Champions league: Red-hot De Bruyne stages City’s coup in Copenhagen

Copenhagen, February 14

Kevin De Bruyne is so often Manchester City’s man for the big occasion. He delivered again at the start of the Champions League’s knockout stage.

By scoring one goal and having a hand in two others, the Belgium playmaker inspired City to a 3-1 win at FC Copenhagen in the first leg of the Round of 16 on Tuesday as the English champions resumed their quest to retain their European crown.

It’s an English-record nine straight wins in the Champions League for City stretching back to the last season, and 10 victories in a row in all competitions over the past two months.

It is going to take something special to stop Pep Guardiola’s defending champions.

Only a careless mistake from goalkeeper Ederson Moraes, which led to Copenhagen’s equaliser in the 34th minute, prevented City from taking an even more commanding lead into the second leg in Manchester in three weeks.

Still, few will give the Danish champions hope of turning this around.

Not with De Bruyne seemingly back in top form already after missing five months with a hamstring injury sustained on the opening day of the season.

“The biggest players appear in the biggest stages,” City manager Pep Guardiola said, when asked about De Bruyne’s display.

Diaz shows Real way

Leipzig (Germany): After scoring Real Madrid’s winner with a mazy solo run, Brahim Diaz jogged to the sideline and spread his arms wide open to celebrate.

He was imitating the trademark goal celebration of Jude Bellingham, the injured teammate he replaced in the starting line-up. “Oh my god Brahim!!!,” Bellingham wrote on X, moments after the goal.

Diaz stepped up in Bellingham’s absence on Tuesday, leading Madrid to a 1-0 win at Leipzig in their clash. — AP