Uefa Cup: Aalborg v Man City
Allborg v Man City
(0-2) first leg at Eastlands
Energi Nord Arena Date: March 19, Kick-off: 10pm Bulgarian time
Manchester city are travelling to Denmark on the back of a 2-0 win in the first leg at Eastlands against Aalborg. The Sheik boys are one leg through to the next round, should they not do almost the impossible and allow the solid two-goal advantage to slip away.
The English side overwhelmed Aalborg 2-0 from the first leg with goals from Felipe Caicedo and Shaun Wright-Phillips. City suffered a kick on the chin and a fall back to reality when they were punished by Chelsea and Michael Essien's mis-hit early goal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in the Premiership.
Complacency aside, City will be boosted by Robinho who has been declared fit for action and included in the squad after sustaining an ankle injury. Furthermore, Vincent Kompany is also likely to play.
The Citizens will be without Welsh striker Craig Bellamy and Nigel de Jong, the latter being ineligible for the match.
Man City manager Mark Hughes has warned his UEFA Cup glory hunters that one repeat of their weekend slip on March 19 could potentially be disastrous for their European campaign in Denmark and threaten their dreams of an Istanbul final.
Hughes has made the May 20 final in Turkey a paramount priority for the Citizens, and considering that his troops are only two halves (120 minutes at worst) away from reaching their first European quarter-final since losing to Borussia Moenchengladbach 30 years ago, this is likely to have a big impact on the nerves of his men. By the same token, he will not have to worry about motivating his players.
Hughes told the City website:
"Aalborg will be a real test. The key is to be positive and give one of our European performances. But it only takes a lapse of concentration like we saw at Chelsea and a goal can be scored. We don't want to give them any encouragement. We need to be solid and not allow any cheap goals, then at some point take the chances that I'm convinced we will create.
"But the guys realise the tie is very much alive, and that it only takes an early goal from Aalborg and then it becomes a really difficult night for us. When you look back at the first leg there was an opportunity for us to put it completely to bed. Because we weren't able to score that third goal, it's still very much alive".
(0-2) first leg at Eastlands
Energi Nord Arena Date: March 19, Kick-off: 10pm Bulgarian time
Manchester city are travelling to Denmark on the back of a 2-0 win in the first leg at Eastlands against Aalborg. The Sheik boys are one leg through to the next round, should they not do almost the impossible and allow the solid two-goal advantage to slip away.
The English side overwhelmed Aalborg 2-0 from the first leg with goals from Felipe Caicedo and Shaun Wright-Phillips. City suffered a kick on the chin and a fall back to reality when they were punished by Chelsea and Michael Essien's mis-hit early goal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in the Premiership.
Complacency aside, City will be boosted by Robinho who has been declared fit for action and included in the squad after sustaining an ankle injury. Furthermore, Vincent Kompany is also likely to play.
The Citizens will be without Welsh striker Craig Bellamy and Nigel de Jong, the latter being ineligible for the match.
Man City manager Mark Hughes has warned his UEFA Cup glory hunters that one repeat of their weekend slip on March 19 could potentially be disastrous for their European campaign in Denmark and threaten their dreams of an Istanbul final.
Hughes has made the May 20 final in Turkey a paramount priority for the Citizens, and considering that his troops are only two halves (120 minutes at worst) away from reaching their first European quarter-final since losing to Borussia Moenchengladbach 30 years ago, this is likely to have a big impact on the nerves of his men. By the same token, he will not have to worry about motivating his players.
Hughes told the City website:
"Aalborg will be a real test. The key is to be positive and give one of our European performances. But it only takes a lapse of concentration like we saw at Chelsea and a goal can be scored. We don't want to give them any encouragement. We need to be solid and not allow any cheap goals, then at some point take the chances that I'm convinced we will create.
"But the guys realise the tie is very much alive, and that it only takes an early goal from Aalborg and then it becomes a really difficult night for us. When you look back at the first leg there was an opportunity for us to put it completely to bed. Because we weren't able to score that third goal, it's still very much alive".