UEFA Cup Preview: Manchester City - Copenhagen

Manchester City have two away goals to protect going into their second leg UEFA Cup clash with FC Copenhagen...

Kick-Off: Thursday, 26 February, 19:45 GMT
City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is arguably the only Premier League manager to go into his UEFA Cup clash with a positive viewpoint as his League Manager colleagues Martin O'Neill and Harry Redknapp are both - by their own admissions - prioritising their respective league campaigns.
It is a catch-22 for many a manager. One spends a long and arduous season trying to secure a domestic trophy and/or a respectable league finish so that European qualification is assured, but once the crucial knock-out stages rear their head toward the business end of the season their respective ambitions for the present year distort projects abroad.
For Aston Villa a rare and elusive opportunity to qualify for a Champions League place, usually monopolised by Chelsea; Manchester United; Liverpool; and Arsenal; is a distinct possibility. While Redknapp's Spurs have their own battle trying to ward off a relegation battle before it's too late.
Mark Hughes and Manchester City on the other hand are mid-table. They are nine points clear of the drop-zone, and 13 points shy of a certain UEFA Cup spot. Europe therefore is an attractive proposition.
The Citizens though have made things harder for themselves considering their capitulation in Copenhagen. They could have had a clear two goal advantage, but they failed to see the game out and allowed their Danish counterparts a way back into the tie. The good news for the Mancunians though is that they have two away goals, something that has been, and will continue to prove to be, a valuable commodity in continental competition.


FORM GUIDE

Manchester City

Liverpool 1 – 1 Manchester City (Premier League)
FC Copenhagen 2 – 2 Manchester City (UEFA Cup)
Portsmouth 2 – 0 Manchester City (Premier League)
Manchester City 1 – 0 Middlesbrough (Premier League)
Stoke City 1 – 0 Manchester City (Premier League)

Copenhagen

Copenhagen 2 - 2 Manchester City (UEFA Cup)
Club Brugge 0 – 1 FC Copenhagen (UEFA Cup)
Copenhagen 5 – 2 AC Horsens (Danish Ligaen)
Copenhagen 1 – 1 Rosenberg (Danish Ligaen)
Aalborg 3 – 1 Copenhagen (Danish Ligaen)


TEAM NEWS

Manchester City
Vincent Kompany has been given an injection and may play through the pain barrier.
Nigel de Jong is not available as he was not registered. Shaun Wright-Phillips though is available as his ban is for domestic competition only.
Available players: Given, Hart, Schmeichel, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Kompany, Bridge, Garrido, Zabaleta, Elano, Caicedo, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Fernandes, Robinho, Bellamy, Vassell, Weiss, Logan.
Last XI (versus Liverpool): Given, Richards, Dunne, Onuoha, Bridge, Zabaleta, De Jong, Kompany, Ireland, Bellamy, Robinho.

Copenhagen
Striker Cesar Santin will require a late fitness test in order to assess his availability.
Last XI (versus Man City): Christiansen, Pospech, Laursen, Antonsson, Wendt, Kvist, Kristensen, Norregaard, Hutchinson, Almeida, Santin.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Manchester City
He is arguably a fore-running candidate for Premier League Player of the Season, so Copenhagen will need to watch out for the positive playmaking credentials of Stephen Ireland who, on his day, has the potential to destroy any side.

Copenhagen
If Copenhagen are to find as much joy in Manchester as they did in the home leg then Almeida will need to again be on top form. He had a leg and a head in both goals as he played in Kvist, as well as nodding one in himself with his noodle.


PREDICTION

Manchester City 3 – 2 Copenhagen

Alan Dawson, Goal.com