UEFA Europa League preview: Manchester City – Red Bull Salzburg
Time running out for Mancini
The hundreds of millions that the Arab sheiks spent on Manchester City are yet to pay dividends. Roberto Mancini has been unable to get his troops to perform on consistent basis. For every good performance such as the win against Chelsea,
there will be a Birmingham to counter it. Roberto Mancini is under immense pressure on domestic front and a poor run of games may well cost him his job.
Mancini will be glad to get his mind away from the nerve-wrecking atmosphere of Premier League football and move into European mode where his side is level on points with group leaders Lech Poznan. While the Polish will be playing a difficult
game against Juventus, City will have the chance to leapfrog the Kolejorz. Also, should City register a victory and Juve fail to take the three points, Manchester City will go through.
As things stand, City are second in the group with seven points from four games. Even though the Eastlanders are level on points with Lech Poznan, City’s poor head-to-head record has cost them the top spot. However, with likes of Mario
Balotelli, David Silva and Carlos Tevez on the team sheet, Mancini will be confident of taking the three points.
Early Exit looms
Red Bull Salzburg had an impressive season on European front last year but things have taken a turn for worst. Die Bullen recorded six victories in group stages last season but their form has left a lot to be desired in the 2010/2011 campaign.
The last time these two sides met was in Salzburg where City ran out 2 – 0 victors. The Austrian Champions are bottom of the group with two points from opening four games. Even though both the points were taken off Juventus, the results
are still not good enough for qualification.
Die Bullen require two victories from their last two games in order to make it to the next round. The task is mathematically possible but highly improbable keeping in mind the quality of the oppositions.
Key Players
Mario Balotelli
The young Italian International is yet to repay the 25 million Euros paid for his services. A player of prodigious talent, Balotelli will want to put an injury plagued season behind him and return to his dominant self. The player on his
day can be a world beater and one can expect fireworks from him tonight.
Gerhard Tremmel
With Manchester City attack boasting of players such as James Milner, David Silva and Mario Balotelli, Gerhard Tremmel is in for a long night in Manchester. Die Bullen are not the best side when it comes to defence as a goal difference
of -4 points out. Tremmel will need to keep a clean sheet if his side are to register an upset tonight.
Prediction
Nearly all of Mancini’s players are regular International and as such, the squad should make easy work of Die Bullen. For all the talent, Eastlanders have shown disappointing inconsistency and Mancini will want to address the issue or
risk getting the sack. However, having said that, the quality in City ranks will be too much for Red Bull Salzburg. Manchester City to register a 3 – 1 victory!
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