Greek side Aris holds star-studded City to draw
Source: Agencies |
February 17, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ARIS held Manchester City to a 0-0 draw in the last 32 of the Europa League on Tuesday, allowing the Greek team to maintain a 40-year unbeaten European home record.
City fielded Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli and David Silva in the first leg, an attacking lineup that cost more than US$150 million combined.
Dzeko came closest when his second-half header from Gareth Barry's cross was tipped over by goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis.
Dzeko met Aleksandar Kolarov's cross with a close-range effort that was also denied by Sifakis in the first half.
"We had control of the game but this pitch was difficult to play on, and I think if we had scored in the first half with Dzeko, things may have changed," Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said.
"But they defended with nine or 10 men behind the ball, so it was difficult."
City, which hasn't won a major title since the 1976 League Cup, hosts Aris in the second leg on February 24. "At Eastlands we will have a good pitch to play better football with the ball on the floor," Mancini said.
Kenny Dalglish was to manage Liverpool in Europe for the first time at Sparta Prague late yesterday.
The 59-year-old Scot's first six-year reign in charge of the Reds started after the 1985 European Cup final, when a deadly riot led to them being banned from continental competitions for six years.
Dalglish returned to the club a month ago and the Europa League is his team's last realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.
Liverpool is sixth in the English Premier League standings.
City fielded Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli and David Silva in the first leg, an attacking lineup that cost more than US$150 million combined.
Dzeko came closest when his second-half header from Gareth Barry's cross was tipped over by goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis.
Dzeko met Aleksandar Kolarov's cross with a close-range effort that was also denied by Sifakis in the first half.
"We had control of the game but this pitch was difficult to play on, and I think if we had scored in the first half with Dzeko, things may have changed," Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said.
"But they defended with nine or 10 men behind the ball, so it was difficult."
City, which hasn't won a major title since the 1976 League Cup, hosts Aris in the second leg on February 24. "At Eastlands we will have a good pitch to play better football with the ball on the floor," Mancini said.
Kenny Dalglish was to manage Liverpool in Europe for the first time at Sparta Prague late yesterday.
The 59-year-old Scot's first six-year reign in charge of the Reds started after the 1985 European Cup final, when a deadly riot led to them being banned from continental competitions for six years.
Dalglish returned to the club a month ago and the Europa League is his team's last realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.
Liverpool is sixth in the English Premier League standings.
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