Champions League

MANCHESTER CITY set a new Champions League record following their 3-1 win over Copenhagen on Tuesday.The treble winners took control of the last-16 tie thanks to goals from Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden.
Man City broke a Champions League record on WednesdayCredit: AP
City have set the longest streak by any English side in the competition’s historyCredit: AP
De Bruyne broke the deadlock in the 10th minute with a composed strike into the bottom-left corner.
Magnus Mattsson then equalised for Copenhagen after capitalising on a rare error from Ederson.
But Silva fired his side back into the lead on the brink of half time before Foden sealed the win in added time.
City have now won nine straight games in the Champions League, setting the longest streak by any English side in the competition’s history.
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Speaking after the match, Pep Guardiola said: “I know how difficult it is. People believe it is easy. Ask United and Bayern. It’s a really tough opponent.
“We made perfect concepts today. My job is to warn the players, the attributes they have. We behaved with character and personality, patience.
“Everyone was at a top level. It’s not decisive, a good result. Hopefully we can make the quarters.
“Copenhagen are so compact. These type of games you expect the transitions where you suffer. Slow it down in this incredible stadium with the crowd behind. Make 1,000 goals, don’t allow them to score a goal.
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“The stadium goes down. We have to find the spaces in the next leg. I saw the United games and how difficult it was for them.
“I knew it, the players knew it. They follow us and play for that way.”
Phil Foden brutally trolls Micah Richards live on TV over £600-a-week barber trips and reveals how much his trim costs
Man City face Copenhagen again in the second leg on March 6 at the Etihad Stadium. More

TONI KROOS shockingly admitted that Leipzig’s disallowed goal should have stood in Tuesday’s first-leg Champions League tie.Real Madrid ran out 1-0 winners in Germany, after a wonder goal from Jude Bellingham replacement Brahim Diaz.
Sesko’s early header was controversially ruled out in Tuesday’s tie with Real Madrid
But Toni Kroos acknowledged that the goal should have stood
Both fans and footballers were left perplexed with the confusing refereeing decision inside three minutes.
Benjamin Sesko found the net with a header, but the goal was disallowed due to a slight nudge from Benjmain Henrichs on goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. 
It was initially deemed that Sesko was offside, but the defender was then somewhat harshly penalised for colliding with the goalkeeper.
Leipzig then went onto dominate the chances in the first half, before former Manchester City star Diaz’ brilliantly worked strike in the 48th minute.
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But Madrid’s legendary midfielder has even confessed that Leipzig were hard done by.
Kroos said: “I think in the end he called offside because it got in his way.
“But the goalkeeper couldn’t reach the ball and that’s why the goal had to be given. You can’t argue any other way.”
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Referee and analyst Mateu Lahoz added: “It’s crazy to disallow the goal for that. This is not football.
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“Leipzig’s goal should have gone up the scoreboard. We have to be honest. 
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“If this happens to a Spanish team we would put our hands on our heads.”
Fans also took to social media to express their bewilderment at the goal being chalked off.
One wrote: “Leipzig have been robbed.”
Another said: “How is he interfering?!”
However, Thierry Henry had a different outlook.
He told TNT: “The disallowed goal was the correct decision. I first thought it was a goal, but on the replay, you can see it is not. As a player, you are told if you are offside don’t get involved.
“He involves with Lunin, even if the push is little and he was offside.” More

PHIL FODEN cheekily trolled Micah Richards over his £600-a-week haircut habit after starring in Manchester City’s latest win.The England ace, 23, has been in red-hot form for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Micah Richards commented on Phil Foden’s haircutCredit: X formerly Twitter / @CBSSportsGolazo
The pundit, 35, asked Foden where he gets his barnet choppedCredit: X formerly Twitter / @CBSSportsGolazo
Kate Abdo was left stunned by Foden’s responseCredit: X formerly Twitter / @CBSSportsGolazo
Jamie Carragher and Richards laughed along with the Man City starCredit: X formerly Twitter / @CBSSportsGolazo
After adding another goal to his tally during City’s 3-1 win over Copenhagen, Foden stopped to chat with CBS Sports’ Champions League crew comprising of Kate Abdo, Micah Richards, Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry.
After chatting about the game, Richards pivoted to Foden’s barnet.
The former City ace, 35, asked: “Before you go, who’s your barber?
“Because your trim’s looking kinda fresh I’m not gonna lie.”
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Foden quipped back: “I’ve heard you pay a lot for your trim.”
Richards stunned Henry last year by revealing that he has his hair cut three times a week at £200 a pop.
It was even revealed that Richards jetted his barber out to Qatar for the World Cup.
Following Foden’s remark Carragher howled with laughter, before Abdo asked: “How much do you pay for yours?”
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Down-to-earth Foden replied: “Twenty quid from the local.”
An incredulous Abdo responded: “No, you do not pay twenty quid!”
Pep Guardiola’s reacts to Manchester City’s Champions League win over Copenhagen
But Foden insisted: “I swear! Obviously I sort him out sometimes but I go to the same barber from the age of eight.”
Richards then cheekily cut in: “Did he slip when he went to your eyebrows?”
Foden has scored eight goals and laid on a further seven assists in 23 Premier League appearances this season.
He recently netted a stunning hat-trick against Brentford, and contributed a goal and an assist against Copenhagen last night.

