Aalborg 2 City 0 (aggregate 2-2, aet). City win 4-3 on penalties

There aren't many positives that you can take from this evening except that we are in the draw for the quarter finals (held Friday lunchtime).

It was disappointing to even get to the stage where we relying on penalties though after doing the hard work both last week to gain the two goal advantage, and of course for eighty-five minutes tonight where we played out a dour game to put more than one foot in the quarter-finals.

We have had a penchance this season for conceding silly goals in Europe, and once again this was the case this evening where we allowed Aalborg back into the game with five minutes remaining, a goal which gave them the impetus to throw everything forward and they were rewarded when Ched Evans was penalised and the game was taken to extra time.

Despite the introduction of Elano for the extra thirty minutes, we didn't create anything of note, and Aalborg in truth looked the likelier to snatch a goal, but inevitably (as with all extra-times it seems) the last ten minutes were played almost at walking pace as both sides settled for the penalty shoot out.

Prior to Shay Given making his first save, I thought to myself that he didn't cut an imposing figure in goal for the shoot out, but his save put us ahead and credit to the penalty takers who hit some decent spot kicks and we now take our place in the final eight.

Clearly we have to improve on tonight's performance to have any chance of further progression, but whilst our away form in the league has been patchy, on our travels in Europe we have posted a decent record this season. By the time of the quarter finals we should also welcome back on or two of our injured players so the hope is that we are in better shape by then.

A definite warning tonight though, and hopefully one that hits home as we bid to get past the quarter final stage which has dogged us in recent times.

City 2 Aalborg 0

[guardian minute by minute report, timesonline report, MEN report]

A very comfortable evening overall, which would have been even more so had we managed to press home the two goal advanatage we held at the half.

Much more had been anticipated from an Aalborg side unbeaten in seventeen games but on the evidence of this game, it is difficult to see quite how they despatched Deportivo so convincingly in the last round, or even their bright showing at times in the Champions League group stage.

An early goal was crucial and Felipe Caicedo provided that with a smart first touch and neat turn to slot home to put us ahead within the first ten minutes. The goal did seem to spark Aalborg somewhat and they put a nice spell together and served notice with a couple of close calls on our goal. It was excellent timing then when Wright-Phillips added the second - a nice strike following a good run from the half way line.

With the absence of Kompany and de Jong, a lot rested on Pablo Zabaleta's shoulders and I thought he played an important role as the 'spoiler', allowing the more creative types to play to their strengths. Robinho in particular during the first half was afforded plenty of space and used this effectively to create a number of opportunities and we really did play some lovely football, some of the movement a real joy to watch.

We did appear to be a touch cautious in the second half, perhaps understandably so as we would have been wary of conceding what at that stage would have been a crucial away goal for Aalborg, and the latter stages of the game were not without a scare or two. Taking a 2-0 scoreline to Denmark next week does also leave an element of doubt in the tie and make the first half hour of the second leg crucial indeed.

I did predict beforehand though that a 2-0 scoreline would be something we would be happy to take with us into the second leg and given the space that will be available as Aalborg have to attack, it would have to be a very disappointing evening next Wednesday should we fail to progress from this position of strength.

Aalborg preview and open thread

We return to UEFA action tomorrow, with the competition stepping up a gear with a quarter-final place at stake.

A Danish side once again stand in our way, not for the first time of course this season, and each time the quality of opposition has been higher than previously faced. I would expect the same to occur from an Aalborg side who despatched Deportivo comfortably in the last round, and showed glimpses of promise in this seasons Champions League group stages.

Despite showing some maturity in this competition (particularly so in the last round win over FC Copenhagen), I'm not convinced a home tie in the first leg suits us, but if we can replicate the home form we have shown over the course of the season so far (both in the league and UEFA Cup) then we could put ourselves in a really good position for the second leg.

A note of caution should be exercised though given that once again, we will be light up front with Craig Bellamy definitely missing out (along with Nigel de Jong), although Robinho is set to return. It will be a big blow of course if Vincent Kompany is ruled out and would leave the central midfield area looking weaker than usual.

The competition this season does not appear to have caught the imagination so far, but as we head to the final stretch of the league campaign it is only serving to heighten the prospect of success in the UEFA Cup.

Defensively it will obviously be important to avoid an away goal, but this is an area we have been impressive in of late but cannot afford to concede goals in the manner we have done in Europe on occasion. Similarly to the Villa game, Shaun Wright-Phillips will be key and a positive of his rcent domestic ban is that it may just have freshened him up at the right time (as it appears to be the case with Richard Dunne).

A big game then and any win is of crucial to take with us to Denmark next week, but if we could come away with a 2-0 win tomorrow evening I'm sure that is something Mark Hughes would settle for.