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Manchester Metropolis breezed into the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Copenhagen on the Etihad – with Erling Haaland on track once more.
With a showdown in opposition to Premier League title rivals Liverpool now on the horizon, Pep Guardiola’s Treble winners – and their formidable frontman – warmed up in model.
Manuel Akanji made the breakthrough after simply 5 minutes whereas Julian Alvarez scored Metropolis’s second 4 minutes later, all however sealing the hosts’ development.
Haaland then struck earlier than half-time and stands on the cusp of historical past, having hit his forty first purpose within the competitors in simply 37 video games to attract stage with Sergio Aguero.
Right here, Mail Sport‘s JOE BERNSTEIN takes a take a look at what you might have missed…
Manchester Metropolis breezed into the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Copenhagen
Erling Haaland scored Metropolis’s third purpose and warmed up for the journey to Liverpool fantastically
SUPER HAALAND
After leaving Nottingham Forest on mortgage in January, defender Scott McKenna will need to have been cursing having to face his Kryptonite, Erling Haaland, once more so rapidly.
On McKenna’s final go to to The Etihad in 2022, Haaland grabbed a hat-trick in a 6-0 thrashing over Forest. Issues weren’t any simpler for the Scotland worldwide carrying a Copenhagen shirt on Wednesday night time.
Already 2-0 behind, the centre-half was bamboozled by Haaland operating at him shortly earlier than half-time and beat the turf in frustration when the prospect was transformed.
The one comfort for McKenna is that he could be lining up for his nation on the Euros this summer season. Haaland undoubtedly cannot say the identical as a result of Norway have did not qualify.
It was additionally an sad north-west return for ex-Liverpool and Huddersfield goalkeeper Kamil Grabara whose blunder gifted Julian Alvarez Metropolis’s second purpose.
Social media poked enjoyable at Grabara’s masks however that is barely harsh – he is needed to put on it for the final two years after struggling a facial fracture in a home recreation in Denmark.
Copenhagen defender Scott McKenna struggled to become familiar with Haaland as soon as once more
AKANJI IDENTIKIT PEP PLAYER
Manuel Akanji is the proper riposte to Metropolis trolls who declare the membership have purchased their success with untold thousands and thousands. The versatile Swiss defender value a cut price £15million however has turn out to be a vital a part of Pep Guardiola’s new group.
Towards Copenhagen, he was solely considered one of 4 outfield starters from final season’s Champions League closing – with Ruben Dias, Rodri and Haaland – and volleyed the opening purpose like a world striker.
Akanji is the identikit Pep participant due to his versatility, working at right-back, left-back and even holding midfield at occasions this season.
For this Champions League tie, he was the right-sided centre-half alongside Dias – who at £60million is extra in Metropolis’s normal value vary.
Manuel Akanji, purchased for simply £15million, is the proper riposte to trolling of Metropolis’s spending
CITY’S ESTEEMED GUEST
Metropolis prefer to pleasure themselves on taking care of their legacy gamers and on Wednesday night time there have been visitor tickets for well-liked Nineteen Seventies and 80s midfielder Asa Hartford.
Now 73, Hartford was a part of three consecutive UEFA Cup campaigns for the Sky Blues with their finest run coming to an finish in opposition to Borussia Monchengladbach within the quarter-finals of 1978/79.
ROONY’S CAMEO
Scouts who flocked to the Etihad to examine on 18-year-old Copenhagen prodigy Roony Bardghji have been relieved that coach Jacob Neestrup gave him the ultimate half-hour off the bench.
The Swedish teenager has been linked with Manchester United, Juventus, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Actual Madrid. Although Copenhagen have been largely starved of the ball, he confirmed sufficient hustle and certain touches to point he is undoubtedly one to be careful for.
Scouts who flocked to the Etihad took in a formidable cameo from starlet Roony Bardghji
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