Asked if he’s ever felt more vital to City’s success, Foden told the CBS Sports team: “I don’t think so. It’s the most run of games I’ve probably had in a City shirt.
“When you’re playing every game I think you can get a lot of rhythm. I’m feeling good this year and I’m helping the team the best I can.” More

ERLING HAALAND left fans’ jaws on the floor by leaping 7ft 6in into the air for Manchester City last night.The 6ft 4in star lined up against Copenhagen in the Champions League.

Erling Haaland rose 7ft 6in into the air for an acrobatic effortCredit: Getty
Cristiano Ronaldo scored an amazing goal against Juventus in 2018Credit: EPA
Haaland, 23, didn’t get on the scoresheet as his side ran out 3-1 winners.
But he still managed to take fans’ breath away.
Rising to try and meet a cross, Haaland jumped an astonishing 7ft 6in into the air.
He connected with the ball, but wasn’t quite able to convert the shot.
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Haaland’s effort was likened to Cristiano Ronaldo’s astonishing goal for Real Madrid against Juventus in 2018.
On that occasion, the Portuguese superstar rose 7ft 8in to convert a remarkable overhead kick from Dani Carvajal’s cross.
Ronaldo received acclaim from fans of Juventus, who he would go on to join later that year.
Foreshadowing his move, he said at the time: “It was an unbelievable moment. I have to say thank you a lot – grazie – to all supporters of Juventus.
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“What they did for me was amazing, I’m so happy.
“Thank you to all of them. This has never happened in my career so far.”
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Ahead of last night’s game, Haaland was told to “relax” by his boss Pep Guardiola.
And while he didn’t score, City fans loved their striker’s acrobatic exploits.

One wrote on social media: “literally how?”
While a second gushed: “brother was levitating.”
A third swooned: “he was floating.”
And another added: “In a league of his own.”
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Haaland has scored 73 goals in 79 appearances since joining City from Borussia Dortmund.
He is the Premier League’s top scorer this season with 16 goals – despite having missed nearly two months through injury. More

JUDE BELLINGHAM MIGHT not have been on the pitch but his celebration was.Bellingham scored twice at the weekend in the La Liga leaders 4-0 victory over second placed Girona.
Brahim Diaz replicated Jude Bellingham’s celebration when he bagged the winner for Real MadridCredit: Getty

But injury saw him replaced in the 57th minutes by Brahim Diaz who held his place with the lad from Dudley unable to play.
Diaz did him proud with a brilliant 48th minute winner.
He was like Diego Maradona as he picked the ball up, rode one tackle, and scampered between two more opponents before curling a shot home.
Not forgetting his teammate who he had replaced on the night he did the Bellingham celebration as he jumped and landed with his arms out wide.
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A great moment for him, a typical moment for Real Madrid who have lit this competition up like no others with their 14 triumphs.
Nobody has powered them more this season though than Bellingham.
A player who is the top scorer in La Liga, has 20 goals in all competitions and including assists has been involved in 28 goals in 29 games.
It looked like his absence was going to tell as well when in the first half Leipzig looked to lift the roof off the Red Bull Arena.
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They did just that after only 96 seconds and why oh why did the goal not stand?
When the ball was bounced back into the box from a corner Benjamin Sesko headed home.
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He certainly looked offside which is why understandably the flag was raised.
But replays showed he wasn’t and yet with the quickest of calls the goal was still ruled out because there had been the slightest of pushes on the goalkeeper by the same player in the build up.
When I say slight, it’s like when you brush against someone in Tescos and apologise.
That was not all that Leipzig had to rue on the night.
Sesko had chance after chance to score but it was night when Andriy Lunin had a goalkeeper worldie night saving shot after shot.
Advantage Real.
Brahim Diaz was awarded the Man of the Match for his performanceCredit: Getty More

PEP GUARDIOLA has been studying the body language of his players as they have gone through the gears in recent weeks.And all he will see from his main man Kevin De Bruyne is someone desperate to make up for lost time.
Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden all netted as Man City ran out 3-1 winners in CopenhagenCredit: EPA
Man City had most of the shots and possession
Man City were on top for most of the game
De Bruyne took up a position high up the pitch next to Erling Haaland
De Bruyne ran the show at the Parken Stadium
“I was looking for Erling, but he was covered really well… so I tried slotting it in the back post & it went in!” 😆The in-form Kevin De Bruyne speaks following a goal & two assists in Copenhagen…🎙️ @julesbreach#UCL pic.twitter.com/SRy9x1CRr4— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 13, 2024

