Manchester City dominant in Champions League last-16 win over Copenhagen

Bernardo Silva's clever goal secured Manchester City a 3-1 triumph against FC Copenhagen in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) last 16. This victory marked the Sky Blues' 11th consecutive win in all competitions and extended their unbeaten streak in Europe to 21 matches.

Copenhagen, who had been out of competitive action for two months due to a winter break, showed signs of ring rust. City took advantage of this by creating numerous early opportunities. Nathan Ake had a chance to put the visitors ahead, but his volleyed rebound from close range missed the target. However, Kevin De Bruyne made up for it by scoring a composed finish into the far corner after receiving a reverse pass from Phil Foden.

City seemed to be dominating the game until Jack Grealish, who was making his first start in over a month, suffered an unfortunate injury. This marked a turning point for the hosts. A rare mistake from Ederson led to the equalizer, but debutant Magnus Mattsson confidently scored from the edge of the box, putting the hosts in the lead.

However, City quickly regained control as they benefited from a stroke of luck just before halftime. A tackle ricocheted into the path of Bernardo, who skillfully finished with a delicate touch that fans have come to expect from the talented Portuguese player.

Despite having more possession, City struggled to create clear-cut chances against Copenhagen's strong defensive unit. Long-range shots from De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku were both saved by Kamil Grabara.

There was no necessity for either team to take extreme risks, considering there was still a second leg to be played. However, the Sky Blues managed to secure a significant advantage by scoring two goals in the final moments of the match, thanks to Foden's finish from De Bruyne's assist, leaving Copenhagen disheartened.

City accomplished their objective at Parken Stadium, as they continue their pursuit of reaching at least the UCL quarter-finals for the seventh consecutive season.

On the other hand, Copenhagen will face a challenging task as they aim to advance to the last eight for the first time ever at the Etihad Stadium in three weeks' time.