Our next opponents: Moukoko's new start at FC Copenhagen

Position

Last season’s double winners suffered a 2-1 defeat in the derby at Bröndby IF last weekend, thereby conceding top spot in the Danish Superliga to Aarhus GF. In the explosive clash between the city rivals, known in Denmark as the ‘Slaget om København’ (Battle for Copenhagen), Brøndby took the lead through former Freiburg player Michael Gregoritsch. Mohamed Elyounoussi equalised for the Danish record champions, who were ultimately defeated after another goal from the hosts. It was FC Copenhagen's second defeat of the season following a 3-2 reverse against Aarhus. To date, they have five wins and one draw in the league.

Last season, FC Copenhagen became Danish champions for the sixteenth time since the club was founded in 1992 and they won the Danish cup for the tenth time. Coach Jacob Neestrup's team fought a neck-and-neck race with FC Midtjylland in the Superliga until the very end as they secured the title with a one-point lead. In qualifying for the Champions League, Copenhagen beat Kosovan club KF Drita Gjilan (2-0, 1-0), Swedish neighbours Malmö FF (0-0, 5-0) and finally FC Basel (1-1, 2-0).

This will be Copenhagen's seventh appearance in the league or group stages of the Europe’s elite club competition. Eleven years ago, the Danish side lost to Bayer 04 in the play-offs. In the only competitive European match between the two clubs to date, the Werkself won the second leg at the BayArena 4-0 after a 3-2 victory in Copenhagen. Stefan Kießling scored three of Leverkusen's seven goals. Thomas Delaney and Andreas Cornelius were already in the starting eleven for the Danes at the time - both are now key players in Neestrup's team again after moves away from the club. Bayer 04 also won a friendly match 1-0 against the Danes in January 2023.

In the 2023/24 season, FC Copenhagen qualified for the Round of 16 in the Champions League in a group with Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Manchester United, finishing second behind Bayern. The club from the Danish capital were knocked out by Manchester City. Last season, Copenhagen took part in the Conference League. There, the Whites and Blues eliminated FC Heidenheim in the second round - after a 2-1 home defeat at Parken, Copenhagen won the second leg in Germany 3-1 after extra time. The UCL run came to an end against Chelsea in the Round of 16.

Personnel

Three FC Copenhagen players are well known from the Bundesliga: Jordan Larsson was at Schalke 04 in the 2022/23 campaign, but moved to Copenhagen on loan after just six months. The Danes have since signed the Swedish international on a permanent deal. Larsson, whose father Henrik was a top international striker for Barcelona and Manchester United among others, has made 100 appearances for the White and Blues in two and a half years scoring 26 goals along the way. The 28-year-old made a significant contribution to winning the Danish league title last term with six goals and one assist in ten games.

Even better known in Germany than Larsson is former Dortmund player Youssoufa Moukoko. The Cameroon-born striker came through the ranks at BVB, played for Borussia from 2016 and was top scorer in the U19 and U17 Bundesliga competitions on several occasions. Moukoko, the youngest Bundesliga debutant and goalscorer to date, played 99 games for the first team at BVB (18 goals). In 2021, he won the European Championship title with the Germany U21s, a year later Moukoko was in the Germany World Cup squad and he made a brief appearance in the 2-1 defeat against Japan in Qatar. The now 20-year-old moved from BVB to Ligue 1 club OGC Nice for the 2024/25 season, initially on loan, before signing a five-year contract with FC Copenhagen this summer. So far, he has scored three goals for his new club, including a penalty to make it 2-0 against FC Basel, which secured Copenhagen's place in the league phase of the UCL.

Thomas Delaney also knows the Bundesliga inside out. The midfielder played for Werder Bremen, Borussia Dortmund and TSG Hoffenheim. At 34, the former Denmark international (81 caps) is the oldest player in the squad. Delaney came through the youth teams at FC Copenhagen and has won the Danish league title six times and the Danish cup five times with the club. To date, he has played almost 300 matches for FC Copenhagen, making him one of the players with the most appearances for the club. Striker Andreas Cornelius also has a wealth of European experience. Born in Copenhagen, he has played for Atalanta, Bordeaux and Parma among others. However, the 32-year-old played by far the most matches (255) for FC Copenhagen, where Cornelius has long enjoyed legendary status. With a total of 70 goals, he ranks third in the club's record goalscorer list. Like Delaney, Cornelius was also in the Denmark squad for the Euros in 2021 and a year later in the World Cup squad under the then national coach and now Bayer 04 head coach Kasper Hjulmand.

Problems

FC Copenhagen have yet to achieve any major success on the European stage. In the Champions League, the club has reached the Round of 16 twice, losing to Chelsea in 2011 and Manchester City in 2024. The White and Blues reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League once in 2020, losing 1-0 to Manchester United. The last two home games against German teams also ended in defeat - Copenhagen lost 2-1 to Heidenheim (in the Conference League) and Bayern Munich (in the Champions League) at the Parken Stadium. The overall home record against German clubs is disappointing: seven of the eight games have ended in defeat. Copenhagen only drew once. After 15 games without a win against teams from Germany, this year’s 3-1 victory at Heidenheim was their first ever victory.

Performers

Jacob Neestrup focuses on controlling games and a good balance between defence and attack. The coach, a native of Copenhagen, took over from Jess Thorup, who later became coach at FC Augsburg, in September 2022. Under Neestrup, FC Copenhagen won the league and cup double in his first season as head coach. That was achieved a second time this year. In 32 games, a solid defence led by centre-backs Gabriel Pereira and Pantelis Hatzidiakos conceded just 33 goals. Goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski, who was signed from PAOK in the summer, played a major part in the decisive 2-0 win over Basel with a number of impressive saves. Copenhagen only conceded one goal in their six qualifying matches. Neestrup also has a number of interesting players up front: Stalwarts Andreas Cornelius, Viktor Claesson and Jordan Larsson. Fast and technically strong wingers Mohammed Elyounoussi and Elias Achouri. And recently Youssoufa Moukoko, whose career at FC Copenhagen seems to be picking up speed again.