Manchester City Vs Red Bull Salzburg Half-Time Update

Manchester City have enjoyed a frosty first 45 minutes, as they currently lead Salzburg by one goal to nil.

Both Carlos Tevez and Yaya Toure have been left out completely, meaning Patrick Vieira and Jo both start, as does Mario Balotelli. Shay Given has been handed a rare start in goal for Manchester City, having fallen behind the pecking order to Joe Hart in recent times.

City, celebrating Mancini’s 50th game in charge of the club, have been in control for the majority of the first half, with early chances for Jo and Balotelli testing goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel. The only goal so far came after 17 minutes after a pin-point cross found the left boot of Balotelli, who volleyed home with ease.

The English club have continued to show why they are unbeaten in five Premier League games, freezing out their Austrian opposition with quick, first-time passing in uneasy conditions. Playing two out-and-out wingers in Wright-Phillips and Johnson has so far worked wonders for Man City, stretching the full backs and allowing gaps to appear for Milner to exploit. The England midfielder could have made it 2-0 just before half time, but his right foot shot was wide. Unless Salzburg manager Huub Stevens makes some tactical second-half changes, this approach could continue to work for City, and a Milner 2nd half goal is priced at 12/5.

6ft 5in Red Bull striker Joaquín Boghossian has had a quiet first half, with little opportunities falling his way. The giant Uruguayan will be looking to create a good impression for his new club, as he looks to claim his first cap for his country. His teammate David Mendes Da Silva will be a familiar name to Arsenal fans; his injury-time volley last October in the Champions League saw AZ Alkmaar snatch a point against the London club. Current odds of around 50/1 are available should the holding midfielder be able to score the last goal again tonight.

MCFC: Given, Boateng, K Toure, Lescott, Zabaleta, Wright-Phillips, Vieira, Milner, Johnson, Jo, Balotelli

Substitutions: Hart, Richards, Adebayor, Kolarov, Barry, Silva, De Jong

FCRBS: Tremmel, Schiemer, Sekagya, Afolabi, Hinteregger, Mendes Da Silva, Hierlander, Leitgeb, Cziommer, Jantscher, Boghossian

Substitutions: Walke, Augustinussen, Zarate, Svento, Alan, Ngwat-Mahop, Offenbacher