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{ Manchester City forward Silva is foiled by the Greek side's defence

Manchester City could not find a way through a resolute Aris Salonika defence as the first leg of the Europa League last-32 tie ended goalless.

Striker Edin Dzeko failed to convert Aleksandar Kolarov's low cross from City's best chance of the first half.

Dzeko's header forced a great save from Michalis Sifakis, before Neto sent a fierce effort just wide for Aris.

Mario Balotelli returned for City as a late substitute and saw a bicycle kick float wide in the dying stages.

The hosts had never lost in 24 European matches at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium and in finishing second in Group B had beaten the cup holders Atletico Madrid.

City manager Roberto Mancini may take solace from the fact that Aris' two previous English opponents at the ground, Chelsea and Ipswich, went on to respectively win the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1971 and the Uefa Cup in 1981 after failing to win in Greece.

A fevered atmosphere doubtless helped build Aris' formidable home record and after the teams had emerged to a flurry of tickertape and a firework display, Raul Bobadilla fuelled the home fans' enthusiasm as he prowled dangerously around Jerome Boateng.

But City dominated the early possession and David Silva's dipping shot forced Sifakis into a plunging save before Micah Richards' appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco.

Dzeko was supported by an attacking trio of Carlos Tevez, Silva and Shaun Wright-Phillips interchanging positions and probing dangerously behind him, but struggled with his finishing.

The Bosnian's first sight of goal was provided by Kolarov's low cross threaded through a forest of legs, but, although Dzeko's control was sharp, his stabbed shot looped up tamely for Sifakis to gather.

Shortly afterwards, the former Wolfsburg player's trundling shot on the edge of the box failed to match the neat turn that had preceded it.

Daisuke Sakata's darting runs down Aris' left flank had appeared their best hope of an unlikely breakthrough before Gareth Barry and Joe Hart accidentally collided, nudging the goalkeeper out of his area as he attempted to clear upfield.

It was a good opportunity for Brazilian free-kick specialist Neto, but his effort drifted narrowly wide of the post.

City finished the half on top as a through-ball from Tevez sliced open the Aris rearguard, but the pass proved a touch too strong as Dzeko chased in vain.

In the second half, Aris pushed forward trying to change the momentum of the match and immediately posed more questions of the visiting defence.

Ricardo Faty glanced a header wide when a less subtle touch was required before Juan Carlos Toja shaped menacingly to shoot but only found Hart's midriff with a skidding 20-yard effort.

Dzeko then had Sifakis at full stretch as he nodded Barry's cross goalwards before his swerving effort crashed into the hoardings with the goalkeeper struggling to cover his ground.

In between those attempts, Neto gave Hart a fright as he unleashed a long-range effort that the England number one could only palm away.

Mancini introduced Ballotelli from the bench for his first appearance since picking up a knee injury in December, but appeared to have settled for the draw as he withdrew Dzeko in favour of Pablo Zabaleta with seven minutes remaining.

A late flurry of attacks almost earned City a lead to take to Eastlands for the return but Balotelli's overhead kick strayed wide, before Richards fluffed a headed chance from a corner.

