Preview: Copenhagen vs. Manchester City - prediction, team news, lineups

The Citizens are currently top of Group G, boasting nine points from their opening three games, while Copenhagen are bottom, collecting just a single point in the section thus far.

Match preview

Copenhagen were blown away by Man City at the Etihad Stadium last week, with the home side scoring three times in the first half before netting twice more after the interval to run out 5-0 winners in Manchester.

The Danish outfit were always going to be up against it in this section, and they lost their opener at Borussia Dortmund on September 6 before managing to hold Sevilla to a goalless draw one week later.

The five-goal loss to Man City has left Jacob Neestrup's side bottom of Group G on one point, but they are level on points with third-placed Sevilla, so a spot in the Europa League is certainly achievable, while they can also still mathematically finish in the top two at this stage.

Copenhagen will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Nordsjaelland in the league on Saturday, which has left them down in sixth position, boasting 16 points from 12 matches.

Byens Hold are competing in the group stage of the Champions League for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign, but they did reach the last-16 stage of the Europa Conference League last term before losing to PSV Eindhoven.

Man City, meanwhile, are flying, making it six straight wins in all competitions on Saturday afternoon by thrashing Southampton 4-0 in the Premier League, which moved them to the top of the table.

The Citizens have won 6-3, 5-0 and 4-0 in their last three matches - all at home - and this will represent their first away game in any competition since the 3-0 success at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the league in the middle of September.

Pep Guardiola's side beat Sevilla 4-0 in their section opener before recording a 2-1 victory over Dortmund on September 14, and the win over Copenhagen left them in a commanding position in the group ahead of their final two group fixtures against Dortmund and Sevilla.

Man City are top on nine points, three clear of second-placed Dortmund and eight ahead of third-placed Sevilla; they would secure their spot in the knockout round with a win here, but it is a case of when and not if the English champions are able to advance through the group.

The Citizens are viewed by many as the favourites to go all the way in the Champions League this season, largely due to the addition of Erling Braut Haaland, who made it 20 goals in 13 appearances for the club when he registered against Southampton in the league on Saturday.

Copenhagen Champions League form:

W

D

L

D

L

Copenhagen form (all competitions):

L

D

L

W

L

D

Manchester City Champions League form:

W

W

W

Manchester City form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Team News

Copenhagen will again be missing Akinkunmi Amoo and Zeca for this match through injury, but the Danish outfit did not pick up any fresh concerns in the league at the weekend.

There will be changes to the side that started on Saturday with Kevin Diks and Victor Kristiansen both set to return to the back four.

Head coach Neestrup could decide to select the same XI from the reverse game with Man City last week despite the five-goal loss, although Mamoudou Karamoko will need to pass a late fitness test.

Man City, meanwhile, will again definitely be missing Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips through injury; John Stones is also unlikely to be risked due to a hamstring issue.

Guardiola will make changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Southampton on Saturday, with Jack Grealish, Sergio Gomez and Ilkay Gundogan potentially coming into the side.

There will certainly be a temptation to rest Haaland, with Julian Alvarez on standby to play through the middle, but the Norway international should start once again, with Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva potentially the players to drop out.

Copenhagen possible starting lineup:

Grabara; Diks, Vavro, Khocholava, Kristiansen; Stamenic, Lerager, Claesson; Johannesson, Karamoko, Daramy

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Ake, Gomez; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Grealish, Haaland, Foden

We say: Copenhagen 0-3 Manchester City

Man City are very difficult to back against at the moment due to their immense quality, and we can only see one result here. Copenhagen were well beaten in the reverse game in Manchester last week and will likely have to accept another defeat to the English champions on Tuesday evening.

Previews by email