The Citizens come into the game having won all their Premier League fixtures thus far, not conceding a single goal in the process. Manuel Pellegrini has completely transformed his side from one that finished eight points behind Chelsea last season to an entity, who are unlikely to be overawed by the immense competition in the league.

The 2013/14 Champions have carried on from their brilliant end to last season, and with some astute summer activity, are looking good to pose a proper title challenge.

However, their Qatari owners are unlikely to be satisfied with their failure to make any impact in Europe, where they have failed to move past the round of 16. They were unlucky after having been handed tough groups in the previous few years.

But there is a possibility they can top this group, even though it looks tougher than the rest of the bunch. Such a result should result in a comparatively easier draw in the round of 16.

Meanwhile, Juventus have been anything but comfortable in the first three games of the new Serie A season, losing two and drawing one in the games played thus far. The departure of Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez, the architects of their league winning campaign over the past few seasons has hit them hard and Massimiliano Allegri will be hoping that a strong performance here will be enough to rejuvenate their season.

Real Madrid should be heading into the match full of confidence after thrashing Espanyol 6-0 in La Liga at the weekend, in a match which saw Cristiano Ronaldo open his account for the season.

The Portuguese forward had failed to find the back of the net in the opening two matches of the campaign, but scored five times at Estadi Carnella-El Prat, making him the club's new record goalscorer.

Rafael Benitez found himself under pressure at the start of the season, with the side being held to a goalless draw by La Liga newcomers Sporting Gijon in their opening fixture, but emphatic wins in their last two matches have given the former Napoli and Liverpool boss some breathing space for now.

Despite the saga involving the club's failed transfer for Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, Keylor Navas has helped Los Blancos pick up clean sheets in their first three matches of the domestic season.

This time last year, Real were preparing to start the defence of their 10th European title, but a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Juventus in the semi-finals of this competition last season prevented them from adding an 11th cup win.

For the first time in six years, Shakhtar Donetsk come into the Champions League without having won their domestic league, losing out to Dynamo Kiev in the Ukrainian Premier League for the first time since the 2008-09 season.

Missing out on the league title ensured that Shakhtar had to go through the final round of qualifying and a playoff to reach the group stage this season, defeating Fenerbahce and Rapid Wien on their way.

Donetsk finished as runners-up in their group last season, but were thrashed by Bayern Munich in their round of 16 match, losing 7-0 in the second leg of the tie after holding the German champions to a goalless draw on home soil.

Mircea Lucescu's side have made a strong start to their league season, winning five of their opening seven matches, leaving them just three points behind leaders Dynamo. They were in action against Metalist Kharkiv on Friday, securing a comfortable 5-0 win.

Manchester United make their long-awaited return to the Champions League proper when they travel to Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday night.

United's last appearance in Europe's elite-club competition came back in April 2014, after failing to secure European football of any kind last season following a seventh-placed finish in 2013/14.

They enter the group-stage clash on the back of a morale-boosting 3-1 victory over rivals Liverpool on Saturday, and will be hoping for a repeat of that display in Holland.

Memphis Depay, who joined United from PSV this summer, will be looking to make an impression on his return to the Philips Stadion as he embarks on his maiden Champions League campaign against his former club.

Meanwhile, Phillip Cocu's side enter Tuesday's game having steadied their inconsistent start to the defence of their Eredivisie crown by thrashing Cambuur 6-0.

 

Other fixtures tonight:

PSG vs MALMO

WOLFSBURG vs CSKA MOSCOW

BENFICA vs F.C ASTANA

GALATASARY vs ATLETICO MADRID

SEVILLA vs MONCHEGLADBACH

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