Champions League: Manchester City VS FC Copenhagen: City cannot go beyond a goalless draw in the absence of Erling Haaland

At the Parken Stadium, the Cityzens surrendered their first Champions League points.

Manchester City entered the game with a spotless record and the top position in their group. The Sky Blues had won three consecutive games, scoring 11 goals and conceding none.

Meanwhile, Copenhagen was at the bottom of Group G with only one point. It was therefore expected that City would win easily on Tuesday.

However, Sergio Gomez was issued a red card after thirty minutes, forcing City to play with ten men for most of the match.

The Premier League champions struggled to exert authority over their opponents and failed to score for the first time this season, with in-form striker Erling Haaland sitting on the bench throughout the match.

Earlier, a VAR review disallowed a Rodri shot because of a handball.

The midfielder appeared to have handed City the lead in the 11th minute when he blasted a 25-yard shot past Kamil Grabara, but a VAR review revealed that the ball touched Riyad Mahrez's hand as he struggled between defenders for an aerial pass.

Although Mahrez later had an opportunity to redeem himself from the penalty spot, he took a lacklustre run up and blasted his penalty shot low and to the right into the hands of Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara.

Sergio Gomez was awarded a straight red card for bringing down Hakon Haraldsson as the last man in the 30th minute, reducing City to 10 men.

Pep Guardiola took the matter into his own hands after the early dismissal

Pep Guardiola chose to make a substitute at this time to compensate for Mahrez's early departure, replacing him with Ruben Dias.

City's decision to put Erling Haaland on the bench for the whole match, despite failing to score in his absence, was frustrating, as Copenhagen were ecstatic with the result.

Pep Guardiola's squad continued to perform poorly in the second half, unable to score the decisive goal that would have assured safe passage to the knockout round.

Guardiola could only take so much of this, so he substituted Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva for Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne when he deemed reinforcements were required.

Manchester City had previously defeated Sevilla FC, Borussia Dortmund, and Copenhagen at the Etihad Stadium without suffering a defeat in Europe this season.

Pep Guardiola opened up after the match, "Many players didn't start today because they were exhausted and tired and fatigued and [had] niggles. Erling didn't feel really good after the game against Southampton, Phil had some disturbing problems, and Bernardo told us yesterday he was so tired."

"We adapted really well [to the red card]. They are too good. We're close [to qualifying]. It's a good point."