Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Copenhagen
Match Time & Date:
13/02/2024
21:00
Prediction: 0-2
Man City
Man City will look to extend their winning run to eleven games in all competitions when they take on Copenhagen in the Champions League last 16, first leg. The Citizens failed to impress in a 2-0 win over Everton, but thanks to Erling Haaland’s brace they survived the Toffees and they now want to give fans yet another reason to celebrate. Kevin De Bruyne is widely expected to return to the starting XI as well as right back Kyle Walker. There are no fresh injury worries in the visiting team.
The Danish outfit, on the other hand, have not been in action in the national championship since December 2023, which is probably the main reason why we are going to bet on the Premier League side. A man to keep an eye on in the home team will be Roony Bardghji, who scored seven goals in the Denmark Superliga last term.
Highlighted Player (Nathan Ake):
Ake is a professional footballer who plays for the Dutch National Team and AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The versatile defender who was born on the 18th of February, 1995, started his youth career in 2003 with local club ADO Den Haag. He then moved to Feyenoord in 2007 before joining Chelsea's youth academy four years later.
Ake made his first professional appearance at the age of 17, playing for the Blues in a 0-1 away victory against Norwich on the 26th of December, 2012. Barring a few starts and substitute appearances, Ake spent his next few years at Chelsea mostly in the reserves before being sent out on a one month loan to Reading in 2015. Upon his return, he immediately joined Watford on a season-long loan where his displays earned him the Watford's young player of the season award. Another successful loan spell at Bournemouth succeeded his time at Watford before Chelsea recalled him in January 2017.
At the start of the 17/18 season, the 24-year-old rejoined his current club Bournemouth permanently on a five-year contract worth 20 million pounds. On the International stage, Ake has represented the Netherlands at every youth level and has even captained the under-17 and under-19 sides. He made his first senior appearance on the 31st of May, 2017, featuring in Hollands 2-1 friendly win over Morocco.
Highlighted Team (Copenhagen):
The most successful club in the history of Danish football FC Kopenhagen was founded in 1992, through the merger of 15-time Danish champions Kjobenhavns Boldklub and seven-time champions of Denmark Boldklubben 1903. Football Club Copenhagen play their matches at the Telia Parken, a venue that can host 38,000 spectators.
The Team of the City as Copenhagen is called in Denmark has won the Danish football championship eleven times, while it has also won the Danish Cup on seven occasions. The club forms great rivalry with Copenhagen’s suburban club Brondby IF with games between the two club attracting some of the biggest crowds in Danish football history in this so called New Firm derby.
Through its history F.C. Copenhagen have participated in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League, while their major European accomplishments have been achieved in the Royal League, with the Danish powerhouse winning two titles and coming as runners-up on one occasion.
