When FC Copenhagen visits Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday, they will be eager to score.
This week marks the start of the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. With Bayern Munich cruising toward automatic qualifying, Group A is turning become the Bayern Munich show. However, the second position is still up for grabs, and Manchester United is eager to snag it as they prepare to host FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
Manchester United has had a terrible 2023–24 season so far and will be grieving Sir Bobby Charlton on Tuesday. They have already dropped six games, including two in the UEFA Champions League.
While the loss at Bayern Munich was expected, it was terrible to blow a lead and lose at home to Galatasaray, which dropped them to the bottom of the standings.
In contrast, FC Copenhagen surrendered a two-goal advantage to play Galatasaray to a 2-2 draw. They then competed with Bayern Munich before losing 2-1 on Matchday 2. In terms of domestic competition, the Lions lead Silkeborg by one point after the first eight rounds of games in the Superliga.
The previous time these teams faced off, Manchester United defeated FC Copenhagen 1-0 thanks to a late penalty from Bruno Fernandes. In advance of the most recent meeting, The Hard Tackle examines the encounter in more detail.
Key FC Stats
Copenhagen defeated Manchester United at home in November 2006 to earn its first-ever UEFA Champions League victory, 1-0. However, in four away contests against English opponents in the competition, they have never won (D1 L3) or scored a goal (nine conceded).
In their last seven games in European competition against English teams, FC Copenhagen have failed to score a goal (D3 L4). In the UEFA Cup against Manchester City in February 2009 (a 2-1 loss in the second leg of the Round of 32), they scored their most recent goal against an English team.
Manchester United has never lost four straight games in the UEFA Champions League, but they have dropped their last three games.
In the 34 Champions League games he has managed, Erik ten Hag has lost his last three games (two with Manchester United and one with Ajax). This is his longest losing streak in the competition.
In both of Manchester United’s UEFA Champions League games, Rasmus Hojlund has scored, totaling three goals. He will become the first player to score in his first three European Cup or Champions League games for the Red Devils since John Connelly in 1965 (3) if he hits the back of the goal in this match.
