Manchester
City
, the current king of Europe, complied with the procedure: they went without complications to the quarterfinals of the Champions League by winning 3-1 at home against Copenhagen.
The overall result was a resounding 6-2, but the score of the match was given by
Matheus Nunes
, the Portuguese for whom
Pep Guardiola
's team paid more than 60 million euros suffered a shocking injury.
If it weren't for the hand problem that the City man had, the trends on the networks would have been exclusively Julián Álvarez.
From a couple of corners taken by the 'Spider' came City's first two goals.
In the 5th minute, the Argentine world champion hung a ball that, with a volley and among a cloud of rivals, Akanji sent directly into the back of the visiting goal.
City already wins it!
Goal by Manuel Akanji before the 5th minute for the 1-0 against Copenhagen in the #CHAMPIONSxESPN.
📺 Watch the #UCL on #ESPNenStarPlus pic.twitter.com/N4O4On9c8T
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) March 6, 2024
Without time to digest, City scored the second in the 9th minute, when Álvarez served and the Spanish Rodri finished off the crossbar.
The rebounded ball went to Álvarez himself who took a cross shot to score the help with the great help of the Polish Kamil Grabara who, his hands were so weak that they bent and the ball slipped into the net.
That 2-0 already turned a comeback into a chimera for Copenhagen.
Elyounoussi's goal in the 29th minute after a quick counterattack was simply anecdotal and this was made clear before the break by Haaland, who received from Rodri on the edge of the area, controlled it, entered it and among three rivals found the space to sign the goal. third, with a shot close to the post at 45+3.
THE SPIDER BITE IN MANCHESTER!
Julián Álvarez finished off and Grabara's little resistance did the rest.
2-0 for City and series settled in the #CHAMPIONSxESPN!
📺 Watch the #UCL on #ESPNenStarPluspic.twitter.com/LWVjshubsv
— ESPN Argentina (@ESPNArgentina) March 6, 2024
Haaland scored his sixth goal in this Champions League, reaching Kylian Mbappé (PSG) and Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) at the top of the scoring table.
Álvarez follows that trio, with five goals.
The injury that marred City's victory
In the second half the scoreboard did not move.
Pep's team took their foot off the accelerator, Ederson was a wall and the only bad news of the night for the hosts was the injury of Portuguese Matheus Nunes twenty minutes from time, after injuring his left hand in a fall.
The images are striking.
25 minutes had passed when the midfielder lost his balance and was resting his weight on his big toe.
The images cause stinging and, with the naked eye, you can see that there is a fracture or dislocation.
#matheusnunes ouch😁 pic.twitter.com/aVZqutFf2n
— Daniel B (@danibABC) March 6, 2024
Television decided to remove the cameras that could affect the public, although the situation was soon replicated on networks.
Nunes was treated by the medical staff and left the field with a bandage on his hand.
Nunes' medical report is awaited. Photo: AP
It was the only thing that tarnished Manchester City's seventh consecutive qualification for the quarterfinals of the top European tournament.