Bayern Munich vs Manchester City: Champions League preview video

Video:The Independent's Simon Rice and Tom Sheen preview Manchester City's opening Champions League group game against Bayern Munich

Aleksandar Kolarov, Edin Dzeko, and David Silva celebrate after Kolarov scored during the UEFA Champions League group E football match match Bayern Munich vs Manchester City in Munich, Germany, on December 11, 2013. (JOHN MACDOUGALL | AFP | Getty Images)

Manuel Pellegrini's men will be hoping for a repeat of last year's heroics at the Allianz Arena when Manchester City came from 2-0 down to beat the 2013 Champions League winners 3-2.

Had City scored a further goal that night at the Allianz they would have topped their group and had an easier route in last season's competition. Instead, they faced Barcelona in the next round and were knocked out.

City will therefore be hoping to perform better at this year's group stage to ensure an easier route to a possible first appearance in a Champions League final. City have a tough group that also includes Roma and CSKA Moscow as well as the 2013 Champions. CSKA Moscow were also in City's group last season.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany said recently that winning the Champions League for the first time would be easier than winning the Premier League title for the first time in 2012.

“Before we won the league it was more difficult to believe we could do it than it is [now] with the Champions League,” he said. “My experience of the Champions League is that it’s not more difficult to go to the end but everything has to be perfect. The Premier League is just a ferocious battle to the end. Eventually it will happen our way.”