Manchester City will be gunning for top spot in Uefa Cup Group A when they head to Racing Santander.
Blues seek top spot, while Racing need victory to progress
Manchester City will be gunning for top spot in Uefa Cup Group A when they head to Racing Santander.
The Spaniards know that anything less than three points will bring a premature end to their European adventure and will be hoping a vociferous home support can spur them on to victory.
Racing's domestic form has been infuriatingly inconsistent all season, with Juan Ramon Lopez's side entering the midweek encounter on the back of a three-match winless run.
City will, therefore, be hoping to pile further misery on the Primera Liga outfit in midweek, although they are already guaranteed a spot in the knockout stages.
Victory would see them progress as group winners, handing them an easier tie in the last 32.
The Blues have been struggling themselves of late, though, taking only one win from their last eight Premier League fixtures to slip into trouble towards the foot of the table.
Garay threat
Heading into the contest, Mark Hughes will have his side well versed on the technical ability possessed by Racing, with Ezequiel Garay likely to have featured prominently on City's radar.
The Real Madrid loanee is deadly from set-pieces and the Blues must avoid affording the Argentine centre-half too many opportunities to try his luck from distance.
Mohammad Tchite is another who must be closely monitored, with the 24-year-old Belgian catching the eye of a number of Europe's top clubs after enjoying an impressive season in front of goal.
While Lopez has few injury concerns heading into the game, Pedro Munitis, Pable Pinillos and Oscar Serrano are all one booking away from a ban, so the trio will need to be wary of ruling themselves out of the next stage - should Racing get the points they need.
Dunne left behind
For City, Richard Dunne has not made the trip to Spain as his wife has recently given birth to a baby boy.
The club captain is not the only one to remain in England, though, with Hughes seeing his striking options seriously depleted.
Daniel Sturridge is nursing an Achilles problem and will play no part, Benjani is carrying a hamstring problem and Jo has come down with a virus, while Robinho may not be risked after his recent ankle trouble.
Valeri Bojinov also remains a long-term absentee, so Felipe Vaicedo and Ched Evans are the only healthy attackers available to the Blues.
Tal Ben Haim or Nedhum Onuoha are expected to deputise for Dunne, while the likes of Stephen Ireland and Vincent Kompany could be rested ahead of the hectic festive period.