The brilliant Belgian had to sit out four and a half months of this season due to hamstring surgery.
But he has looked a guy determined to make a difference since he returned to the first team just over a month ago. And boy is he doing exactly that.
KDB was the star turn again here in Denmark – scoring the opening a goal and creating a second.
His assist for Bernardo Silva’s nonchalant finish came as a result of a block tackle and probably wasn’t what he had in mind.
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That’s how good this guy is – and shows how his return could not have come at a better team for the treble winners.
And then in stoppage time he was at it again – teeing up his accomplice Phil Foden to add a third.
That’s nine goal involvements in seven matches since the former Chelsea man returned.
City could – and should – have won by more but Copenhagen don’t lose many here and Guardiola’s men have one foot in a seventh straight quarter final.
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In fact the Danish champs had tasted defeat in only two of 18 home matches in this competition at their Parken Stadium – and as usual the atmosphere was fizzing.
Yet this was their first competitive game since Jacob Neestrup’s men clinched qualification for the knock-out stage by beating Galatasaray in mid December.
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A winter break of 63 days did not look ideal preparation for facing a City team who have won their last 10 matches in that period.
Yet at least their players would be fresh – and had been given plenty of time to prepare their gameplan since the draw was made just before Christmas.
Guardiola restored Jack Grealish to the starting line-up for the first time in a month and the team he picked ould not have been much stronger.
He talked in the build up about how the whole club are now Champions League believers – after finally winning the competition in June.
And they looked confident from the off here – wasting a good early chance as Kevin De Bruyne nodded Nathan Ake’s cross wide.
Ruben Dias also went close – forcing a smart save out of Kamil Grabara with a downward header.
City were in complete control – the only surprise was it took them 10 minutes to go ahead.
Phil Foden has been edged back out wide sine the return of KDB to the starting line-up – but has still proved equally effective there.
Jack Grealish was handed his first start for in six games for Man CityCredit: AP
However, he picked up an injuryCredit: AFP
Grealish was replaced after just 20 minutesCredit: Reuters
And it was the apprentice who slipped a pass through to the master De Bruyne – and he beat Kamil Grabara with an angled drive.
The Belgian has surprised his team-mates with his levels since he returned from injury a month ago and here he was again – making a difference on the big occasions for them.
Grealish had made a promising start in his first chance to start in a month but his night ended prematurely after just 20 minutes.
He went down under pressure from Cupido Goncalves but did not seem to be kicked – which will be a worry for City – and had to be replaced by Jeremy Doku.
It didn’t alter the flow of the game though and a panicked Denis Vavro was lucky to see his header rebound off his own bar.
Then Erling Haaland tried a spectacular overhead kick to Doku’s cross but was narrowly off target.
Silva was all over the pitch making things happen
Foden was a constant threat from the right wing before combining with De Bruyne for City’s third goal

Copenhagen had barely had a kick – but then Ederson gifted them an equaliser 10 minutes before the break.
He got his pass out from the back all wrong and presented it to Mohamed Elyounoussi whose shot was blocked by Dias.
Yet the rebound fell perfectly for Magnus Mattson who swept home brilliantly from 20 yards. What a way to mark your debut.
They know a thing about fairytales in the home of Hans Christian Andersen – and after beating Manchester United in October, the home fans were suddenly dreaming of another one.
Their team could not quite get to the interval on level terms though as De Bruyne’s tackle on Mattson saw it fall into the path of Bernardo Silva.
The Portuguese maestro had plenty to do but finshed delightfully with the outside of his foot to put the visitors back in front.
No doubt Guardiola would have had words at half-time about throwing away their lead – but Ederson would have been a relieved man going in at the break.
City were back in control after the break and De Bruyne was denied a second goal by a flying stop from Grabara.
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Doku also brought the best ouf of the former Liverpool keeper as City looked to put the tie to bed on the night.
Grabara denied Haaland twice but then De Bruyne – inevitably – teed up Foden to round things off in stoppage time. More

MANCHESTER CITY fans have been left fuming at what they thought was a distraction tactic from FC Copenhagen supporters.The Cityzens were facing off against the Danish outfit in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Manchester City faced a unique distraction technique during their clash with CopenhagenCredit: Getty
Copenhagen fans have been set off a siren whenever City were attackingCredit: Reuters
And despite most top-level players being used to raucous fans and aggressive abuse, there was something different for City to face at the Parken Stadium.
A loud siren appeared to be sounding almost every time Pep Guardiola’s side got hold of the ball.
Fans of the Premier League outfit were growing frustrated by the off-putting alarm which was coming from the home fans inside the stadium.
Many took to social media with one writing: “Why is a siren going off every time we have possession? Is that not illegal?”
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A second added: “Whoever the Copenhagen fan is that brought the emergency siren to the match today and continues to blare it over and over should be banned from the city entirely, forever, no questions asked.”
A third chimed in: “Why is there a siren every time we attack?”
Others were distracted inside their own homes by the off-putting siren.
One joked: “Copenhagen fans need to turn that siren off keep thinking the old bill are outside…”.
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While another added: “This siren sound from the game had me looking out the window.”
It’s not known if the sound was a regular feature of the intimidating atmosphere inside Parken Stadium or a specific distraction tactic to put off their Treble-winning opposition.
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Either way it failed to work as planned with the visitors securing a comfortable 3-1 victory over the Danish Superliga champions.
Goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden outweighed a superb finish from Magnus Mattsson after an uncharacteristic mistake from Ederson in the Man City goal.
City were unfazed by the distractionsCredit: EPA More