Filed under: Manchester City, Europa League (UEFA), Football, Match Previews
EUROPA LEAGUE: EASTLANDS, THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1800 GMTIt is six years since Manchester City overturned a 2-0 deficit to win a game but that is the mission facing Roberto Mancini's side as they look to keep their Europa League dream alive.
Undone by goals from Andrei Shevchenko and Oleg Gusev in Ukraine, City have it all to do in front of their own supporters in the deciding leg.
Mancini's side can already look forward to a Wembley FA Cup semi-final with neighbours United next month and are well placed to secure a spot in next season's Champions League.
But while a dignified exit from Europe's second-tier competition would not be a disaster for the world's richest club, Mancini has made it clear he wants to keep going in Europe.
Recovering the deficit would certainly provide City with a major boost ahead of Sunday's huge game at Chelsea.
Mancini's men will then have time to regroup over the international break before the start of the run-in which will decide whether the Italian's first full season in charge at Eastlands has been a success or not.
Shaun Wright-Phillips is the only player at the club who can recall Kevin Keegan's team falling 2-0 behind at Norwich in February 2005 before goals by Antoine Sibierski and Robbie Fowler (2) earned City a thrilling victory.
It is that kind of spirit that Mancini is demanding from his players against Kiev.
Key Match-Up: Joe Hart v Andrei Shevchenko: Former Chelsea striker Shevchenko hurt City in the first leg with his goal and all round attacking threat. If Mancini's side are to have any chance of advancing then Shevchenko and City keeper Hart have both got to have quiet nights.
Form Guide: While a jaded City laboured to an unspectacular FA Cup win over Reading just 60 hours after arriving back from Ukraine, Kiev followed up their victory over Mancini's team with a 2-0 success against Vorskla Poltava.
Odds: Manchester City 4/9, Dynamo Kiev 13/2, Draw 16/5.
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FHUK Galleries - WAGS: Still Relevant? | CHEEKY: Things Fans Write | KITS: Best Of The Lot | KITS: And The Worst
MANCHESTER CITY:
Vincent Kompany believes City can salvage their European ambitions by staging a stunning second leg fightback at Eastlands.
Midfielder Kompany blamed the team's failure to deal with the conditions in the first leg which has left City requiring two goals just to get back on level terms.
But the Belgium international believes all is not lost and is urging City fans to roar the team towards a memorable victory.
"We were caught by surprise in the first leg and did not deal with the conditions well enough," said Kompany.
"Don't get me wrong. We knew Dynamo Kiev were a good team. But we were away in Ukraine and they were difficult conditions. You have to adapt to them.
"Obviously it was not a good result but we've got them at home now. We expect to do the same to them as they did to us - if not more.
"We are confident and know the fans are going to give us support. We should keep our heads and use the fact that the crowd will act like a 12th man for us."
Strategy: Mancini is urging supporters to show patience as City look to claw their way back into the tie. It is over five hours since they last conceded a goal at home and the performances of Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards at the back will be as critical as those of Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko who are under pressure to fire the team back into the tie.
Injury Update: James Milner, who has been limited to just five appearances in two months due to a hamstring problem, could be on the bench while Nigel de Jong will undergo a late fitness test on a sore ankle. Adam Johnson is nearing a return following a damaged ankle but this game has come too soon.
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