The “Tom Thumb” of the Champions League, Copenhagen, welcomes the impressive title holders, Manchester City, to open the round of 16, the first legs of which take place between Tuesday February 13 and Wednesday February 21. The English club arrives in full possession of its means with the return of its brilliant midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, fourth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or ranking, absent from the field for almost five months due to a hamstring injury. Since he returned to competition at the beginning of January, the Belgian has distributed four assists and scored one goal in four matches.
His complicity with Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, also back at the end of January, after a foot injury and two months of absence, may make the Danes fear the worst. Author of a double against Everton, on a service from De Bruyne for the second goal, the “Cyborg” and his Belgian friend, on track to take the place of leader of the Premier League from Liverpool, return to the Champions League and its knockout stage with a total of ten consecutive victories in the competition.
And a bench depth that would make the other contenders for the European title pale. Central defender John Stones is operational, like his comrades Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker, who entered the game against Everton.
At Parken in Copenhagen, the reigning Danish champion came second in Group A, which included Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Galatasaray. The Copenhagen Lions, who will play here the second round of 16 of the Champions League in their history, beat neighbor Manchester United (4-3) during the group stage in November 2023. During the 2022-2023 season , FC Copenhagen held the Citizens to a draw (0-0) during the group stage.
Absences are increasing at Real Madrid
The other shock of the evening will pit RB Leipzig against Real Madrid who are much less fortunate on the infirmary side. At the “White House”, well on its way to winning La Liga, absences are increasing: Eder Militao, David Alaba (rupture of the cruciate ligament in the left knee for both players) and Antonio Rüdiger (hit in the left thigh) are unavailable. After the duel won (4-0) against their runner-up, Girona, Saturday February 10, the Merengue will also play without Jude Bellingham, who suffers from a sprained left ankle. The English midfielder will be absent for at least two weeks, or three matches.
As a result, Carlo Ancelotti is betting on youth and summoned Alvaro Carrillo (21 years old) and Jacobo Ramon (19 years old) in central defense, as well as Mario Martin and Nico Paz (both 19 years old), in midfield. They will be able to count on Vinicius Junior, the man in form of the moment, with six goals scored in eight matches, including a hat-trick in the Spanish Super Cup, against FC Barcelona, on January 14. A reassuring performance for the Brazilian striker, also back after hamstring problems, in particular.
RB Leipzig has the means to worry the Madrilenians decimated by injuries. Second in group G, they manhandled the defending champion, Manchester City, in particular thanks to former Lensois Loïs Openda, third top scorer in the Bundesliga (15 units). Lacking confidence in the league, where they are in fifth place, the teammates of Dutch international Eintracht Frankfurt and VfB Stuttgart), one draw and two victories.