City flex muscles ahead of Reds trip

MANCHESTER, March 7

Holders Manchester City cruised into the Champions League quarterfinals for the seventh consecutive season with a 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen on Wednesday in their last-16 second leg that wrapped up a 6-2 aggregate triumph.

City, who started the game with a two-goal cushion, took care of business early with first-half goals by Manuel Akanji, Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland.

With a trip to Liverpool in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash to come on Sunday, manager Pep Guardiola had the luxury of resting key players including Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden, making seven changes to his side that beat Manchester United 3-1 in last Sunday’s league derby. “Today, I need energy, fresh legs,” Guardiola said. “I know how tired, exhausted some of my players were today … We play on Sunday. So I need fresh legs.”

Madrid stretched

Madrid: Real Madrid withstood an onslaught from RB Leipzig to secure a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their last-16 tie that sent them throughwith a 2-1 aggregate victory.

RB Leipzig were arguably the better side and missed several gilt-edged chances. But Real Madrid increased the tempo in the second half and ultimately did enough to seal their place in the last-eight. Bidding for a record-extending 15th Champions League title, Real took the lead thanks to a Vinicius Jr strike in the 65th. — Reuters