Defeat in Portugal

Manchester City have suffered defeat in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie, going down 1-0 to Sporting Lisbon on Thursday night.

The current Premier League leaders were expected to dominate Sa Pinto’s side having brushed aside countrymen Porto in the last round, but a Xandao strike just after the interval meant that the hosts won the first leg.

Despite the setback, City coach Roberto Mancini is still expecting to in the draw for the quarter finals after next week’s second leg.

“It wasn’t a surprise because anything can happen in football, but I don’t think we deserve to lose,” the Italian told Sky Sports after the game.

“I am not worried. We will go through in the Europa League.

“We didn’t play very well but could’ve scored, then conceded a goal, so that is it. We have another 90 minutes and I think it will be a different game. We still have a big chance. Hopefully we will have a chance to score and I think we will score.

“I don’t think they had a lot of chances to score. Sporting had players behind the ball always, to play on the counter-attack.

“They had players behind the ball for this reason and I think we had more chances than them,” he concluded.

In an added blow for City, captain Vincent Kompany was forced from the field due to a calf injury, with the extent of the injury yet to be revealed.

City face Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday before entertaining Sporting at the Etihad Stadium next Thursday.