Source: SKY_Sports
Hamburg v Man City preview
Manchester City's Uefa Cup adventure has handed them a tricky tie against Hamburg at the quarter-final stage.
The Blues head to Germany for the first leg of their last-eight contest on Thursday as they prepare to put their European credentials to the test.
Mark Hughes' side required a penalty shoot-out to see off AaB Aalborg in the last round and will need to raise their game considerably if they are to continue their quest for silverware.
Hamburg, who are managed by former Tottenham boss Martin Jol, have enjoyed a productive season to date and will fancy their chances of claiming an English scalp.
They currently sit joint-top of the Bundesliga, with Wolfsburg only keeping them off the summit by virtue of a better goal difference, while they also remain in the hunt for the German Cup.
Jol's team have won each of their last four games in all competitions and overcame Turkish giants Galatasaray in the last round of the Uefa Cup.
Hamburg will also be aware of City's troubles on the road this season, with the Blues having consistently struggled away from Eastlands.
They did, however, claim an impressive 2-0 victory over Schalke on their last visit to German soil and will be hoping to replicate that result at the AOL Arena.
Hamburg's cause has been hindered by the news that they are set to be without a number of key players.
Bastian Reinhardt, Thimothee Atouba, Romeo Castelen, Maxim Choupo-Moting, Guy Demel and Alex Silva are all sidelined through injury and will miss out on midweek action.
However, Paolo Guerrero and Collin Benjamin have returned to training after ankle and thigh problems, respectively, and could be involved.
For the visitors, midfielder Vincent Kompany has been ruled out of a meeting with his former club after picking up a hamstring injury.
Kompany suffered the setback in the defeat by Arsenal at the weekend and has remained at home for treatment.
The Belgium international's absence leaves Hughes short of numbers in that department as another former Hamburg star, Nigel de Jong, is cup-tied.
However, Martin Petrov (knee) and Stephen Ireland (ankle) both travelled to Germany after injury problems.
Petrov made his comeback for the reserves against Newcastle on Monday.