Tuesday, 15 February 2011

Europa League

Final Result Full Time 90:00+2:13 The final whistle goes and the game is over. 90:00+2:01 Effort from the edge of the box by Micah Richards goes wide of the right-hand upright. 90:00+0:24 Aleksandar Kolarov takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Danijel Cesarec. 88:20 Aleksandar Kolarov takes the inswinging corner, Micah Richards has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide of the left-hand upright. 87:10 Substitution Darcy Neto leaves the field to be replaced by Nery Castillo. 86:20 Mario Balotelli concedes a free kick for a foul on Garbini Michel. Michail Sifakis restarts play with the free kick. 85:45 Danijel Cesarec is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Aleksandar Kolarov. 82:52 Free kick taken by Garbini Michel. 82:52 Substitution Pablo Zabaleta replaces Edin Dzeko. 82:52 Carlos Tevez challenges Nikos Lazaridis unfairly and gives away a free kick. 81:44 Long range effort by Gnegneri Toure Yaya goes wide right of the target. 78:27 David Silva challenges Garbini Michel unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Michail Sifakis. 78:05 Juan Carlos Toja handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Aleksandar Kolarov. 77:10 Garbini Michel produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal. 76:05 Darcy Neto restarts play with the free kick. 76:05 Substitution Mario Balotelli is brought on as a substitute for Shaun Wright-Phillips. 76:05 Booking The referee shows Edin Dzeko a yellow card. 75:56 Edin Dzeko challenges Ricardo Faty unfairly and gives away a free kick. 72:41 Foul by Carlos Tevez on Thanasis Prittas, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Michail Sifakis. 71:24 Substitution Danijel Cesarec replaces Raul Marcelo Bobadilla. 71:06 Effort by Darcy Neto from a long way out goes over the crossbar. 70:18 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Thanasis Prittas by David Silva. Free kick taken by Thanasis Prittas. 69:21 Long range shot by Edin Dzeko goes wide right of the target. 66:52 Garbini Michel takes a shot. Blocked by Gareth Barry. 65:11 Darcy Neto takes a shot. Save by Joe Hart. Darcy Neto decides to take a short corner. 64:08 Foul by Juan Carlos Toja on Carlos Tevez, free kick awarded. Jerome Boateng takes the direct free kick. 63:20 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by David Silva played to the near post, Raul Marcelo Bobadilla makes a clearance. 62:59 Edin Dzeko takes a shot. Save made by Michail Sifakis. 61:56 Juan Carlos Toja takes a shot. Save made by Joe Hart. 61:04 Foul by Gnegneri Toure Yaya on Raul Marcelo Bobadilla, free kick awarded. Darcy Neto delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing. 57:26 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gnegneri Toure Yaya on Raul Marcelo Bobadilla. Shot on goal comes in from Darcy Neto from the free kick, save made by Joe Hart. 56:58 Shaun Wright-Phillips takes a shot. Comfortable save by Michail Sifakis. 55:16 The referee blows for offside against Shaun Wright-Phillips. Indirect free kick taken by Michail Sifakis. 54:34 Raul Marcelo Bobadilla is caught offside. Kolo Toure restarts play with the free kick. 53:38 Unfair challenge on Ronaldo Guiaro by Edin Dzeko results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Ronaldo Guiaro. 49:37 Short corner taken by Darcy Neto. 47:39 Juan Carlos Toja produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post. 46:05 Aleksandar Kolarov takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Nikos Lazaridis manages to make a clearance. 45:01 The second half begins. Half Time 45:00+1:07 It is the end of the first-half. 45:00+0:11 Raul Marcelo Bobadilla challenges Jerome Boateng unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gnegneri Toure Yaya takes the free kick. 43:30 The referee penalises Raul Marcelo Bobadilla for handball. Kolo Toure restarts play with the free kick. 42:19 Carlos Tevez concedes a free kick for a foul on Juan Carlos Toja. Michail Sifakis takes the free kick. 38:22 The referee gives a free kick against Joe Hart for handball. Darcy Neto shoots direct from the free kick. 37:24 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Darcy Neto, Nikos Lazaridis takes a shot. Save by Joe Hart. 37:08 Corner taken by Darcy Neto. 34:36 Foul by Gnegneri Toure Yaya on Nikos Lazaridis, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Michail Sifakis. 34:07 Corner taken by David Silva from the right by-line, clearance by Ronaldo Guiaro. 32:45 Edin Dzeko concedes a free kick for a foul on Ronaldo Guiaro. Ronaldo Guiaro restarts play with the free kick. 32:22 Ricardo Faty takes a shot. 31:46 Edin Dzeko has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target. 28:15 The ball is sent over by Aleksandar Kolarov. 27:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gareth Barry on Raul Marcelo Bobadilla. Juan Carlos Toja restarts play with the free kick. 27:11 Edin Dzeko takes a shot. Michail Sifakis makes a save. 26:48 Ricardo Faty challenges David Silva unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Gareth Barry. 25:09 David Silva is ruled offside. Michail Sifakis takes the free kick. 21:58 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aleksandar Kolarov by Thanasis Prittas. Gareth Barry takes the free kick. 21:13 The official flags Daisuke Sakata offside. Joe Hart takes the free kick. 20:18 Aleksandar Kolarov takes the outswinging corner, Header from deep inside the area by Edin Dzeko goes over the bar. 19:34 Juan Carlos Toja challenges Shaun Wright-Phillips unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kolo Toure. 19:07 Gareth Barry concedes a free kick for a foul on Darcy Neto. Thanasis Prittas takes the free kick. 18:23 Daisuke Sakata takes a shot. Joe Hart makes a comfortable save. 15:48 Foul by Kristi Vangeli on Carlos Tevez, free kick awarded. Aleksandar Kolarov delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, Nikos Lazaridis makes a clearance. 15:05 Edin Dzeko takes a shot. Save by Michail Sifakis. 13:17 Carlos Tevez produces a right-footed effort from long distance that goes harmlessly over the bar. 12:19 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gareth Barry by Ricardo Faty. Aleksandar Kolarov takes the direct free kick. 11:07 Inswinging corner taken by Aleksandar Kolarov. 8:56 Unfair challenge on Darcy Neto by Edin Dzeko results in a free kick. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Garbini Michel, blocked by Edin Dzeko. 8:29 David Silva takes a shot. Save by Michail Sifakis. 7:18 The referee gives a free kick against Edin Dzeko for handball. Kristi Vangeli restarts play with the free kick. 6:21 Ricardo Faty challenges Aleksandar Kolarov unfairly and gives away a free kick. Aleksandar Kolarov restarts play with the free kick. 5:45 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kristi Vangeli by Edin Dzeko. Direct free kick taken by Kristi Vangeli. 3:11 Edin Dzeko is caught offside. Free kick taken by Michail Sifakis. 0:33 Raul Marcelo Bobadilla takes a shot. Comfortable save by Joe Hart. 0:00 The game gets underway. Live text and data provided by The Press Association.

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Labels: Salonika, Sport