Copenhagen vs Manchester United. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats, and more

FC København will host Manchester United FC in the UEFA Champions League Group A 4th round match at the Parken Stadium. The fixture will take place on Thursday, November 9, beginning at 01:30 IST.

Parimatch News will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.

Copenhagen News & Current Form: 

After 14 matches played in the Danish league, the Lions have 32 points and are three points ahead of their nearest pursuer, Brøndby. The club concedes an average of more than one goal per match, but the attack shines with 32 accurate strikes. The Lions currently have a four-game winning streak in all competitions, so with this form, the only question is whether the opponents will prove their class.

After a minimal defeat to Manchester United, Copenhagen played three matches on the domestic arena, winning all of them with a total score of 9:2. Before the Champions League match, the club played a difficult away game in the Danish league against Randers FC. The home team twice took the lead, leading 1:0 and 2:1, but the reigning Danish champion managed to turn the tide and eventually won 4:2. 

The club also reached the quarterfinals of the Danish Cup. At the previous stage, the team managed to beat one of the strongest Danish teams FC Midtjylland (1:0) on their field with a minimum score. In the 1/8 finals of the national trophy, a goal by 17-year-old Bardghji brought victory in a meeting with a direct competitor.

Head coach Jacob Neestrup used the optimal tactical scheme 4-3-3 with the available players. The weakest line in the team is the defense, because of injuries Neestrup has to constantly rotate the squad and bring on new combinations of players.

Roony Bardghji – 17 year old star of FC Copenhagen

The best scorer of the club in the current season is seventeen-year-old Roony Bardghji. The Swedish footballer scored nine goals in all competitions and will surely soon be of interest to the top clubs in Europe. Note that in the main squad of the Lions an important role is played by 31-year-old Viktor Claesson, in the last three games he scored two goals.

It should be noted that Copenhagen made it to the Champions League group with great difficulty, but Jacob Neestrup’s team was unlucky with the draw: in the company of FC Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Galatasaray it is difficult to count on the playoffs. 

However, in the first round the Team of the City had every chance to take three points, in Istanbul the Danish champion had a two goal advantage over Galatasaray, but eventually allowed the opponent to get back (2:2).

The team from the capital of Denmark should definitely not be underestimated in the Champions League, especially on their field. This is eloquently evidenced by its home match against Bayern (1:2). The Lions conceded by the score, but not by the game, creating an equal number of expected goals scored (xG: 0.9 vs 0.9). 

The Lions opened the scoring and looked as good as the Bavarians. However, this time they failed to take even one point, the Danes conceded the decisive goal in the 83rd minute from Mathys Tel.

In the face-to-face match with the English club, Copenhagen also lost minimally (0:1), but were even sharper than the Red Devils (xG: 1.9 vs 1.65), and on the other team’s field. Harry Maguire opened the scoring in the 72nd minute, and in the 97th minute the guests earned a penalty, which was not realized by Jordan Larsson. As a result, the club from Denmark occupies the last place in the quartet without winning a single match.

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Manchester United News & Current Form: 

In the English Premier League, the Red Devils are in eighth place, having collected only 18 points in 11 rounds, 9 points behind table leader Manchester City. Last week, Manchester United dropped out of the English League Cup. On the home field it was crushed by Newcastle United FC (0:3). 

Victories are not easy for ten Hag’s team and usually finish with a one goal advantage. So in recent games MU beat Sheffield United FC (2:1) and Brentford FC (2:1). In the match against the Bees the Reds were trailing 0:1 until the 93rd minute, but Scott McTominay managed to score a double in the remaining time and bring his team the victory. 

In the last match against Fulham FC in the EPL, Manchester United won 1:0, but the Red Devils did not play well. They failed to establish a positional attack, and there were frequent mistakes in the passes. Only the individual skill of captain Bruno Fernandes, who scored a goal, was a key factor in the club’s win.

It was a vital win, but this performance will do little to assuage the fears of the fans who held up a banner before kick-off that read “Play with all your heart”. This is a team that looks capable of losing any match and they could have lost this one quite easily, especially during a period of Fulham pressure just after the break when Onana had to make good saves after strikes from Harry Wilson and Joao Palhinha. 

Until Bernd Leno fished the ball out of the net in added time, the home side’s goalkeeper only had to make one remarkable save after Fernandes’ late free-kick. After the match, Fulham coach Marco Silva was left furious after seeing United score the winning goal in added time at Craven Cottage for the second consecutive season.

