Lisbon, March 9 (IANS) Manchester City's quest for Europa League glory received a setback when the English Premier League leaders lost 0-1 to Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Brazilian centre-back Xandao claimed the game's only goal with a clever back-heel in the 51st minute to give Ricardo Sa Pinto's side a narrow advantage ahead of the second leg at the City of Manchester Stadium next week.
"This result was not a surprise, anything can happen in football. I don't think we deserved to lose," Xinhua quoted City manager Roberto Mancini as saying.
"We did not play well. We had chances to score, but we didn't take them. It will be a different game in Manchester. When we have chances to score, we will score."
The victory Thursday extended Sporting's unbeaten European home record to 10 games, while Mancini was left to rue an injury to captain Vincent Kompany that forced the Belgian centre-back to leave the field early in the game.
"We have to wait one or two days to know the exact extent of his injury, but it is a problem with his calf," said the Italian. "I hope to have Kompany back in 10 days or two weeks, but we have other solutions."
Brazilian centre-back Xandao claimed the game's only goal with a clever back-heel in the 51st minute to give Ricardo Sa Pinto's side a narrow advantage ahead of the second leg at the City of Manchester Stadium next week.
"This result was not a surprise, anything can happen in football. I don't think we deserved to lose," Xinhua quoted City manager Roberto Mancini as saying.
"We did not play well. We had chances to score, but we didn't take them. It will be a different game in Manchester. When we have chances to score, we will score."
The victory Thursday extended Sporting's unbeaten European home record to 10 games, while Mancini was left to rue an injury to captain Vincent Kompany that forced the Belgian centre-back to leave the field early in the game.
"We have to wait one or two days to know the exact extent of his injury, but it is a problem with his calf," said the Italian. "I hope to have Kompany back in 10 days or two weeks, but we have other solutions."
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