Sports

Manchester City and Manchester United hope to consolidate their progress with wins over Porto and Ajax while the minnows hope to upset stronger teams in the second leg.

Porto are attempting to defend the Europa League title they won last season after, like Manchester City, dropping back into the competition from the Champions League.

Coach Vitor Pereira said: "We know our strong point is our collective as a team. We have no magic touches, we have to put the effort in."

Porto are down by two away goals and will have a tough time against the Citizens as they were impressive in the first leg. They sealed a comeback win after two goals in the second half turned the tide and manager Roberto Mancini hailed his players as being "fantastic" in that performance.

Samir Nasri started as City underlined their intention to take the competition seriously by coming from behind to beat Porto 2-1 at the Estadio do Dragao last week.

He said: "Porto are really dangerous, especially in counter-attacks.

"We have an advantage but that doesn't mean we have qualified. We have to be careful."

Porto's powerful Brazilian forward Hulk has warned City he is "1,000%" ready for them, after recovering from a leg injury.

The 25-year-old said: "I am 100%. I am sure if I wasn't the manager would not pick me.

"But tomorrow [Wednesday] I will not be 100% - I will be 1,000%.

"I don't know if I am playing tomorrow, but if the manager wants I will play as a goalkeeper.

"Every match I give my best and that is what I will do tomorrow.

Manchester United will be hoping for an easy game as two goals in the first leg put all the pressure on Ajax. United have yet to be beaten at home by a Dutch side.

United defender Chris Smalling will be in the squad after recovering from injury and he believes that United still have what it takes to win a European trophy despite critics questioning the fortitude of the squad after trailing city rivals Manchester City for much of the season and getting knocked out of the Champions League group stages.

"Obviously we'd still like to be in the Champions League but we're looking at the Europa League as a second chance," Smalling told www.manutd.com.

"We're going to go out there and show Europe we can still perform and we can still win trophies.

"We want to reach the final, although we know it won't be easy. All of the players will be going out on the pitch and giving our all to reach the final."

Manchester United will play Athletic Bilbao or Lokomotiv Moscow with the Russian side currently holding a one goal lead after winning 2-1 at Moscow.

In the other matches, Stoke are looking to cause an upset as they visit Valencia after being a goal behind. Olympiakos, FC Twente, AZ Alkmaar, PSV Eindhoven and Hannover 96 also hold slender one-goal leads over Rubin Kazan, Steaua Bucuresti, Anderlecht, Trabzonspor andClub Brugge respectively.

Atletico Madrid beat Lazio comfortably at Stadio Olimpico courtesy of two goals by Colombian sensation Radamael Falcao but Lazio hope to retaliate strongly and progress further. Falcao labelled the Italian outfit as a "very dangerous side" and so it could be all to play for in Wednesday's reverse fixture at the Vicente Calderon.

Ukrainian side Metalist Kharviv beat Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg by four goals in what seems to be the only assured result. Schalke 04, Standard Liege and Sporting CP all registered draws against the Eastern European sides of Viktoria Plzen, Wisla Krakow and Legia Warsawwho will all be vying to raise their stock further and progress as far as possible.

The final will be played in Bucharest, where Steve McLaren's FC Twente side will hope to revisit if they beat Trabzonspor, on May 9.

Europa League Round of 32 First Leg Results
 

Ajax 0-2 Manchester United

Porto 1-2 Manchester City

Lazio 1-3 Atletico Madrid

Stoke 0-1 Valencia

Viktoria Plzen 1-1 Schalke

Lokomotiv Moscow 2-1 Athletic Bilbao

Udinese 0-0 PAOK Salonika

Wisla Krakow 1-1 Standard Liege

Legia Warsaw 2-2 Sporting Lisbon

Hannover 2-1 Club Brugge

Steaua Bucharest 0-1 FC Twente

Trabzonspor 1-2 PSV Eindhoven

Salzburg 0-4 Metalist Kharkiv

AZ Alkmaar 1-0 Anderlecht

Rubin Kazan 0-1 Olympiacos

Braga 0-2 Besiktas