Man City May Have To Settle For A Draw Against Villarreal
Out of all the English sides in this year's Champions League Man City still look the least likely to qualify, they were handed a very tough group and if not for a last minute Sergio Aguero winner in the first match against tonight's opposition Man City would be in a perrilous position. Man City are still outside the top two in Group A but they will be hopeful of a second ever Champions League win against a team who has lost all three games in the competition this season.
Mario Balotelli is set to be involved in the Champions League for Man City for first time, the Italian has served a three match European ban after his sending off in the Europa League last season. Owen Hargreaves is injured but isn't in the Champions League squad anyway whilst Carlos Tevez will not feature, although Roberto Mancini has suggested that the Argentinean could still have a future at the club.
Man City needed plenty of luck in order to record a victory over Villarreal in their last Champions League match and things should be much tougher for Roberto Mancini's men in Spain. Villarreal are not only struggling in the Champions League this season, they are in the bottom half of La Liga and have won just twice so far, although they have only lost one league match at home this season. Man City are probably the more likely team to win but this game has all the hallmarks of a difficult tie for the away side and the draw looks the best bet in this match.