Manchester City put one foot in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Danish side Aalborg in Thursday’s last 16 first leg tie at Eastlands.
Brazil forward Robinho returned after missing City’s win over Aston Villa last week after flying home to Brazil for treatment on an ankle injury.
City manager Mark Hughes also called up Micah Richards, back from a hamstring injury, whil Vincent Kompany and Nigel de Jong were missing.
Manchester enjoyed the dream start when Ecuadorian Felipe Caicedo picked up Robinho’s pass and turned past Michael Jakobsen in the box to slide the ball low past Karim Zaza to put City into an eighth minute lead.
Richards did well shortly after to block a goalward bound shot from Andreas Johansson.
City keeper Shay Given made good use of his legs to deny Caca’s attempt approaching the half hour mark.
On 30 minutes, City doubled their advantage with a fine piece of individual skill from Shaun Wright-Phillips, who, after latching on to Stephen Ireland’s pass, raced towards Aalborg’s box to score with his right-foot.
City looked unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty on the stroke of half time after Michael Beauchamp tripped Robinho.
Aalborg’s Thomas Enevoldsen will miss next week’s second leg after receiving a booking for a heavy tackle on Wright-Phillips.
City had an escape nine minutes from time when Jeppe Curth met Caca’s free-kick with a firm header that crashed into Richards, then Zabaleta upended Jakobsen on the edge of the area to present Aalborg with a free-kick that Kasper Risgard floated tamely over.
In the closing stages, Elano produced a sublime pass to Wright-Phillips who tried an angled shot which ended up racing wide of Zaza’s left-hand post.
City, who have two players named in the Brazil squad for the next World Cup qualifiers in Robinho and Elano, enjoyed most of the play in the second half, but were unable to add to their goal tally.
And in fact it was Aalborg who had one of the best chances when Caca, with one minute on the clock, found himself 10 yards out but he miscued the ball wide.
Hughes and his men will be happy after avoiding conceding an away goal which leaves them sitting pretty in their bid to reach the UEFA Cup last eight for the first time in 30 years.
