Man City's make-or-break week in the Champions League
A lack of Champions League success was perceived as one of the primary reasons Roberto Mancini lost his job as Manchester City coach in 2013, yet his successor is discovering European competition continues to be a troublesome pursuit for one of the world's richest clubs.
Manuel Pellegrini enjoyed success in Europe with Villarreal and Malaga and that suggested he had the know-how to navigate his way to the latter stages of the Champions League. However, tricky group stage draws in his first two campaigns and an inability to beat the lesser teams in their groups continue to trip up City.
Even though their image has changed beyond recognition in recent years, as they twice lifted the Premier League title and enjoyed success in domestic cup competitions, the club's old insecurities return to the surface when their players set foot on a grander stage.
Mental barriers appear to be as significant as the lack of quality on the field as they head into the latest trial on Wednesday against CSKA Moscow.
The surrender of a 2-0 lead against the same Russian rivals in the last round of Champions League matches was evidence the frailties City have shown in Europe's elite competition the past three years remain, and it means Pellegrini is facing up to a tie he dare not lose when Leonid Slutsky's side come to Manchester.
This season's performances would suggest CSKA are not the best of travelers, with their home form in the Russian league patchy and their 5-1 drubbing in the first round of Champions League matches against Roma evidence they are more effective when surrounded by their home comforts.
That said, they will fancy their chances of unsettling a City side who are bound to be apprehensive in a game they simply have to win, as they look to chase down Roma and claim second spot in Group E. Whatever the reasons for their Champions League failings, their inhibitions need to be banished swiftly before they take on CSKA Moscow once more.
As Roma and Liverpool were left battered and bruised by humbling experiences in front of their home faithful during the latest round of Champions League matches, the prospect of a rematch with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid was hardly enticing.
However, Roma boss Rudi Garcia and Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers need to raise their troops for away matches that must strike a degree of fear into their players, with memories of their recent chastening experiences still fresh in the mind.
Roma's 7-1 hammering at the hands of Bayern Munich and Liverpool's 3-0 thumping against Real Madrid left little doubt about the gulf in class between the sides.
The confidence of champions
The pressure to win the elusive 10th European Cup weighed heavily on the shoulders of Real Madrid players for more than a decade, so it was no surprise to hear goalkeeper Iker Casillas suggest the historic success against Atletico Madrid this past May has lifted a huge burden from the shoulders of all at the Bernabeu.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti and his team of Champions League heroes are assured of their place in Real Madrid folklore, and that security is fueling belief and confidence in a team that appears to have moved up a gear this season. Early stumbles in domestic competition have been replaced by dominant, high-scoring victories in recent weeks, and they head into the next round of Champions League matches within touching distance of a place in the last 16.
"I felt relieved to win La Decima," Casillas said. "We were looking for that for a long time. After we won it, having suffered until the last moments, we celebrated twice, and La Decima is savoured by all Madrid fans. It took a weight off."
Real Madrid's galaxy of stars hardly needed any encouragement to send a shiver through their Champions League opponents, but the evidence of this season so far suggests the fear factor has increased.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has spent the past quarter of a century trying in vain to lift the Champions League, and he is not amused by news his task might be about to get even tougher.
UEFA's decision to change their seeding structure for next season's competition means Arsenal's long-standing berth among the top seeds in the Champions League is under threat, with only the Premier League champions afforded group one status from this point forward.
"Logic is not respected with these new rules," he said. "This is not needed. This competition works the best in the world. It is the competition that is most admired and everyone wants to watch. For me, I was quite
surprised that they did it."
All hail the underdogs
Ludogorets were expected to be among the sides making up the numbers in this season's tournament, but the Bulgarian champions have impressed in their opening three games.
Coach Georgi Dermendziev and his players confirmed in a battling display against Liverpool and Real Madrid they have much to offer. Their victory against Basel in the last round of matches has fuelled belief they could emerge as improbable qualifiers for the knockout stages.
Olympiakos are another underdog ruffling some high-profile feathers in Group A. Italian champions Juventus and the past season's Champions League runners-up, Atletico Madrid, are the big-names taken by Michel and his team so far, and they will edge toward the last 16 if they secure a positive result against Juve on Tuesday in Turin.
Big spending teams with eyes on the biggest prize in European football snatch most of the Champions League headlines, yet it seems there is still some room for underdogs to make their mark.
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