Adebayor stakes claim for starting spot after hat-trick

With seven points from three games, Manchester City are sitting pretty at the top of Group A and have been cut from 5/1 to 9/2 to win the Europa League.

Man City have to go to Poland to face Lech Poznan in the next round of ties, and the Polish outfit will provide a sterner test than they did at the City of Manchester Stadium last night.

A win for Man City would leave them needing just a point from their remaining two games to qualify, although 10 points should be enough to see them through – they are 1/3 to top Group A.

But the main positive for Roberto Mancini last night was the performance of Emmanuel Adebayor who netted a hat-trick in an enthusiastic display.

Against Blackpool in the Premier League last Saturday, Adebayor was sluggish and temperamental, clearly frustrating his fellow teammates, but his performance on Thursday night has led Roberto Mancini to suggest that Adebayor will start alongside Tevez against Arsenal.

The former Arsenal striker will be keen to once again demonstrate what Arsenal lost when Arsene Wenger decided to sell Adebayor, and Man City are 11/8 to win, with the Togolese striker 7/4 to score any time.

A win for Man City would further enhance their position at the top of the Premier League, and coupled with their strong performances in Europe thus far, Mancini will be targeting silverware at the end of the season.

The defining game in Man City’s Europa League group will be the trip to Turin in the final round of matches for a tie that could possibly see Man City ending Juventus’ Europa League campaign.

Juve are currently 14/1 to win the Europa League despite sitting third in Group A, and still have work to do to qualify from the group.

Liverpool’s result sees them available at 9/1 to win the Europa League. See the full UEFA Europa League football betting odds market here.