UEFA Cup Round of 32 - 19/2/09
 
If you wanted proof that Spring is on the way here comes the return of the UEFA Cup. We've finally got the rather too blatantly money-spinning group stage out of the way and can now get on with the tournament proper. Aston Villa had a tough time at home last night and will face a tough task in Moscow in their away leg; tonight sees two more English clubs in action.
 
FC Copenhagen v Manchester City - BBC 3 - K.O. 19:05
Both the English clubs in action tonight will be playing their away legs first and I suspect both will be very happy this is the case. Man City may have struggled at times this season (particularly away from Eastlands), but you have to think they were delighted to be drawn against Copenhagen. Expect the Danes to be disciplined and hardworking, but the talent available to Mark Hughes should be sufficient to see Man City return home with a lead.
 
Man City @ 7/5 Coral
 
Shakhtar Donetsk v Tottenham Hotspur - Five - K.O. 18:45
It is no secret that Spurs have struggled woefully at times this season leaving them 2 points clear of the relegation zone and in genuine danger of the drop. With this fear hanging over the club it is no surprise that Harry Redknapp has basically admitted that the UEFA Cup is little more than a distraction for his team at the moment and that he is far more concerned about the Premiership game against Hull on Monday. Donetsk are always going to be something of an unknown for teams from Western Europe. The one thing that is widely known is that they have pots of money thanks to one of those oligarch owners that were all the rage before the global economy imploded. This means that they will field a side stuffed with Brazilian talent who came to the Ukraine for a big paycheque with no concerns about work permits (after all, the Premiership is hardly short on clubs that would be only too happy to offer big money to players from all over the world if the pesky Home Office would let them). I was originally thinking that Spurs could forget about their home troubles for an evening and snatch a draw here, but the list of players that aren't available for various reasons includes Defoe, Keane, Palacios, Cudicini, Modric, Woodgate, King, Lennon, O'Hara and Corluka. Expect to see some unfamiliar faces in Spurs' colours tonight.
 
Shakhtar Donetsk @ 10/11 Coral
 
Double pays £45.84 on £10.00 Stake

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