Now we know who City find themselves up against in this season’s Europa League. Hopefully this will be a stepping stone to Dublin.
With strong contingents from La Liga and Serie A it was important for City to evade team’s like Juventus, Atletico de Madrid, Sevilla and even Sporting Lisbon all of which were waiting for us in Pot 1 and I suppose it was inevitable that the ‘La Veccia Signora’ was to be one of City’s adversaries this time round.
A tough task against the three-time winners of the UEFA Cup. Some of you will remember the ties in 1976 when Gentile, Cuccuredu, Scirea, Tardelli, Bettega and Causio came to Maine Road and spent the evening writhing around on the floor playing ‘pass the booking’ and systematically chopping us down every time we tried to play any football. We won 1-0 at home but were beaten 2-0 in Turin.
Brian Kidd will have fond memories of his goal but not of the treatment meted out by Juventus.
Next out were Salzburg. I cannot recall City playing against them in European Competition so a new experience heads our way there.
Finally, out came Lech Poznan. Those of us who went to Groclin Dyskobolia back in 2003 might have been pleased at female Army Officers giving us a warm welcome in Poznan which at the time was boasting a brand new airport. We will however want to forget the match which ended with us going home, eliminated on away goals.
I don’t see any repeat of that this time round.
The competition looks a particularly strong one this season even before it is ruined by the parachute teams from the Champions League and our group looks particulary challenging.
It is however a good preparation for our ambitions to play in the Champions League and the tests ahead will not be easy.
So – some interesting trips away for the Blue Mooners and we await the ‘order of play’ which no doubt will come later today…VMC will bring you that informaion from MCFC with our latest Dublin Here We Come Update as soon as we get it…
The last time around with The Old Lady.
34 Years ago, no less….
UEFA Cup First Round, First Leg, 15th September 1976: Manchester City 1 Juventus 0
UEFA Cup First Round, Second Leg, 29th September 1976: Juventus 2 Manchester City 0
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