After the match, head coach Erik ten Hag singled out two players who played a key role in the victory: Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire. He called the attacking midfielder the leader of the club, who leads the team by example, and characterized the actions of the Englishman as grandiose.

Marcus Rashford ignored the festive dinner of the team after the victory in the match of the 11th round of the EPL with the Cottagers. So the striker expressed disagreement with the criticism from the head coach for visiting the entertainment venue after the defeat in the derby with Manchester City (0:3).

As for the Champions League, Manchester United are in 3rd place in the group after three rounds. An incredible match in Munich in the first round against Bayern Munich ended 4:3 in favor of the Germans, and the first home game for the English also turned out to be dramatic, MU lost to Galatasaray with a score of 2:3.

The Mancunians were ahead twice in the course of the game, but the visitors equalized each time, and in the 78th minute Mauro Icardi scored the winning goal for his team.

In the match against Copenhagen the team of ten Hag was bailed out by those who received the most criticism in their address, Harry Maguire and Andre Onana. The defender scored the winning goal and the Cameroonian goalkeeper, who did make a lot of mistakes, deflected a penalty from Larsson (1:0).

Questionable purchase of Manchester United FC – Mason Mount

The Reds have quite a few problems on defense. Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez are currently out of action due to injuries, and Casemiro is also absent. Not everything is not so smooth in attack either, the team scores very few goals: Amad Diallo and Jadon Sancho are out of action. And the best scorers of the team are midfielders Bruno Fernandes and McTominay, who scored three goals each.

Another problem of the club is Antony, the second most expensive player in the club’s history, having moved from AFC Ajax for £85 million 18 months ago. The Brazilian winger was substituted early in the second half after a largely unnoticed performance. As the 23-year-old made his way to the benches, there was applause from the visiting fans.

Similar questions are being asked about Mason Mount, just months after his £55m summer switch from Chelsea FC. Left on the bench against Manchester City, the English midfielder was again among the substitutes in the match against Fulham as ten Hag opted for a midfield trio of Fernandes, McTominay and Christian Eriksen.

Mount had two impressive seasons at Chelsea between 2020 and 2022, but at the moment it looks like United have signed a newcomer for whom ten Hag has no room, although he is certainly not alone in a squad filled with ineffective players.

Copenhagen form guide: L-D-W-L-W-W

Manchester United form guide: W-W-W-L-L-W

Copenhagen vs Manchester United Head-To-Head Record:

• October 17, 2006: Manchester United 3 – 0 Copenhagen (UEFA Champions League);
• November 1, 2006: Copenhagen 1 – 0 Manchester United (UEFA Champions League);
• August 10, 2020: Manchester United 1 – 0 Copenhagen (UEFA Europa League);
• October 24, 2023: Manchester United 1 – 0 Copenhagen (UEFA Champions League).

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Copenhagen vs Manchester United Predicted XI:

Copenhagen’s possible starting lineup (4-3-3): Grabara; Ankersen, Vavro, Diks, Jelert; Lerager, Falk, Goncalves; Larsson, Claesson, Achouri.

Manchester United’s possible starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Dalot; McTominay, Eriksen; Pellistri, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund.

Statistical preview of the match Copenhagen vs Manchester United:

• Copenhagen’s First XI average age is 28.1 years, MU’s First XI average age is 26.6 years.
• The total value of Copenhagen’s squad is 66 mln euros, while Manchester’s total is 877 mln euros.
• Donatas Rumsas has been appointed as the center referee. The referee has already served five games this season, showing an average of 4.6 Yellow Cards and also whistles 21 fouls per game. 
• In the last 5 games, Copenhagen are conceding an average of 0.80 goals per game and scoring an average of 2.20 goals per game.
• Manchester United are conceding an average of 1.40 goals per game and scoring an average of 0.80 goals per game in their last 5 games.
• Manchester United have lost seven of their eight away matches in terms of corner kicks, and the average total for the visitors is 3.75 corners. Copenhagen at home take an average of 6.2 corner kicks per game. 
• Copenhagen players get 2.1 yellow cards at home and on average the Mancunians get exactly two yellow cards away.
• No more than two goals have been scored in regulation time in 5 of Copenhagen’s last 7 games in the Champions League.
• On their home field in this tournament, the Danes have not conceded in 90 minutes in 11 out of 12 previous games (5 wins, 6 draws).
• Copenhagen have conceded at least one goal in 4 of their last 5 home games in the Champions League.
• Both teams have differentiated themselves in 7 of Manchester United’s last 8 away games in the Champions League.
• On foreign fields in the Champions League, the Englishmen have not won in 6 out of 7 previous duels (2 draws, 4 defeats).
• At least three goals have been scored in 11 of the last 13 away games of the Mancunians in this tournament.
• Copenhagen have three wins in their last three games. 

