The UEFA Champions League last 16 is in full swing, with only four of the eight spots in the quarter-finals still up for grabs.
Defending champions Manchester City have already booked their place in the last eight with a 6-2 aggregate win over Copenhagen and will have their sights on reaching the final at Wembley on June 1.
Pep Guardiola’s side will be joined in the last eight by Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
It didn’t take long for City to extend the aggregate lead they earned in Denmark three weeks ago, with centre-back Manuel Akanji meeting Julián Álvarez’s corner with an accurate volley into the top corner after just five minutes.
Álvarez was then among the goals himself, with a curling strike from outside the box squirming beyond Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara’s grasp and into the net.
The visitors did have something to cheer close to the half-hour mark, when Mohamed Elyounoussi ran onto a wonderful Orri Óskarsson back-heel and steered home to offer his team a glimmer of hope.
Copenhagen had done well to shackle the ever-dangerous Erling Haaland in the first period, but just before the break the Norwegian forward pounced with a powerful low finish to record his sixth goal of this season’s tournament.
The second half was something of a procession for City, although goalkeeper Ederson had to be alert to make a sharp save to deny substitute Magnus Mattsson.
Meanwhile Real Madrid reached the Champions League quarter-finals as Vinicius Junior provided the quality finish that RB Leipzig lacked to secure a 2-1 aggregate win in the last 16.
Like the first leg, German side Leipzig were made to pay for wasting a host of chances when Vinicius clipped in Jude Bellingham’s pass with 25 minutes left for a 2-0 lead.
Leipzig finally converted an opportunity three minutes later when skipper Willi Orban flicked in a header.
The goal provided renewed belief to the Bundesliga side and they continued to open up the Spanish league leaders as they searched for a leveller.
Former Barcelona youngster Dani Olmo came the closest to taking the tie into extra time – because away goals no longer count in Uefa competitions – when his looping header clipped the top of the crossbar in injury time.
But Real, aiming to become European champions for a record-extending 15th time, managed to hold out and reach the quarter-finals for the 12th time in the past 14 seasons.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side will find out their quarter-final opponents when the draw for the last eight is made on Friday, 15 March.
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