• Europa League

Kompany back in two weeks - Mancini

Vincent Kompany picked up a calf problem in Lisbon © Getty Images

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Roberto Mancini is hopeful Vincent Kompany will not be sidelined long-term after the defender sustained an injury in Manchester City's loss at Sporting Lisbon.

City suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sporting at the Estadio Jose Alvalade after Alexandre Xandao's 51st minute back-heel proved decisive in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie.

Mancini also saw skipper Kompany limp off in the first half with a calf problem, with the Belgium international expected to miss around a fortnight.

"I hope that for Vinnie, the injury will be short," Mancini said. "When you have a calf [injury], it can be a big problem. I hope he can recover in ten days, two weeks maximum. We will see how it is in another one or two days."

On the positive side, right-back Micah Richards, again left out to rest a minor knock, should be fit as Premier League leaders City tackle Swansea this weekend. Mancini said: "I didn't take a risk with Micah because Pablo Zabaleta is injured. Micah will play on Sunday."

Of his side's loss, Mancini was bullish of their chances of progression, insisting a defeat was harsh on his players. He said: "It wasn't a surprise because anything can happen in football, but I don't think we deserved to lose. We didn't play very well but could've scored, then conceded a goal, so that is it.

"We have another 90 minutes and I think it will be a different game. We still have a big chance. Hopefully we will have a chance to score and I think we will score.

"I don't think they had a lot of chances to score. Sporting had players behind the ball always, to play on the counter-attack. They had players behind the ball for this reason and I think we had more chances than them. I am not worried. We will go through in the Europa League and Sunday will be a different game."

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