mancityblues.com

K/O THURSDAY, 26TH FEBRUARY 7.45PM

A very interesting tie, this, with City fresh from a tough battle at Anfield against very fierce opposition. This game against a more, (what's the word...sedate? patient? ...I dunno), cautious Copenhagen will see both sides fancying their chances to progress in the competition. Who wants it more? We'll see on the night. Who will win? I don't think Copenhagen will score at all, and City will come out comfortable winners, heartened by the experience at Anfield where they showed a new-found belief in their team capabilities, and of course the home advantage.

It's amazing how fast things can change, if we had done our ususal trick of staying on the bus at Anfield, hiding under the seats, confidence going in to Thursday's game would be low, yet City were within ten minutes of winning that game, and only a very lucky goal from Kuyt stopped us taking all three points.

An attacking home display on thursday with the confidence of the nicely gelling midfield new boys should see us through, and a clean sheet from Given is due, surely.

I wonder if we'll hear the same disrespectful rubbish from Solbakken this week?

Some facts from Uefa.com

• København have now played five European games against English clubs, recording one win, two draws and two defeats.

• Their previous games in England ended in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea and a 3-0 defeat against Manchester United

• København's well-travelled winger Jesper Grønkjær played for Chelsea from 2000 to 2004. In his final campaign at Stamford Bridge, the winger shared a dressing room with City's January signing Wayne Bridge.

• København are unbeaten in five UEFA Cup away games this season, having recorded four wins and a draw on their travels.

• København's leading UEFA Cup scorer is Cesar Santin, who has hit three goals since the first round of this season's competition.

• City's Micah Richards and Pablo Zabaleta are within a booking of a one-match ban, as are København's Thomas Kristensen, William Kvist and Zdeněk Pospěch.

• The winners of this tie will meet Aalborg BK or RC Deportivo La Coruña in the Round of 16 on 12 and 18/19 March, playing the first leg at home.

Come on City!!