City Stroll Into Europa League Knockout Rounds

On a blustery night in the north Manchester City booked themselves into the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League thanks to two goals from Mario Balotelli and an adam Johnson strike in a 3-0 win over Red Bull Salzburg.

Balotelli volleyed in Pablo Zabaleta's cross in the first half before tapping in in the second, Adam Johson capped the display with a superb individual goal with 12 minutes remaining.

Manchester City made eight changes from the side that drew with Stoke on Saturday, Kolo Toure, James Milner and Mario Balotelli the only players to survive but the team was nevertheless experienced and talented, Patrick Vieria drafted into the centre of midfield alongside Milner with Adam Johnson and Shaun Wright-Phillips starting on either wing. Pablo Zabaleta returned from a domestic suspension to take his place at left back. Joleon Lescott partnered Kolo Toure in central defence while Jerome Boateng started at right back. Mario Balotelli and Jo started up front for City, hoping to wreak havok on the Salzburg defence.

Carlos Tevez missed out on the squad completely but the Citizens bench was still packed with riches, David Silva and Emmanuel Adebayor being particularly attractive options should the game need to be changed. The Red Bulls, playing in navy blue and yellow, came out with a 4-1-4-1 formation, Uruguayan Joaquin Boghossian playing the lone striker role in what was a rather defensive formation for a team who had to win to stay in the Europa League.

Early on Salzburg came out and played the way their formation suggested, getting ten men behind the ball when defending and building slowly in attack.

The first shot of the game came from Mario Balotelli who, after a lung busting run down the left hand flank, cut inside and blazed the ball well over the crossbar.

Joleon Lescott nearly capitalised on a goal mouth scramble as Salzburg failed to clear the ball out of the area but his poke from a fine angle deflected behind for a corner.

Pablo Zabaleta had claims for a penalty after being tripped on the edge of the 18 yard box but the referee waved away his calls. Replays showed that though there was contact it was made outside of the area.

Patrick Vieiria played an inch perfect through ball for Mario Balotelli but he was only able to shoot straight at Tremmel in the Salzburg goal. But the Italian was not to be denied just a few minutes later.

Some intricate play around the edge of the area from Adam Johnson and Jo lead to the ball falling to the feet of Pablo Zabaleta who delivered a cross that Balotelli guided into the back of the net. With Juventus losing at Lech Poznan this meant that as it stood City would be into the hat for the last 32 of the Europa League.

Salzburg gradually pushed forward but the closest they came was a glancing header from centre back Afolabi from the edge of the six yard area and their next attack came to nothing, Joaquin Boghossian being called offside before fluffing his attempt at goal anyway.

A ball over the top of the Salzburg defence saw Mario Balotelli once again through on goal but when well placed to shoot the forward fell under a challenge from Schiemer with minimal contact made and the referee once again ignored City protests.

The away side tried to increase the pressure but commited few men forward and lacked the ability to work quickly around the City defence and as a result could only pepper the advertising hoardings either side of Shay Given's goal from distance.

With five minutes to go in the first half Shaun Wright-Phillips used a burst of pace to turn away from his man only to see his shot from the edge of the box end up at the feet of the Salzburg keeper.

Mario Balotelli was once again in the action as the end of the half neared when a high ball over the defence bounced sharply ahead of him and his attempt to lob the keeper looped off target but the chances continued to flow for City, James Milner the next to fire wide.

Boghassian was the first man to go into the book for arguing with the referee after Kolo Toure came sliding in to block a Salzburg cross, his sliding challenge ending up in the hands of Shay Given, but the referee ignored the Red Bull complaints and showed the Uruguayan striker yellow.

Salzburg started the second half brighter and pushed forward, earning two corners, though both deliveries failed to meet their own players, Stefan Hierlander pushing the ball wide after Salzburg pounced on a second ball.

City broke away after Simon Czimmoer fell in the centre circle, eventually being stretchered off, and twice flashed the ball across the face of goal, unable to find someone to finish the chances off.

The first chance of the second half that went to Mario Balotelli saw the former Inter man smash the ball into the side netting after impressive link up play between Boateng and Wright-Phillips on the right wing.

A jinking run into the area by Adam Johnson found the England international through and pushing to the byline where he drove a shot over the bar when he was better placed to cross.

The official behind the Salzburg goal was called into action when a cross from Jo met the arm of christian Leitgeb, only for penalty shouts to be once again waved away.

