City boost chances with Villarreal double

Manchester City are involved in the toughest Champions League group but after a shaky start they beat Villarreal twice in succession to boost their chances of reaching the knock-out stages of the tournament.

Yaya Toure, who won the Champions League with Barce-lona, gave City a big push with the two goals he netted in the 3-0 win at El Madrigal.

Following their away victory at Villarreal, Roberto Mancini, the City manager, told reporters that if his side had to reach their goal and qualify to the Last 16 they would have the same chances of lifting the trophy as the big teams still in competition.

“This is our first time in the Champions League so we cannot compare ourselves with Barce-lona, Real Madrid or Manchester United,” Mancini said.

“They are all experienced teams at this level but we can go far if we make the knock-out stages.”

Group A
Manchester City: P4, W2, D1, L1, Goals 6-4, Pts 7.
Home vs Napoli 1-1 (Kolarov).
Away vs Bayern Munich 0-2.
Home vs Villarreal 2-1 (Mar-chena og, Aguero).
Away vs Villarreal 3-0 (Yaya Toure 2, Balotelli pen).

The Citizens are two points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich and two points ahead of Napoli.

Their next encounter in Naples could be the clincher but a draw will be welcomed at a difficult venue where 80,000 supporters will be urging their Serie A favourites on.

This will be City’s first time at the San Paolo. Before, they played three times in Italy in UEFA club competitions.

1976-77 UEFA Cup, first round: Juventus 0-2.
1978-79 UEFA Cup, third round: Milan 2-2.
2010-11 Europa League, group: Juventus 1-1.

Group C
Manchester United: P4, W2, D2, L0, Goals 8-4, Pts 8.
Away vs Benfica 1-1 (Giggs).
Home vs Basel 3-3 (Welbeck 2, Young).
Away vs Otelul Galati 2-0 (Rooney 2 pens).
Home vs Otelul Galati 2-0 (Valencia, Rooney).

The Red Devils, who entertain Benfica at Old Trafford next week, lead their group on a better goal difference from the same Portuguese team. Basel are third with five points.

This will be the eighth match in Europe involving Man. United and Benfica.

1965-66 European Cup, quarter final: Home 3-2, Away 5-1 (8-3 aggregate).
1967-68 European Cup, final: Wembley − 4-1 (after extra time).
2005-06 Champions League group match: Home 2-1, Away 1-2.
2006-07 Champions League group match: Home 1-0, Away 3-1.

Group E
Chelsea: P4, W2, D2, L0, Goals 9-2, Pts 8.
Home vs Bayern Leverkusen 2-0 (Luiz, Mata).
Away vs Valencia 1-1 (Lampard).
Home vs Genk 5-0 (Meireles, Torres 2, Ivanovic, Kalou).
Away vs Genk 1-1 (Ramires).

Chelsea play Bayer Leverkusen next at the BayArena. The Blues are undefeated and scored the highest number of goals from English sides so far.

They lead their section two points ahead of the Germans with Valencia are third on five points.

Chelsea’s away outcomes in Germany:
1965-66 Fairs Cup, quarter-final: 1860 Munich 2-2.
1999-00 Champions League, second round: Hertha Berlin 1-2.
2003-04 Champions League, second round: Stuttgart 1-0.
2004-05 Champions League, quarter-final: Bayern Munich 2-3.
2006-07 Champions League, group match: Werder Bremen 0-1.
2007-08 Champions League, group match: Schalke 0-0.

Group F
Arsenal: P4, W2, D2, L0, Goals 4-2, Pts 8.
Away vs Borussia Dortmund 1-1 (Van Persie).
Home vs Olyimpiakos 2-1 (Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santos).
Away vs Marseille 1-0 (Ramsey).
Home vs Marseille 0-0.

Arsenal have done pretty well in this competition despite a very shaky start to the season. They lead the group ahead of Marseille (seven points) and Borussia Dortmund (four).

Next week, the Gunners will welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Emirates Stadium for the second time.

The other meeting also came in the Champions League in a 2002-03 group match. The points were shared as both sides won their home tie.