Preview
A sour Saturday saw City singing the Britannia blues, but now it's time for paradise in Plzen.
A boozy Tuesday lies in store for 800 lucky City fans who will be delighted to learn that the Doosan Arena (Plzen's 11,700 capacity stadium) is connected to the country's biggest brewery!
Pints may cost less than a pound, but Pellegrini's men will be intoxicated only by a fearsome desire to beat away their blemish in the Britannia and prove to Europe that they can compete at the highest level.
The Chilean's record in the Champions League is something to be admired and a bullet point on the CV that will have lit up the eyes of Sheik Mansour. Against all odds, Pellegrini led Spanish underdogs Villarreal to the semi-finals of the competition in 2005 and was desperately unlucky to achieve the same feat last season with Malaga. Can his experience in the tournament remedy the Champions League wounds inflicted on his new side in the last two seasons? We'll have to wait and see.
Standing in our way are Czech minnows, Viktoria Plzen. The Gambrinus Liga Champions and current table toppers were cruelly evicted in the last 16 last year by Fenerbache. 'Viktorka' have a dismally difficult group to conquer this time round with holders Bayern Munich and Russian champions CSKA Moscow completing Group D.
It's a must win for the blues who are desperate for a boost ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby. It's the toughest 'league' of them all and it's time to cement our place in the scaffolding of the European elite.
Pellegrini, let's have some pleasure in Plzen... please!
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Line-Up
With Sunday's enormous tie with Manchester United malevolently looming, the gaffer may be tempted into resting some of the big guns. Gael Clichy, Micah Richards and David Silva have not travelled to Prague, but skipper Vincent Kompany has boarded the plane.
Vincent Kompany is in contention for a starting place on Tuesday night
The Belgian may be available, but it's likely he'll be rested in preparation for Sunday. Edin Dzeko could start after warming the bench on Saturday and Stevan Jovetic is expected to make his second start for the club.
Key Men
Stanislav Tecl
The new signing's impressive record of 1 goal in every two matches will be called upon during the group stages if Plzen are to cause an upset in Group D.
Yaya Toure
His Champions League experience and sheer strength should be too much for Plzen and Pellegrini will be expecting the big Ivorian to control the game.
