Zaba targets Blues progress

PABLO Zabaleta believes Manchester City have a ‘great chance’ to make amends for their past Champions League frustrations this season.

City’s first two ventures into Europe’s elite competition have ended prematurely at the group stage.

This year the draw appears kinder: European champions Bayern Munich are offset by games against Viktoria Plzen and CSKA Moscow.

The minnows of Plzen, the Czech champions, are their first opponents at the modest Doosan Arena this evening.

Argentina right–back Zabaleta said: “I think we have learned and hopefully we will do better. It is not an easy group but maybe if you compare this group with the last two years, it is a bit better.

City are hoping captain Vincent Kompany will be fit to return after the defender travelled with the squad to the Czech Republic. He has been out since the first game of the season against Newcastle.