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Two goal preparations and one goal: Kevin De Bruyne against FC Copenhagen
Photo: Justin Setterfield / Getty Images
Defending champions Manchester City are clearly on course for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The English triple winner led by team manager Pep Guardiola won the first leg of the round of 16 against the strong Danish champions FC Copenhagen 3:1 (2:1). It was City's eleventh win in a row across all competitions.
Kevin De Bruyne gave the English team an early lead in the 11th minute of the game. After a mistake by Manchester keeper Ederson, the hosts got back into the game through Magnus Mattsson (34th), but Bernardo Silva (45th) got City back on track before the half-time whistle. Phil Foden increased the score in stoppage time (90+2). De Bruyne was directly involved in all of the goals.
The Belgian was out of the team for almost five months due to a thigh injury, but De Bruyne has been back since January - and shows how important he is. De Bruyne recently scored five goals in four games in the Premier League. Now three more followed in the Champions League. It was De Bruyne's seventh appearance since his return and City won all of his games with him.
The English champions traveled to the Danish capital as the high favorite, but were warned against the home team. FCK defeated City's local rivals Manchester United and Galatasaray Istanbul in the group stage at the Parken Stadium. But the “Skyblues” pushed the pace right from the start and continued to dominate the game after the change. The second leg will take place on March 6th in Manchester.
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