Manchester City are closing in on the Champions League last 16, after drawing 0-0 at FC Copenhagen, despite playing most of the match with 10 men.
Vicdeo review took centrestage in an action-packed first half at Copenhagen. City thought they had taken the lead 11 minutes in, with a goal-of-the-season contender from Rodri, but the strike was ruled out for handball in the build-up.
The video referee stepped in again moments later to help City win a penalty for another handball, but Riyad Mahrez saw his spot-kick saved by home goalkeeper Kamil Grabara.
A busy video official then asked the referee to take another look at a foul by Sergio Gomez on the edge of the penalty area on the half-hour mark, with the onfield official choosing to show the City fullback a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
The 10 men more than held their own in the second half, but with Liverpool to come in the English Premier League at the weekend and qualification for the knockout stage almost secured, City left top goalscorer Erling Haaland on the bench and saw out the draw.
Top of Group G with 10 points from four matches, City will clinch a place in the last 16, if Sevilla fail to beat Borussia Dortmund later on Tuesday, while Copenhagen are third on two points.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have completed the double over AC Milan to top Champions League Group E with a 2-0 victory at San Siro, a match the hosts also had to play with 10 men.
Looking to build on a 3-0 win over the Italians last week, Chelsea's task in Milan's famous old stadium was made all the more navigable, after home defender Fikayo Tomori was sent off against his former club, when conceding a 17th-minute penalty.
Jorginho converted from the spot, after Milan's protests had calmed down, before striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doubled Chelsea's lead in the 34th minute.
With the numerical disadvantage, chances were at a premium for Milan in the second half, fullback Sergino Dest wasting the best of them by blazing over from a good position.
Chelsea remained mostly untroubled, with the victory moving them to seven points from four matches - a point ahead of RB Salzburg, and three in front of Milan and Dinamo Zagreb.
Reuters
