Alex Livesey
Manchester City will attempt to get their Champions League campaign back on track as they travel to Ajax looking for their first group stage win of the season
It will be a battle between two teams still looking for their first group stage wins as Manchester City travel to Amsterdam to face Ajax.
Ajax have no major injury concerns as they look for their first home victory over an English club since 1980 against Nottingham Forest. They did help knock Manchester United out of the group stages last season with their victory at Old Trafford. A repeat of that performance by the Dutch side could spell doom for City's hopes of advancing to the next round.
Manchester City's Champions League adventure has not gotten off to the start they'd hoped for. After squandering a late lead against Real Madrid, City needed a late PK from Mario Balotelli to salvage a point at home against Dortmund. Now, with only a single point after two matches, Roberto Mancini's side is in desperate need of a win.
The act of getting that win will be made tougher with several key players unavailable. Vincent Kompany is suspended and Kolo Toure is not registered for this stage, so Matija Nastasic is expected to partner with Joleon Lescott in the middle of the defense. At fullback, Maicon is unavailable due to injury. In the midfield, Javi Garcia, David Silva, Jack Rodwell are all out for the match as well. There are still plenty of options for Mancini but his bench will be limited by all the missing players.
Despite all these issues, City remains the favorites thanks in large part to the fact that Ajax, for lack of a better term, just aren't very good.
Ajax injuries and suspensions
Out: Nicolai Boilesen (hamstring), Kolbeinn Sigthórsson (shoulder), Thulani Serero (groin), Davy Klaassen (groin), Jody Lukoki (knee).
Manchester City injuries and suspensions
Out: David Silva (hamstring), Jack Rodwell (hamstring), Javi Garcia (thigh), Maicon (foot).
Silva, Rodwell, Garcia and Maicon all did not travel with the club to Amsterdam, while Vincent Kompany is serving a suspension for card accumulation. Ajax's only injuries are long-term and have been affecting the club for a while.
Match Date/Time: 9:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET
Venue: Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands
TV: FOX Soccer (U.S.), Sky Sports 2 (U.K.), Sportsnet World (Canada)
Online: FOX Soccer 2 Go (U.S.)
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