Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has hailed their Champions League opponents Real Madrid as "the best team in the world".
The English champions will begin their Group D campaign with an away game against their Spanish counterparts on Tuesday.
"It will be a great match and both teams have fantastic players," he is quoted as saying by Uefa.com.
"It's important to start well. Real Madrid are the best team in the world but we want to do our best."
Mancini is determined to steer City beyond the group stage this season after failing to do so in 2011-12.
"Last season was a good experience for us," said the Italian. "We played a good group stage but it was not enough.
"The group is more complicated this year and it will be more difficult for the four teams. It's important for us to reach the second round.
"We have to work hard but now it's difficult to say what we can do in the competition."
In the other Group D game on Tuesday, Borussia Dortmund will host Ajax.
