Manchester City vs Copenhagen predictions: City to secure shutout
- Manchester City have only beat the -2 handicap in five of their 18 home games this season.
- Copenhagen have not lost by more than two goals all season.
- Recommended bet: Copenhagen +2 handicap @ 23/20
Fresh from a crucial derby-day victory, Manchester City will be confident of continuing their Champions League defence when they host Copenhagen in the second leg of this round of 16 fixture.
The Danes lost 3-1 in Copenhagen and have bad memories of the Etihad after their demolition here last season, although they may be able to keep things respectable on Wednesday.
Team news
Jack Grealish is the only injury problem for Pep Guardiola, although the Spaniard is likely to make changes ahead of a key title-race fixture against Liverpool at the weekend, with the likes of Julian Alvarez and Oscar Bobb in line to start.
Copenhagen are without at least three players for this trip to Manchester, with Viktor Claesson, Lukas Lerager and Davit Khocholava ruled out, while Theo Sander and Emil Hojlund are doubts.
The stats
- Manchester City have only beat the -2 handicap in five of their 18 home games this season.
- Copenhagen have not lost by more than two goals all season.
- Manchester City have averaged two goals-per-game over their last five home matches.
- Copenhagen have avoided defeat by more than two goals against Manchester City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich this season.
Prediction
Manchester City hold a commanding 3-1 lead from the first leg in the Danish capital and, with this fixture sandwiched between a Manchester Derby and a trip to Anfield, they could take their foot off the pedal when Copenhagen visit the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola is likely to rest a few key faces in preparation for their title-defining trip to Liverpool and they have not blown teams away with regularity this season.
The hosts have beaten a -2 handicap in just five of their 18 competitive home games and in just eight of their games overall, with just one of those three-goal victories coming in the Champions League.
Copenhagen have been a tough nut to crack this season, too. They have faced Bayern Munich and Manchester United twice apiece in the Champions League group stage as well as the first leg of this tie.
They beat Manchester United at home, suffered a narrow defeat at Old Trafford and another one at home to Bayern Munich and took a point off the Germans at the Allianz Arena.
Despite this tough fixture list, the visitors are yet to lose by more than two goals this season and they should be able to keep the scoreline down against a rotated City outfit.
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