Bayern give respect to all-star City

FC Bayern München boss Jupp Heynckes and his Manchester City FC counterpart Roberto Mancini have no illusions about the task they face as their sides meet in Group A, but both seemed quietly confident of a positive UEFA Champions League result.

Bayern
Coach Jupp Heynckes
The group is very strong, containing four teams from the best four leagues in Europe. Manchester City are on a par with Manchester United at the moment – I think that says it all. They are one of Europe's elite clubs. They will be a big challenge. This season they have very good individual players and have harmonised as a team. I am very impressed.

They have an Italian coach, but still they play quite attacking football. We anticipate a tactical game on a very high level. For viewers it will very, very interesting. The type of players they have tells us how we can expect them to play – quite attacking! But we are in a good shape and I am confident we can improve further. We are very well prepared. Man City have a very strong team but so do we. It will be a challenge for both clubs.

Weekend result
Saturday: Bayern 3-0 Bayer 04 Leverkusen (T Müller 5, Van Buyten 19, Robben 90)
Neuer; Rafinha, Van Buyten, Badstuber, Lahm; Tymoshchuk, Schweinsteiger; T Müller, Kroos (Robben 78), Ribéry (Alaba 82); Gomez (Luiz Gustavo 65)

• Bayern claimed their ninth successive win in all competitions, since a 1-0 loss to VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach on 7 August. That is also the only goal they have conceded in ten matches this season; they were last breached 848 minutes ago and have since scored 26 unanswered goals.

Team news
Heynckes confirmed that Jérôme Boateng, who joined Bayern from City this summer, would start on Tuesday. Arjen Robben (pelvic problem), Mario Gomez (adductors), Daniel Van Buyten (Achilles) and Luiz Gustavo (ankle) all returned to action against Leverkusen. Ivica Olić (hip) and Breno (knee) remain sidelined, though, and Holger Badstuber is a doubt with flu.

Manchester City
Manager Roberto Mancini
It is fantastic to play against a club like Bayern. We do not want to lose the game, that is for sure. We want to win it – as we always want to win. But we have to improve a lot. We are a good team already, but if we want to become a team like Bayern, to become part of the history of football, we have to learn a lot; we have just played one game in the Champions League.

Bayern are a great team, with a lot of great players and a very experienced coach. Mario Gomez is one of [those great players], but I am impressed by the whole team. It will be a tough game but I am sure we will do a good job. I have four great strikers, but I will decide [on the day] who will play against Bayern. They all are in a good shape. Edin Džeko can continue to score a lot for Man City. I am happy to have him here.

Weekend result
Saturday: Manchester City FC 2-0 Everton FC (Balotelli 68, Milner 89)
Hart; Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy; Nasri (Savić 83), Barry; Y Touré, Silva, Agüero (Milner 79); Džeko (Balotelli 60)

• Mario Balotelli and James Milner came off the bench to score as the Blues clinched their eighth successive home Premier League victory. They have conceded just two goals in their last 14 matches at the City of Manchester Stadium since the start of March.

Team news
Balotelli is suspended for the Bayern trip while Nigel de Jong has not played since injuring his ankle against Swansea City FC on 15 August.

Match fact
This will be Heynckes' first meeting with English opposition as a coach after 139 UEFA club competition matches.