FCK advance to Champions League Q3

F.C. Copenhagen are safely into the third round of UEFA Champions League qualifying following a 1-0 victory at FC Drita on Tuesday.

Andreas Cornelius bagged the only goal three minutes before the break as the Lions rounded up a 3-0 aggregate win to advance from the second qualifying round.

It was the first of three rounds FCK need to get through in order to reach the 2025/26 Champions League league stage.

And boss Jacob Neestrup praised his side for a job completed, three days after the Superliga win at Vejle.

"Some Q2 matches are just about progressing," says Neestrup. "That's the only thing that counts because now we are sure to get into one of the three league stages.

"They showed again that they are able to make the matches close, just like they have done in previous European games. They also went in hard in tackles, and of course it didn't get any easier for them with the red card, which I think was completely okay, just like the two fouls for penalties they committed in Parken.

"There was just a short period in the second half where we let them into the match a little, but otherwise I think we were in firm control.

"The second half was the way it was, and for long periods it was something that just had to be overcome, but as I said it was just about advancing, and we've done that.

"We based it on a good home game, where we showed calm and patience and in the end could have won by more. Today there was never any excitement, and we are through with two wins and two clean sheets."

Around 100 Lions fans headed to Kosovo for the game and made a fair amount of noise at their end of the stadium in Pristina. Next up for FCK is a trip to Fredericia on Friday (6pm) in the Superliga, before Champions League qualifying returns next week against either Malmö or RFS.

"I'd like to say a big thank you to the approximately 100 FCK fans who were down here tonight," adds Neestrup.

"We all appreciate that very much, because it is not that easy to find a way here. I also spoke to a family who lives in Denmark and has a Kosovar background, but who were here visiting family. It was nice to meet them. And we could both see and hear the fans during the game."