MAN CITY v Porto: The PREVIEW – City’s Probable Team

Sergio Aguero’s late winner at the Estádio do Dragão has given us the perfect opportunity to advance to the last sixteen stage of the Europa League, but before thoughts can turn towards the possibility of facing Sporting Lisbon or Legia Warsaw, we must finish the job at home to Porto. One of our most complete performances on our recent European travels secured victory in Portugal and although we are overwhelming favourites to progress, we must retain focus and not allow overconfidence to affect us.

Porto are the holders of this competition and have more than enough quality to pose problems at the Etihad Stadium. We saw in the first leg how capable they are of attacking at pace, stretching our backline with their movement and should they threaten consistently, we could be in for a nervy evening. All City need to is avoid defeat, and even a 1-0 loss would see us advance, but it is imperative that the Blues take to the field with a positive mindset. Should we score a couple of goals, Porto would need an improbable four.

With regards to team selection, Roberto Mancini and David Platt have hinted that there may be a few changes to the side which were so impressive last Thursday. Blackburn travel to face the Blues on Saturday in the Premier League so a rotation policy may be in operation. Pablo Zabaleta and Aleks Kolarov could replace Micah Richards and Gael Clichy, with James Milner and David Pizarro also searching for starting berths.

Further forward, Edin Dzeko has missed the past couple of games and will be desperate to start, but Mario Balotelli played well in the first leg and deserves to remain in the team. Sergio Aguero, whose winner was so valuable last week, started on the bench and he too will hope to be given a place in the side.

Here is the side Mancini could select:

Referee: Wolfgang Stark - He’s a very experienced German referee who has officiated numerous Champions League and international matches. His hobbies include ice hockey and motor biking.

Prediction: MAN CITY 2 – 1 – Porto – It could well be a repeat of the scoreline from the first leg. Porto need to attack which could leave plenty of gaps for City to exploit. Goals to be scored by Hulk, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli.

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