Manchester City vs Aris Thessaloniki Half-Time Update
- By A.D. Winn on February 24, 2011 20:51 GMT
Manchester City look to be continuing the theme of British sides progressing to the next round of the Europa League, leading Aris comfortably at half time 2-0.
The City of Manchester Stadium saw five goals at the weekend, and look set to see a few more tonight - City had a couple of chances to grab an early lead as well, with two similarly placed free-kicks were placed over by the left boot of Kolarov within a matter of minutes.
The opening goal came just moments later – a stumbling mistake by Aris defender Lazaridis saw Edin Dzeko run free and calmly slot the ball right-footed beyond the Aris goalkeeper and inside the far post after just eight minutes.
The second goal came minutes later; a wonderful pass from Carlos Tevez found Dzeko free and in space again, this time turning onto his left foot finding the same corner of the goal, with Sifakis helpless.
The bad news for the Citizens was that Vincent Kompany was forced to be replaced with ten minutes of the half remaining – a suspected groin complaint meant he was swapped with Pablo Zabaleta.
Blues boss Roberto Mancini has made four changes from the side that beat Notts County in the FA Cup at the weekend – defenders Vincent Kompany and Jerome Boateng replace Micah Richards and Kolo Toure. Pablo Zabaleta is moved to the bench, whilst Patrick Vieira has been left out, with Gareth Barry returning to the starting 11.
The Italian manager has made a bold statement in starting captain Tevez alongside Dzeko and Balotelli for the first time, making up three of the front four alongside David Silva, in a 4-2-3-1 formation. They face a side who have won just one of their last eight games.
Aris are unchanged from the first leg.
City are unbeaten in ten European games at the City of Manchester Stadium, having only lost one European home match since moving from Maine Road. They remain clear favourites to progress here.
Man City: Hart, Kompany (Zabaleta), Kolarov, Boateng, Lescott, Barry, Silva, Yaya Toure, Dzeko, Tevez, Balotelli
Substitutes: Taylor, Kolo Toure, Wabara, Wright-Phillips, Vieira, Jo
Aris: Sifakis, Neto, Guiaro, Michel, Lazaridis, Vangeli, Toja, Faty, Prittas, Bobadilla, Sakata
Substitutes: Juanma, Oriol, Kaznaferis, Mendrinos, Cesarec, Koke
