Copenhagen face an uphill battle from the first whistle when they take on Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Jacob Neestrup’s side haven’t even played a competitive game in 2024, with their last outing coming in their win over Galatasary to book a place in the competition’s last 16 back in December.

However, Pep Guardiola would be wise not to take the Danes lightly, as they have already defeated Manchester United and held Bayern Munich and Harry Kane to a goalless draw this season.

Mail Sport has picked out three players that could be key to the hosts securing what would be a historic upset.

Copenhagen face a seriously difficult task when they play host to Man City on Tuesday

Roony Bardghji

The teenager who downed Manchester United earlier in the season with an 87th-minute winner. Bardghji is already attracting interest from a host of European giants and has been linked with Tottenham and Chelsea in recent weeks. 

Likely to be an option to alter the game off the bench and thrives in wide areas.

Already has 12 goals in 28 league starts for Copenhagen.

But the Danes can count a number of top talents among their ranks, including 18-year-old Roony Bardghji

Elias Achouri

Signed from Viborg for around £2.5million last summer, Achouri is a player who can really unsettle defences. 

A strong dribbler and the quickest among Jacob Neestrup’s ranks, the 25-year-old Tunisia international causes danger with his direct style off the left-hand side. 

It should be a good physical battle with City’s Kyle Walker.

Elias Achouri will look to go pace for pace with Kyle Walker when the hosts can get forward

Viktor Claesson

The skipper and older head in the midfield. 

At 32, Claesson is enjoying the best spell of his career — one spent at Elfsborg in his native Sweden and then FK Krasnodar in Russia — before making the switch to the Danish capital two years ago. 

Will need to lean on his experience to help him deal with Manchester City’s runners from central areas.

Captain Viktor Claesson will have to call on his experience if his side are to pull off the upset