Holders Manchester Metropolis cruised into the Champions League quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen on Wednesday of their spherical of second leg, a tenth consecutive win within the competitors that wrapped up a 6-2 mixture triumph.
Metropolis, who began the sport with a two-goal cushion, took care of enterprise early with first-half targets by Manuel Akanji, Julián Álvarez and Erling Haaland.
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With a visit to Liverpool in a top-of-the-table Premier League conflict to return on Sunday, supervisor Pep Guardiola had the luxurious of resting key gamers together with Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden, making seven adjustments to his aspect that beat Manchester United 3-1 in final Sunday’s league derby.
“At present, I would like vitality, recent legs,” Guardiola mentioned. “I understand how drained, exhausted a few of my gamers have been right now … We play on Sunday. So I would like recent legs.”
Metropolis are a degree behind Liverpool and a degree forward of Arsenal after 27 league video games in tight title race. They’re additionally within the thick of the FA Cup, with a quarter-final towards Newcastle United on March 16.
“To be a part of the titles, we’d like everybody,” Guardiola mentioned. “For yet another 12 months we’re in the most effective eight groups in Europe. Extremely joyful we’re nonetheless in all competitions.”
Akanji scored with Metropolis’s first probability, volleying in Alvarez’s nook within the fifth minute.
“I noticed the ball coming. It was excellent for my foot,” Akanji advised TNT. “I used to be actually joyful about it. It was our goal to attain early. The primary two targets within the first half made it simpler for us. We tried to do our greatest and did what we needed to do.”
Álvarez scored his personal 4 minutes later, due to calamitous goalkeeping by Kamil Grabara, who let the Metropolis ahead’s shot slip via his fingers seconds after Rodri pinged an effort off the crossbar.
Former Southampton participant Mohamed Elyounoussi pulled one again for the Danish champions within the twenty ninth minute however Metropolis’s goal-scoring machine Haaland slotted house a low, laborious shot via two defenders seconds earlier than halftime, his twenty ninth purpose of the season throughout all competitions.
Rico Lewis had a late probability for a fourth Metropolis purpose however his shot hit the bar.
Metropolis joined Actual Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain within the quarters, with the ultimate 4 groups to be decided subsequent week.
“We’re a workforce that believes we are able to do it,” Guardiola mentioned. “Pay attention, we’re competing with Actual Madrid and Bayern Munich. We do not know who we’re going to face. It is a query of wait and see. The necessary factor is seven years in a row we’re right here.”
Metropolis will discover out their quarterfinal opponents within the draw on March 15.
“We really feel good proper now,” Akanji mentioned. “We’re assured going into the subsequent spherical. We’re one of many favourites however need to show it.”
Haaland was taken off late within the recreation, wrapping 18-year-old substitute Jacob Wright, who made his Champions League debut, in a hug as he left the pitch.
Copenhagen boss Jacob Neestrup believes Metropolis can retain their Champions League title.
“They’ll win it, they’re,” he mentioned. “That is only a stage up — in every little thing.
“We’ve got performed [City] two seasons in a row and Man Metropolis are getting higher. They’re prime gamers, the construction they’ve is superb. It’s not simply the technical and tactical. They work laborious.”