FC Copenhagen will be missing one of their most important players when they take on Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side are back in Champions League action on Tuesday with the first leg of their last 16 tie in the Danish capital.
City are looking to become the first Premier League team to retain the famous trophy after their historic triumph in Istanbul last year.
They are up against a spirited and combative Copenhagen side who have already beaten Manchester United and Galatasaray this season as well as draw away at Bayern Munich.
They will be no push overs but they won’t be at full strength, either.
Bad news for FC Copenhagen
Copenhagen boss Jacob Neestrup has lamented the fact he will be without the crucial Lukas Lerager for the match.
The midfielder was sent off in the last minute of the final group stage match – a game in which he scored the only goal – and will be suspended for the visit of City.
“It is first and foremost tough for Lukas Lerager himself that he is suspended,” Neestrup said in his pre-match press conference.
“Because he, along with several others, has been the backbone of the team that has brought us here.
“We will be missing a skilled player, but fortunately we have been able to solve that before over the past 16 months or so, and we will also do that tomorrow.
“Birger Meling is in the squad and if he can maybe give something to the team for 10 or 15 minutes then we will do it.
“Nicolai Boilesen trained today and within the very foreseeable future he is available to be selected for matches.”
A big blow for Copenhagen
Lerager is a crucial part of the Copenhagen side and has made several crucial contributions to their run to the knock-out stages.
The 30-year-old grabbed three goals in the group stage – scoring against all three sides the Dane’s faced – and an assist.
City are not the team you want to be without such an important player for.
The Blues were held to a goalless draw when they visited the Parken Stadium in the group stages last season, which could give the hosts hope, but City did have a man sent off and missed a penalty.
At the Etihad, City romped to a 5-0 win and will be heavy favourites going into Tuesday’s game.
