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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
MANCHESTER CITY  Hart Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov De Jong, Yaya Toure Nasri, Silva, Balotelli Dzeko | VILLARREAL  Diego Lopez Zapata, Marchena, Gonzalo, Catala De Guzman, Bruno, Senna, Cani Valero Rossi |
Villarreal are without striker Nilmar for the foreseeable future after the Brazilian underwent an operation on a cyst in his right knee, and with Marco Ruben also a serious doubt through injury, Giuseppe Rossi is likely to start up front on his own.
Borja Valero, who returns from suspension after missing the first two matches, is likely to be employed just behind the Italian.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Manchester City and Villarreal have never faced each other in a competitive or
non-competitive match.
- Both of these sides have failed to win either of their first two matches in Group A.
- Villarreal have featured in the Champions League group stage twice, reaching the semi-finals in 2005-06 and the quarter-finals in 2007-08, both times losing to Arsenal.
- While Manchester City as a club may be inexperienced in the Champions League, many of their players most certainly are not – Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure have all won the competition with previous teams.
- Villarreal have scored just 10 goals to Manchester City’s 32 in all competitions so far this season.
- The Yellow Submarine are currently on a run of four matches without a win after drawing with Getafe 0-0 over the weekend.
Prediction
The testing situations of these two teams within Group A will likely result in a tense encounter, but nevertheless City should ultimately come out on top.
Editor's Prediction
Man City 2-0 Villarreal 
