With the first leg poised at 2-2, City go into this UEFA Cup clash with the advantage having scored both goals away from home.
Vital Quotes:
Mark Hughes said of the UEFA Cup clash against FC Copenhagen: ‘I think our squad is big enough and strong enough and we want to get the job done.
‘I would rather start the game strongly and hopefully put the game to bed quite early, then make changes.
‘That is better than going the other way when you think you can keep people in reserve and hope you don’t need them.
‘Invariably at some point you do need them so I would rather choose this option when it comes to selecting my team.
‘When you are in Europe and you are playing Thursday and then Sunday in the Premier League sometimes you think it is more trouble than it is worth.
‘But when you actually go out of a competition such as the UEFA Cup then there is a gap in your programme and a feeling of loss.
‘I do not want that to happen at City, especially as they have not made that many excursions into Europe.
‘From a development point of view we need to stay in the competition as long as we can.’
Manchester City FC Team News:
Vincent Kompany has been having injections to take away the pain from a toe injury and is a worry going into the game, although he is expected to start. Shaun Wright-Phillips is also expected to start after an ankle injury.
After a supurb performance against Liverpool, Nigel De Jong is forced to sit this one out after being cup-tied playing for Hamburg in the early stages of their UEFA Cup campaign.
Valeri Bojinov is still building up his fitness levels and is not expected to feature.
Player to watch: Shaun Wright-Phillips
After running the show in the last game, Shaun Wright-Phillips will be looking to make the most of his game time after being suspended in the league.
FC Copenhagen Team News:
FC Copenhagen keeper Jesper Christiansen will be hoping not to make any more blunders like the one which saw Nedum Onouha’s tame strike into the back of the net.
Brazilian striker Cesar Santin is expected to start again after being declared fit and recovering from his hair band injury in the previous game.
Player to watch: Martin Vingaard
Martin Vingaard arrived at the Danish club in January and impressed during his first start for his new club by scoring in the dying seconds to claim a draw against Manchester City.
Match Facts & Stats
This is Manchester City’s second Danish opponents having previously played FC Midtjylland.
If City overcome Ståle Solbakken’s FC Copenhagen, they are likely to face a third Danish opponent in Aalborg BK after their 3-0 demolition of Deportivo La Coruna.
Ref Watch:
Selçuk Dereli oversees this game. The 39-year-old Turk is renowned for allowing the game to freely flow and hardly ever brandishes yellow or red cards.
Match Prediction:
With confidence on the back of two away draws, the latter being at Anfield, City will be going into this game eager to progress. I expect them to win at COMS, 2-0.
Next Fixtures:
Away at West Ham on Sunday 1st March 2009 with a 12.30pm kickoff.