What has been said before the match:

Gaffer of the Red Devils Erik ten Hag about playing at Parken stadium:

“We are looking forward and this team is experienced and has experienced hostile atmospheres. For instance, last year, in Barcelona. We can get good performances and we can get good results, we know that.”

“Copenhagen played a very decent game and I thought we didn’t play a good game. But still we won. I think it was a deserved win and we have to do things better. We are aware of that because you have to lift the performance if you want to get a result.”

“I think the players make an effort but there can always be more. We expect the highest standards at Manchester United. When you are a player, when you are staff, when you are manager at Manchester United the fans expect the highest standards and expect that you win every game. We ourselves have very high expectations but also when you are not playing well in your performance, you still have to win.”

Christian Eriksen, Dutch player of MU, about playing against FC Copenhagen:

“I have never played against Copenhagen here. I have only been here with the national team and I do know the atmosphere is very special. I do expect a special atmosphere but 100 times more theatrical than Old Trafford according to FC Copenhagen manager Jacob Neestrup? I’m not sure about that.”

“The only thing for us is three points. To put ourselves in the position to go through, we know we need to get three points. We lost a lot of points in the first two games so tomorrow is another opportunity to get three points.”

Jacob Neestrup, head coach of the Dutch team, about whether the shape of the opponent matters:

 “For me, it’s not about hope. For me, it’s about a strong belief that we can get a result. The penalty miss in the fifth minute of extra time was what it was, but it was a totally equal game. I was a little bit surprised about some of the questions I got after the game from English journalists in terms of that we were quite tough to break down.”

“The talk we had at half-time in our dressing room was that we thought it was tough to break the opponent down. In that picture, I think the game over 95 minutes was totally equal and I expect the same tomorrow.”

“What can United expect? I would say with all the respect I felt when I stepped into Old Trafford, then I felt the historical atmosphere. But you can’t compare Old Trafford with Parken because the intensity is times 100 in terms of what we played in two weeks ago. Then this is a that, for me, is way above the Premier League, to be honest.”

“We play at home, we are a big, big club in Copenhagen, so for me it really doesn’t matter. If we’re going to play a team tomorrow who have won 20 games in a row or, in terms of your words, are struggling a little bit, because for us it’s the same. We need a result. Best case three points, next best it’s one. But the shape that the opponent arrives in I don’t care, really.”

“Then I’m back to the same answer, the same question that is for me it doesn’t really matter the shape that the opponent arrived at. Four weeks ago we played Bayern Munich in Parken who came with a lot of confidence.

“I think the game before us they won with five, six or seven goals but we were ourselves and that is our biggest chance to achieve something tomorrow. It doesn’t matter the shape that United, Bayern Munich or Galatasaray will arrive in.”

Copenhagen vs Manchester United Prediction:

Erik ten Hag tries to keep the situation at MU under control, but is constantly in conflict with the team leaders. Numerous of his players are unavailable for reasons independent of football. With the emotional background in the team leaves much to be desired. And the injury of the Red Devils’ leading midfielder Casemiro turned out to be a serious blow – the Brazilian was doing a lot of work in the center of the field and had time to join the attack. His experience and workrate are instrumental to the team’s success during transition phases of the game. Moreover, we are unlikely to see Martinez in the center back position anytime soon.  

For United, the upcoming meeting is crucial. In case of victory, it is almost 100% that the British will advance to the second place, but even a draw does not suit MU, as they have already suffered a defeat to the Turks which undermines knockout prospects. In addition, MU have a game with Bayern ahead, and we doubt that the Germans, even if they solve the issue of first place in the group by then, will play such a high-profile match as a duel against the Red Devils halfheartedly. The visitors need to win in Denmark, otherwise they risk being left out of the UCL playoffs, which against the backdrop of not the best game in the EPL will be, if not a tragedy, then a failure

The Lions, on the other hand, played well at the Theater of Dreams and missed a good chance to end the match in a draw. They have already shown their teeth, and now they will try to make up for lost time by taking advantage of the home field. However, it should be taken into account that Copenhagen’s home matches in the Champions League are not characterized by high productivity. Four of the previous six matches ended with a 0-0 scoreline, while in the remaining two matches a total of five goals were scored. The upcoming encounter is unlikely to break this trend. 

Parimatch News staff prediction:

We say: Manchester United will win and the total goal total will be less than 2.5 – Yes.

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