez was a luxury spectator. And he Manchester City He didn’t need the world champion from Córdoba to be able to put his ranking on track at the next instance of the race Champions League: won this Tuesday Copenhagen 3-1 as a guest, in the first leg of the round of 16, which must be completed in the return match.

Belgian Kevin de Bruyne (10), Portuguese Bernardo Silva (45+1) and Phil Foden (90+2) ensured the victory of the current European champion, although the locals momentarily equalized with a goal from Magnus Mattsson (35 ).

“I’m very proud, the pace with which we played today was perfect”manager Pep Guardiola was happy after the match, in which he left Julián Álvarez sitting on the substitutes’ bench, without minutes.

Despite their clear dominance, City only had a one-goal lead until Foden’s calm goal scored in injury time, securing the “Citizens” an eleventh consecutive victory in all competitions.

The team from the Danish capital also found themselves lacking in training, given that due to the harsh Nordic winter they had not played an official match for two months.

“The third goal helped us a lot, we hope we can finish the job at home, with our people, to go to the next round,” Guardiola continued.

The defending champion, who started as heavy favorite in a draw against a minor league rival, now has a place in the quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive season.

Manchester City’s powerful attack was canceled out several times by Polish goalkeeper Kamil Grabara, a former Liverpool player, who prevented the first goal in the sixth minute after an initial yellow card from Ruben Dias.

The Pole, however, could do nothing when De Bruyne, excellent on his return from injury, received a quick pass from Foden in the area and without thinking he launched a powerful low shot into the back of the net.

The Belgian has missed five months this season with a thigh injury sustained in August on matchday one of the Premier League, but since his return last month, the 32-year-old midfielder has scored two goals and provided seven assists in seven games . matches.

“He is extraordinary,” Guardiola said of his player. “The greatest players love to show up in the important moments.”

A few minutes after the goal, the first scare came for the ‘Citizens’, when Jack Grealish, who was playing his second match as a starter this year, had to come off injured a quarter of an hour into the match match (15).

For his part, Norwegian Erling Haaland, who like De Bruyne is recovering, was about to score one of the goals of the year, but his acrobatic volley went wide.

City, with almost 80% of ball possession in the first half hour of play, saw their lead on the scoreboard evaporate when Ederson missed a pass in the Citizen’s release of the ball, which Mattsson ended up passing recover to equalize on his debut.

“They had a fantastic group stage, so we had to respect them,” De Bruyne said. “We started very well, but I think we made a mistake and they took advantage of it.”

Despite the setback, the English team showed the makings of champions, regrouped and managed to return to the locker room with the lead on the scoreboard, when De Bruyne managed to feed Silva a nice ball in the area, which the Portuguese they did not forgive.

In the second half only great interventions from Grabara prevented the result from worsening, but in the final minutes of the match Foden crowned his great game by scoring his 15th goal of the season.

The return leg will take place on March 6 at the Etihad Stadium.