Red Gómez, missed penalty Mahrez and Haaland on the bench for 90 minutes


Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 8:43 PM• Rian Rosendaal • Last update: 20:45

Manchester City have run into their first loss of points in the group stage of the Champions League. On a visit to FC Copenhagen, with Kevin Diks in the ranks, a 0-0 draw on Tuesday evening was the maximum achievable. Erling Braut Haaland sat on the bench for 90 minutes while Riyahd Mahrez botched a penalty. Still in the first half, fullback Sergio Gómez was shown red for taking down a Copenhagen player who had broken through.

Manchester City clearly had the better of the game in the opening phase. Julián Álvarez, the replacement for Haaland, shot just wide in minute seven after a good pass from Jack.Grealish. A few minutes later, Rodri still seemed to score the 0-1 with a nice volley from outside the sixteen. However, the goal was canceled due to a handball from Mahrez shortly before. With 24 minutes on the clock, the visitors were awarded a penalty on the advice of the VAR after a handball by former Ajax player Nicolai Boilesen. Mahrez’s effort was felined from the goal by Kamil Grabara. 75 percent possession for the Citizens in the first half hour, but goals did not result in that dominance.

With 30 minutes left on the clock, Manchester City had to continue with ten players. Left back Gómez was shown a red card after taking down the breakthrough Hákon Arnar Haraldsson. Guardiola immediately built in extra defensive security by bringing in Rúben Dias for Mahrez. The British superpower held out until the peace in Copenhagen. No substitutions were made at Manchester City halfway through, leaving Haaland on the bench. The home team started the second half furiously and after an hour of play they had sixty percent of the ball. Manchester City mainly bet on the counterattack after the resumption, but there were no real big opportunities for the title favorite in the Champions League.

Guardiola saw his side struggle offensively and decided to bring in Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden in the 78th minute. Grealish and De Bruyne made way in the Parken Stadium in the Danish capital. Meanwhile, Copenhagen kept chasing victory, although there was no real danger to Manchester City’s goal. Guardiola’s ten seemed to cherish the point and played the game calmly. Shortly before time Nathan Aké made his appearance as a substitute. With ten points from the first four group matches, wintering in the Champions League has become only a matter of time. Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla will play in the same group later this Tuesday evening.

Erling Braut Haaland sat on the bench for 90 minutes.