Man City vs Copenhagen: Team news, kick-off time, TV info, referee & previous meetings

Manchester City will be hoping to make it three wins from three when they return to Champions League action this week, with a home game against Copenhagen.

The Blues beat Borussia Dortmund last time out in Europe, while they opened their continental campaign with a 4-0 win over Sevilla, and another three points would set them up nicely in Group G.

With so many fixtures packed into the weeks preceding the World Cup, Pep Guardiola would ideally like to get top spot wrapped up as soon as possible, as it could afford him the opportunity to rest players in the coming weeks.

It’s an option that Guardiola may even take advantage of on Wednesday, with Copenhagen representing the weakest opponent in their group.

The Blues play Southampton in the league at the weekend and therefore face a relatively short turnaround from the Copenhagen clash.

As for the Danish side, they’ve struggled this campaign and have lost more games than they’ve won in the league. Copenhagen have lost six of their 11 matches to date and are seven points off the summit.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game.

When is Man City vs Copenhagen?

The game takes place on Wednesday 5 October 2022.

Is Man City vs Copenhagen on TV?

The clash will be shown live on BT Sport 3.

Who is the referee?

Donatas Rumsas is set to take charge of the game at the Etihad. He’s only been referee once before in the Champions League, during a 1-1 draw between Shakhtar Donetsk and Sheriff Tiraspol last season, while he also officiated West Ham United’s 3-0 win over Genk in October 2021.

Have they met before?

The teams have met once before in a European season. That came in 2008/09 when City beat the Danish side 4-3 over two legs in the Uefa Cup. Nedum Onuoha and Stephen Ireland scored in the first meeting as City drew 2-2, while Craig Bellamy netted a brace at home a week later to ensure City progressed with a 2-1 win on the night.

Copenhagen’s European exploits

Jacob Neestrup’s men made it to the Champions League group stage after beating Trabzonspor 2-1 on aggregate in the qualifying stages. In their opening match of Group G, Copenhagen lost 3-0 to Borussia Dortmund but drew 0-0 with Sevilla in their last European outing.

Team news

There will be no Kyle Walker for Thursday clash with Copenhagen after he was forced to miss the Manchester derby on Sunday due to a ‘niggle in his leg’.

Guardiola confirmed the full-back will be absent from the midweek game, while Rodri, who missed Sunday’s derby win, will be assessed during Tuesday’s training session as to whether he can be involved.

“We will train this afternoon and know if Rodri is better. Kyle is out. We will see the training session,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, John Stones and Kalvin Phillips are certainties to miss out through injury, while Guardiola said in Sunday’s post-match press conference that he will rotate in midweek. That could mean Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Sergio Gomez, Riyad Mahrez, Cole Palmer and Julian Alvarez could be handed starts.