Date: Tuesday, September 17 Venue: Stadion Eden, Prague Kick-Off: 19:45 Can Manchester City finally crack the Champions League Group Stages and get of to a winning start against Plzen?
Team News
Manchester City could welcome captain Vincent Kompany back into the side against Czech side Plzen in the Champions League tonight. Kompany has been absent ever since his side's 4-0 win over Newcastle on the opening day of the Premier League season after sustaining a groin injury. Fellow defender Martin Demichelis, who was signed from Atletico Madrid earlier this month, remains sidelined with a knee injury, however. David Silva, Gael Clichy and Micah Richards are also doubtful. (BBC)
Key Stats
Little-known Czech side Plzen are top of their league with six wins in their opening eight games. Plzen are making their second appearance in the Champions League Group Stages in three years after defeating Slovenian side Maribor in a play-off. In 2011, the Czech outfit finished third in a group containing Barcelona and AC Milan, and held the latter to a 2-2 draw in their final game in the competition. Manchester City recorded the worst performance by an English club in last season's competition after racking up just three points, the lowest tally since 1995-96. The Citizens have never qualified from the Champions League Group Stages. However, new manager Manuel Pellegrini took Malaga to the quarter-finals of the competition last season.
Likely Line-Ups
Plzen Kozacik, Prochazka, Limbersky, Hejda, Rajtoral, Petrzela, Kolar, Horvath, Horava, Kovarik, Bakos Manchester City Hart, Zabaleta, Nastasic, Kompany, Kolarov, Navas, Fernandinho, Toure, Milner, Dzeko, Aguero Now click "Next" for our Match Preview.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
