Destiny knocks for Man City

Midfielder James Milner says the time has come for Manchester City to prove themselves in the Champions League.

City, who progressed to the knock-out stages for the first time last season before being eliminated by Barcelona in the last 16, begin their group campaign tonight against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Manuel Pellegrini's side became the first team to beat Bayern following their 2013 Champions League triumph by fighting back from two goals down to win 3-2 in Bavaria last December.

That victory remains a high-water mark of City's Champions League history, with the club failing progress to the latter stages and being left as outsiders to win this season's competition.

Milner admitted that, with the squad at their disposal, the club had to begin to make a mark.

"There are a lot of games we've played now, a lot that we have learned over the years we've been in it and we now want to prove ourselves on the European stage," said Milner.

"I believe we have a good enough team to do that, so that's the aim, to have a successful Champions League."

With fixtures against AS Roma and CSKA Moscow to come in the group, Milner believes the memory of last season's victory in Munich - when he scored the winning goal - could give City an advantage.

Yaya Toure, rested at the weekend after the international break, is set to return against Bayern and a positive result in Germany will leave City needing simply to win all three games at home.

Chelsea, who are also in action tonight, are sweating on the fitness of new star striker Diego Costa, nursing a slight hamstring injury, ahead of their meeting with Schalke at Stamford Bridge.

Costa has scored seven goals in four matches for his new club since a £32-million transfer from Atletico Madrid. Schalke will have plenty to fear if he plays.