If ever Manchester City needed to pull off another one of their great escapes this is it.

Absolutely nothing short of a victory against Real Madrid in the group of death will do if City are to keep their slim hopes of qualifying into the knockout rounds of the Champions League alive.

The English champions currently lie bottom of Group D on two points, with Dortmund leading oneight. Real are second on seven points, while Ajax are also very much in it with four points.

The corresponding fixture saw Real come from the brink of defeat to pull off an amazing win in the final moments on matchday one. Had things gone City's way in that game, we might be starting at a completely different group table; however hindsight is always a wonderful thing but utterly pointless.

What cannot be denied is the fact the City have not played like the champions of England. In pretty much every single game, they have looked vulnerable at the back, while being tentative in attack - surprising since they boast the likes of Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri, Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero, David Silva - all players experienced in the European and international game.

Whatever Mancini might have said about his side not having the experience in Europe as a team, it is not really convincing enough. Failure to progress into the Champions League, coupled with losing his grip on the Premier League title might spell doom for Mancini as City manager, who was under intense pressure to come through last year as well.

While City now sit top of the Premier League table, they have been far from convincing in the league, needing a number of late goals to salvage wins, when draws or even losses looked in order - although the same can be said about Manchester United this season.

Coming back from the brink of defeats is the ultimate sign of a winning team, of champions, and all that will be needed in full measure against Cristiano Ronaldo and Real. Ronaldo knows all about the city he will be playing the game in, having turned into the world beater he is today with City's rivals United, and the fact that the Portuguese still carries United in his heart, he will be desperate to out one across the bottom dwellers of Group D.

If Ronaldo is in the mood, and decides to take the game by the scruff of the neck, even the likes of Vincent Kompany will find it hard to stop the Potuguese juggernaut. Another Portuguese, who will be keen to maintain the standards demanded by him and ensure Real continue their progress into the knockout rounds, after a couple of stumbles against Dortmund, will be Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho accepts nothing short of perfection from his teams, and with the immense success he has enjoyed as manager, it would be almost inconceivable if Real were not to qualify for the last-16.

Knowing the manager and the players under his disposal, Real will do what they need to do and come out with the right result; however having said that, the Champions League is not the most enthralling competition for nothing. When you have the quality that City posses, anything is possible, even a rollicking of Real and another big win over Dortmund.

Mancini will be praying for another miracle, similar to the happenings in May.

Team News: Gael Clichy is ruled out after picking up an ankle problem in the 5-0 win over Aston Villa, but James Milner and Jack Rodwell are expected to return. Mario Balotelli has a back problem and is doubtful, although the forward's chances of making the squad were questionable anyways considering he was left out of the last two Premier League games.

For Real, Michael Essien has not travelled to Manchester, with Gonzalo Higuain and Marcelo also ruled out.

Expected lineups: Man City: Hart; Kolarov, Nastasic, Kompany, Maicon; Barry, Toure; Silva, Nasri, Tevez; Aguero.

Real Madrid: Casillas; Coentrao, Pepe, Ramos, Ramos; Alonso, Modric; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema.