(Photo: Reuters/Phil Noble)Manchester City's Mario Balotelli scores a penalty kick against Borussia Dortmund during their Champions League Group D soccer match in Manchester October 3, 2012.Manchester City will host Ajax in what could be a make or break game for Manchester's Champions league dreams, as they are teetering on the brink of elimination.
Manchester City's manager, Roberto Mancini, will look to correct his team's disappointing result against Ajax in their meeting as they fell to the Dutch side 3-1.
Manchester City has had a disappointing start to their Champions League so far this year. After completing half of the matches for the group stage, City currently sits in last place, having just earned a single point out of a possible nine. They are close behind Ajax, who is in third place with a mere three points.
City will have to try and pull out a victory even with a few key players out due to injury. Micah Richards will be out for several weeks and David Silva is not quite fit after recovering from a hamstring injury. Midfielder James Milner is also doubtful, but Mancini should be able to compensate given City's depth at midfield.
This match will be even more important for City to win given that there remaining two matches will be against Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, who both are atop Group D.
For Ajax manager Franciscus de Boer, his task is to maintain the solid play that his team has exhibited in the Champions League so far and forget the disappointing loss to Vitesse in league play.
But his attempt may be hindered due to the fact that a few key players are still sidelined with injury. Nicolai Boilesen, Kolbeinn Sigthórsson, Thulani Serero, Davy Klaassen and Jody Lukoki are out and their absence could prove to be the deciding factor in this match should City win.
City will have to be prepared early on for Ajax, who has scored more goals in the first 15 minutes of a match than at any other time this year. Meanwhile, Manchester City has scored most of their goals between the 76th and 90th minute.
Kickoff for the match is at 2:45 ET and can be watched online here.
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