Manchester City will look to get rid of its demons in the Champions League when it takes on Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday.
The English club has been a title favorite in the Premier League over the last few years but has always faltered when faced with international competition. A year ago the team fell apart in the face of the proverbial "Group of Death" that included Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax Amsterdam. This year, the squad will have a far easier draw that includes the likes of CSKA Moscow and Plzen. Bayern Munich poses the only major issue, but Manchester should have a realistic chance of finishing second.
They should get a boost from the return of Captain Vincent Kompany. However, Coach Manuel Pellegrini has not stated how long he will play the Belgian defender.
"Vincent has worked with us normally for the last two days," Pellegrini said, according to ESPN. "We will see if he is 100 percent. If he is, of course he will play. We will talk with the doctor and decide...I think he will be 100 per cent, but if he is not he will not play."
Meanwhile, Viktoria Plzen is happy to be in the tournament after an arduous path that included numerous playoff matches.
"Playing Champions League at home is a dream come true," said Plzen defender David Limbersky, according to ESPN. "Of course I'm looking forward to it. It is the first time in the history of the Champions League a game has been played in Plzen and we are so glad we got into this competition."
Prediction: Viktoria Plzen pulls off a 2-1 win at home.
Start Time: 2:45 PM EST