Match Report: FC Copenhagen 0-0 Manchester City (UEFA Champions League)

Ten-man Manchester City failed to qualify early for the knock-out rounds of the Champions League in their own 90 minutes, as they were held to a goalless draw by Copenhagen on Tuesday evening.

Manchester City saw an early Rodri goal disallowed from VAR for a handball, and then saw a Riyad Mahrez penalty awarded to them, ironically for a handball by VAR and subsequently saved from Copenhagen’s goalkeeper Kamil Grabara.

The visitors’ misery was extended, as Sergio Gomez saw red for a last man tackle on Hakon Haraldsson as he raced through on goal.

Pep Guardiola’s side continued to underperform in a tedious and uneventful second half, failing to find the all-important goal that would have ensured safe passage to the knockouts.

The result is the first blot on Manchester City’s European record this campaign, after they had previously won against Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund and Copenhagen at the Etihad.

The game got off to a lively start at the Parken Stadium with the Premier League champions attacking from the off, testing Kamil Grabara’s goal early on.

Julian Alvarez had an early shot that had to be parried away by Grabara but the referee gave it as a goal kick, much to the Argentinian’s frustration.

Alvarez was afforded a rare start as, for the first time this season, fellow striker Erling Haaland was named as a substitute for City, bringing an end to a consecutive run of 13 starts for the Citizens this campaign.

Manchester City thought they had taken the lead through a stunning strike from Rodri, who smashed the ball in with his right foot from outside of the box however this was chalked off following a VAR check.

The decision was adjudged to have been handball against City, after the ball had brushed Riyad Mahrez’s fingers in the build-up to Rodri’s suburb hit.

Copenhagen’s fans took the decision well and this energy evidently transferred to the pitch, as the Danish outfit came forward and forced Ederson into a save following a shot from distance by Lukas Lerager.

This time City were on the receiving end of a VAR decision concerning handball, with the Citizens awarded a penalty after Nicolai Boilesen was adjudged to have handled the ball.

Riyad Mahrez however was unable to convert the spot-kick, seeing his effort expertly saved by the diving Grabara, who quickly leapt to his right to deny the Algerian.

The VAR drama did not stop there, as Gomez was then sent off following a check for a professional foul on Haraldsson.

Pep Guardiola decided to make a substitution at this point to accommodate for the early dismissal, bringing on Ruben Dias in place of a dejected Mahrez.

The second half began with no real clear cut chances for City, with Copenhagen going closest on several occasions.

There was only so much of this that Guardiola could stomach and the Catalan coach decided that reinforcements were necessary, as he brought on Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva for Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne.

As more time passed, as well as non-plus chances for the Premier League champions, Pep Guardiola chose to make a further change, taking off Aymeric Laporte for Nathan Ake.

Little changed with the new introductions and City had to settle for a disappointing point away in Denmark, despite thrashing the very same opposition 5-0 only last week.

The Citizens could still qualify this week if bottom side Sevilla fail to win away to second placed Borussia Dortmund later tonight.

Manchester City are back in Premier League action at the weekend as they take on rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.