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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
SPORTING LISBON  PatricioArias, Polga, Xandao, Insua Carrico, Schaars, FernandezIzmailov, Ribas, Capel | MANCHESTER CITY  HartKolo Toure, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy Milner, De Jong, Barry Silva, Dzeko, Aguero |
Top scorer Ricky van Wolfswinkel is likely to miss out through injury making space up front for Uruguayan Sebastian Ribas. Elias is ineligible for the Europa League while Matias Fernandez is a potential alternative, with Andre Carillo another option in attack.
Colombian Santiago Arias was preferred to Portugal international Joao Pereira at right back in their last game and may feature again. Xandao could appear at centre back with Oguchi Onyewu and Alberto Rodriguez absent due to knee injuries. Midfielder Fito Rinaudo will also miss out after recurrence of an ankle injury.
Sergio Aguero and David Silva were rested for City’s match against Bolton at the weekend, while James Milner and Edin Dzeko only played for part of the second half, indicating that all are likely to feature on Thursday.
Kolo Toure is likely to start at right back due to injuries to Micah Richards and Pablo Zabaleta with Nigel de Jong expected to come into midfield in place of the suspended Yaya Toure.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Sporting have been inconsistent this season, and they lie 4th in the Portuguese Liga, 14 points behind leaders Porto and 11 behind joint second place Benfica and Braga. This led to the dismissal of Domingos Paciencia from his position as coach in February.
- They suffered their first defeat under their new manager, former Portugal forward Ricardo Sa Pinto, on Saturday 1-0 away at Vitoria Setubal on Saturday, after having won the previous three games.
- The Lions do however have a strong home record at their Jose Alvalade Stadium and have won every home tie against European opposition this season, winning their Group D ahead of Lazio.
- The club won the Cup Winners Cup in 1964 and were runners-up in the 2005 UEFA Cup, losing the final 3-1 to CSKA Moscow in their own stadium after going a goal ahead.
- The two sides have never met in a competitive game, but Sporting beat Manchester City 2-0 in a friendly match in July 2010.
- Manchester City are two points clear of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table, have won their last 6 games conceding just one goal in the process.
- The Blues have scored both the most goals in the Premier League with 69 and conceded the fewest with 19, and have lost only two games at the Etihad Stadium this season.
- Roberto Mancini’s side progressed through to the Europa League’s 2nd knock out round with an emphatic 6-1 aggregate victory over current Portuguese league leaders FC Porto.
- City entered the the competition after finishing 3rd in the Champions League Group Stages behind Bayern Munich and Napoli.
- The club previously won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970.
Editor's Prediction
Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Manchester City FC
