City look to make Hulk angry and send a signal to Europa rivals

Manchester City take part in European football again tonight when they visit current Portuguese title holders and current Europa League winners FC Porto. Boosted by the return of Balotelli and both the Toures Roberto Mancini will be looking for City to push forward and silence the City critics of the last few weeks. 

Carlos Tevez did return to Manchester on Tuesday but was not included in the European squad and so therefore didn't travel with the rest of the squad. The City boss refuses to underestimate the Portuguese side though pointing out that they have quality throughout the squad and their recent exploits in Europe over the past few seasons in particular have made them serious European contenders. As a result a win would be fantastic, a score draw good and even a loss of one goal say 2-1 or 3-2 would even be acceptable to take to the Etihad in just under a weeks time. 

One thing is for sure, Manchester City will have to play a lot better tonight than they did for the majority of their other European games in the Champions League this season. Just because we have dropped out of the Champions League and now find ourselves in the 'second' European cup competition doesn't mean that the opposition are second rate. In fact to get past Porto, let alone win the thing, will take City moving into their early Premiership gear that saw them cruise to victories over everyone that faced them.

Last season on their way to the Europa Final FC Porto played Villarreal in the Semi Finals, beating them 5-1 at home. On route to the final they also beat Spartak and CSKA as well as Sevilla. This season though, like City they started in the Champions League only to fall after the group stage. Draws at home to Zenit and Apoel Nicosia with defeats away to the same two clubs meant that FC Porto didn't qualify and that must buoy Manchester City who narrowly failed in a much tougher group!

Add to that the fact that newly promoted team Gil Vicente beat them and bottom three club Feirense held them to a draw will certainly give the English side added encouragement to go for it and leave it all on the pitch at the end of 90 minutes and then finish the job in Manchester.    

That said you still would be a fool to discount Hulk and Joao Moutinho to be danger men for Porto which is why Kompany and company will have to be decisive and well organised to nullify the threat. 

Team Lineup prediction: Hart, Richards, Lescott, Kompany, Clichy, Pizzaro, Barry, Milner, Silva, Aguero and Balotelli.

Final score prediction 1-1