It was down to Mario Balotelli to double City's lead after Salzburg lost the ball just outside their own penalty area. Adam Johnson slipped a ball through to Patrick Vieria whose shot took a deflection to fall at Balotelli's feet for a tap in.

After 69 minutes Hierlander was again a threat to the City goal, his long range effort calling Shay Given into a diving save for the first time in the evening.

Emmanuel Adebayor was called into the action as a replacement for Mario Balotelli, who looked as if he was carrying a stomach muscle injury and was met with a rapturous round of applause from the City faithful as he left the pitch.

Salzburg continued to attempt strikes from long range, Jakob Jantsscher with a shot that whistled far away from Shay Given's goalmouth.

Another mazy run from Adam Johnson lead to a superb individual goal from the winger, making his way past three navy blue shirted defenders before placing the ball across the keeper for 3-0.

A wonderfully whipped cross field ball from Jo stretched the Salzburg defence before reaching Adeboyor who saw his first effort on goal pushed out for a corner by Tremmel.

Following a poor forward pass from goalkeeper Tremmel Wright-Pjillips was able to play Adebayor through, but the Togo international smashed the ball wide of the goal when well placed.

City ended the game as they started, pushing forward into Salzburg territory but there was to be no fourth as after two minutes of additional time referee Libor Kovarik blew for full time. Shortly after full time was called in Poland as Lech Poznan drew 1-1 with Juventus, having been in the lead, this meant that both Lech and Man City will find themselves in the last 32 of the Europa League come the new year.

Manchester City V Red Bull Salzburg Preview

Manchester City go into tonights Europa League game with the possibility of making it through to the knockout stage, assuming top of the group Lech Poznan can beat Juventus. But it won't be so easy for City as they face Salzburg with the Austrians knowing that anything less than a win will see them eliminated from the competition.

City go into the game unbeaten in five matches, two of which were wins against Fulham and West Brom, the three draws included two goalless games against Birmingham and in the Manchester derby. The latest result in the sequence was Saturday's 1-1 tie away at Stoke. The Sky Blues last defeat was at the start of November in the Europa League, going down humiliatingly by 3 goals to 1 against Lech in Poland. That was City's only loss in what has been an otherwise successful European campaign, the only other game they had failed to win was against Italian heavyweights Juventus, a match which ended in a 1-1 draw.

The Austrian club, rebranded as Red Bull Salzburg in 2005, have won their last three games in the Austrian Bundesliga, moving them up to third in the process, but have been without luck in Europa League group A thus far, claiming only two points from draws with Juventus, losing their other two matches to Lech and Manchester City. Their European adventure started with a 5-0 victory over Faroese minnows HB Torshavn in Champions League qualifying, though there was a shock in the second leg as a weakened side lost 1-0 to HB thanks to a goal from Simun Samuelsen. They passed through the next round, beating Omonia Nicosia 5-2 on aggregate before a 3-2 home loss to Hapoel Tel-Aviv and a draw in Israel relegated them to the Europa League group stages.

Roberto Mancini is in the middle of a run of three games in eight days and knows how tough the run will be as he told the BBC:

"This month will be very important for us as we have some difficult games against strong teams.

"During this spell we can understand what we must do for the future. It will be very tough because we play every three days.

"But first we must try to beat Salzburg and go through to the next stage."
Salzburg manager Huub Stevens is also looking ahead to his teams next domestic game, a Saturday clash with Austria Vienna. He told redbulls.com:

“Of course we will be giving our all against Man City and will try our luck in the Europa League, but I will have one eye on Saturday already this Wednesday as we really need to play Austria Vienna this Saturday with a fresh team.

Unfortunately we have to play again on Saturday; regrettably such kind of a fixture list is possible in Austria."

City will be able to choose from a nearly full squad, with Wayne Bridge and Emmanuel Adebayor returning from injury. Yaya Toure has recovered from the migraine he suffered against Stoke while Pablo Zabaleta, suspended domestically on Saturday, will be able to play in European competition.

For Salzburg defenders Christian Schwegler and Andreas Ulmer will be out, as well as forward Robin Nelisse and midfielder Nikola Pogrivac. Goalkeeper Eddie Gustaffson will also be missing.

City are selling tickets at £5 for adults and £1 for under 16s tonight in a bid to bring in extra fans.