Can City reach the last 16?
After breaking their long trophy drought last season by lifting the FA Cup, Manchester City have a chance to progress in the Europa League this evening when they take on Porto at the Etihad Arena. The game has been brought forward because Manchester United are also at home at the same stage of the competition. City dug out an impressive 2-1 victory away to Porto at the Dragao where Porto rarely lose.
There have been significant rights of passage with this City side and their progression has been clear to see. Qualifying for the Champions League was a big step as was winning the Cup. Despite not qualifying from their group they did defeat Bayern Munich 2-0 and winning 2-1 in Porto shows that they are gradually acquiring European experience.
Whether that will come soon enough for them to lift the Europa League is open to debate but they should have the firepower to see off Porto this evening. It has come as a shock to see Carlos Tevez return to City but clearly no other club wanted him badly enough to pay the asking price. The Europa League is a tough competition to win and you cannot just say that United and City will be favourites. Valencia will also have a strong say in where this trophy goes to at the end of the season.
