UEFA Champions League 2023/24
Round of 16 Leg 2
Manchester City 3 – 1 FC Copenhagen
(Aggregate score 6-2)
City cruise into the quarter-finals with the minimum of drama – and by their favourite Champions League scoreline this season. First-half goals from Akanji, Álvarez and Haaland made this a comfortable night, even though Elyounoussi’s goal briefly energised brave Copenhagen. The defending champions have an ominous look – and will take some stopping.
Copenhagen went to Manchester with little hope, and after only nine minutes it was more or less over when they went down 5-1 on aggregate. But the Danish side pulled one back and can leave England and the Champions League with the feeling that they did what they could, knowing that they are not the only team to have had a hard time at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Real Madrid 1 – 1 RB Leipzig
(Aggregate score 2-1)
Real Madrid reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals! This was far from a comfortable night for the winners on aggregate, holding off prolonged spells of Leipzig pressure to edge through 2-1. For the visitors, an excellent campaign – with another memorable moment when Rose’s side equalised on the night after falling behind – comes to a close.
Leipzig fought valiantly throughout but were unable to score the two goals they needed to decide the tie in their favour. For much of the game, they were arguably the better team – but ultimately struggled to seize their chances, of which they had more than they probably expected. They knew they might need a little bit of luck and, in the end, it wasn’t meant to be.
