Europa League preview: Aris Salonika v Manchester City

Aris Thessaloniki defend a 40-year unbeaten record at home in European competition when they welcome Manchester City in Tuesday’s Europa League action.

The Greeks have gone undefeated in 24 European games at their Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium, turning back the challenges of such clubs as Chelsea, Benfica and Atletico Madrid.

But if they are to extend that remarkable record, Aris will have to handle a City side smarting from a 2-1 league defeat to arch rivals Manchester United on Saturday, Wayne Rooney’s stunning overhead kick delivering a hammer blow to Roberto Mancini’s title hopes.

With the English Premier League dented for the Eastlands outfit, the Europa League is the biggest prize on the horizon for Mancini, and so far his troops have been impressive in the tournament.

They head into Tuesday’s round of 32 first-leg fixture with only one defeat so far in the competition – a 3-1 loss in Poland to Lech Poznan – but will be without Italian striker Mario Balotelli, who is still recovering from a knee complaint, and Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong.

Aris, meanwhile, have been in disappointing form so far in Greece’s Super League, sitting in eighth place and 29 points behind leaders Olympiakos Piraeus.

Their Europa League form has been solid, however, with wins over champions Atletico Madrid (twice), Rosenborg and a draw with Bayer Leverkusen seeing them into the last 32.

Despite the January departures of Spanish wingers Javito and Toni Calvo, and Tunisian international midfielder Mehdi Nafti, manager Giannis Michalitsos has succeeded in putting together a competitive squad.

Argentine striker Raul Bobadilla arrived on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach, Mexican striker Nery Castillo is a loan acquisition from Shakhtar Donetsk, while Japanese marksman Daisuke Sakata was signed from Yokohama F Marinos.