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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
PORTO  Helton Rolando, Otamendi, Maicon, Pereira Defour, Moutinho, C. Rodriguez Hulk, Djalma, J. Rodriguez | MANCHESTER CITY  Hart Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy Milner, Barry, Nasri Silva Balotelli, Aguero |
Porto new signing Marc Janko is ineligable for the game as he has already played in this season's Europa League for FC Twente, Lucho Gonzalez is similarly unable to play due to his involvement with Marseille's Champions League tilt.
Young striker Kleber is a major doubt due to illness and Emidio Rafael is out with a long-term injury but Vitor Pereira has an otherwise full squad to choose from.
Roberto Mancini has a fully fit and available squad to him, which in itself may pose the Italian a headache due to the plentiful options within his squad although Kolo and Yaya Toure are unlikely to feature so soon after their return from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Carlos Tevez is another to make a recent return to Manchester but the Argentine is also expected to miss out, Mario Balotelli may return to the side after missing his side's last four games and the former Inter striker will be hoping to continue the good form he showed before his absence.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Porto are unbeaten at home this season in all competitions, winning ten of their 13 games at Estadio Dragao this season.
- Hulk (pictured) is Porto's top scorer this season, netting eleven times in all competitions.
- The reigning Portuguese League champions currently sit second in the division, five points behind table topping Benfica.
- The reigning Portuguese League champions currently sit second in the division, five points behind table topping Benfica.
- Porto have played five competitive fixtures in 2012, winning three while drawing and losing the other two.
- This match is the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides.
- Manchester City lost two of their away games in the Champions League this season at Bayern Munich and Napoli but triumphed at Villarreal.
- Yaya Toure is City's top scorer in Europe this season with three goals, Mario Balotelli has netted twice and three members of the Citizens' squad have a single strike to their name.
- Of City's eight defeats in all competitions this season their only loss of more than one goal came in European competition, a 2-0 defeat at Bayern Munich in September.
Porto have been excellent at home this season but are yet to face a team with the attacking potency of City, and are likely to be stretched to the limit by the pace and skill of Roberto Mancini's front-line.
Both side's will be disappointed to be out of the Champions League but are likely to see the Europa League as a good opportunity to pick up some silverware so expect a tense game with neither side wanting to lose the game before the second leg at the Etihad Stadium just six days later. An away goal for the Citizen's will be huge.
Both side's will be disappointed to be out of the Champions League but are likely to see the Europa League as a good opportunity to pick up some silverware so expect a tense game with neither side wanting to lose the game before the second leg at the Etihad Stadium just six days later. An away goal for the Citizen's will be huge.
Editor's Prediction
Porto 1-1 Manchester City 
