This week we will have the return of the Champions League dispute, from the 23/24 season, now in its playoff phase.
One of the attractions on Tuesday, which opens this stage of the competition, is the clash between FC Copenhagen and Manchester City, the current champion of the tournament.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen has maintained its competitive rhythm due to matches played in the Atlantic Cup, and in total there were 3 consecutive clashes in the tournament.
The team has 2 wins and one loss, 9 goals scored and 7 conceded. Before these 3 games in the tournament, the team had only played officially at the end of last year, precisely in the final stretch of the Champions League group stage.
In the Atlantic Cup, the team recently beat Molde by a score of 3-1, before that they had lost to Brondby by 2-1 and in the first match, a great game against Elfdberg, winning 5-4.
Unlike other teams competing in the Champions League, Copenhagen does not have an established calendar at this point in the season and this could have negative consequences against Manchester City, who have been playing constantly.
In the Champions League, Copenhagen finished in the second conference of its group, beating the teams of Galatasaray and Manchester United, and ended with a campaign of 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats.
Manchester City
Manchester City, at least in theory, enters this clash with broad favoritism to advance to the quarter-finals.
As previously mentioned, it has the advantage of having a well-structured calendar, it comes with a competitive rhythm and has achieved great results recently.
Manchester City has been on a 10-game winning streak since the end of last year, when they won the FIFA Club World Cup title. After that, they achieved important victories in the Premier League and also the FA Cup.
In the last match in the Premier League, Manchester City beat Everton 2-0 at home and remained strong in the title race.
They are just 2 points below Liverpool with a campaign of 16 wins, 4 draws and just 3 defeats.
In the Champions League, Manchester City ended its participation in the group stage, beating Estrela Vermelha away from home 3-2.
The current Champions League champion did what was expected of them, passing through the group stage with absolute tranquility.
They had 100% success, with 6 wins in 6 games, having 18 goals scored and only 7 goals conceded.
Conclusion:
Even playing away from home, I believe that Manchester City are overwhelming favorites for this first game.
In the group stage of the competition, they have already shown themselves to be largely dominant over their opponents, winning all their games and the tendency is that in this round of 16 stage, they will also pass with ease.