FC Copenhagen vs Manchester City: Back Haaland to hose up

FC Copenhagen vs Manchester City

Tuesday October 11, 17:45

BT Sport

Copenhagen out of their depth

FC Copenhagen head coach Jacob Neestrup said his team "were simply overpowered" in the first meeting with Manchester City at The Etihad last Wednesday. The Danish champions fell to a 5-0 defeat on matchday three to leave the capital club five points adrift of the qualification places at the halfway point of the Champions League group-stage.

FCK could have suffered a wider margin reverse were it not for goalkeeper Kamil Grabara, who kept the visitors level until the half-hour mark. Man City's second strike had a touch of fortune about it as a Sergio Gomez shot took a wicked double deflection on its way into the net, although City ultimately out-shot the Danes 30-2, firing in 16 on-target attempts.

Domestically, Copenhagen were held to a 1-1 draw with table-toppers Nordsjaelland, yet Neestrup's troops remain in the bottom-half having recorded just five Superliga triumphs from their opening 12 tussles in their title defence (W5-D1-L6). At their Parken Stadium base, FCK have posted W3-D1-L2, as well as holding Sevilla to a 0-0 draw here on MD2.

Experienced midfielder Carlos Zeca is a long-term absentee having picked up a season-ending knee injury.

Man City steamroller Sainta

Manchester City routed Southampton 4-0 at The Etihad on Saturday to make it six successive victories across all competitions since early September. Pep Guardiola's group have racked up 24 goals during that eye-catching sequence and know victory in Copenhagen will put the Citizens in complete command as they look to win Champions League Group G.

Against Saints, City attacked relentlessly from the off with Joao Cancelo putting the hosts ahead after 20 minutes. Phil Foden got on the scoresheet soon afterwards with a dinked finish before Riyad Mahrez wrapped up the points at the start of the second half. There was still time for Erling Haaland to get in on act, rounding off the scoring after the hour mark.

The Citizens allowed Southampton only one touch in the Man City penalty area and a total of two shots - both from distance, and both off target - and Guardiola felt there was even room for improvement. He said, "The result is good, we play quite good. Some players were not at their best but we create a lot of chances. We were solid. We can still play beter."

John Stones, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips are all injured and out of action for Man City.

FCK boast strong home record

FC Copenhagen had met Manchester City twice before their matchday meeting, facing-off in the last-32 stage of the UEFA Cup in 2008/09 - the duo played out a 2-2 draw at Parken Stadium before the Citizens won 2-1 back in Manchester. Man City did lose on their last trip to Denmark also in 2009 when Aalborg turned the Premier League side over 2-0.

Surprisingly, FC Copenhagen 27.0026/1 have only lost one of their 13 home games in the group stage of the Champions League (W6-D6-L1). That reverse arrived against Real Madrid in December 2013 with Los Blancos going on to win the competition that campaign, although FCK's most recent three such showdowns here have concluded goalless (W0-D3-L0).

Manchester City 1.141/7 have lost two of their last four away days in the group-stage of the Champions League having been turned over by PSG and RB Leipzig last term. Nevertheless, the Citizens destroyed Sevilla in Spain back on MD2, and as the odds suggest, it's very difficult to see Pep Guardiola's team falling short in their latest trip to Scandinavia.

Haaland to lead City charge

It's difficult to find value in such a lobsided betting heat but we can head to the Bet Builder to engineer something of interest. FC Copenhagen have yet to score in three Champions League outings thus far, managed only 10 shots from inside the opposition penalty box and generated just 0.63 Expected Goals (xG) from open play across those three contests.

With that in mind, backing Both Teams To Score 'No' is a strong starting point with Erling Haaland to score two or more goals combining to provide an attractive 5.43443/100 double.

The Man City goal-juggernaut has already notched 20 times in just 13 appearances since his move, and the Norwegian has racked up 28 strikes in only 22 Champions League encounters.