Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is preparing for a Europa League outing which "feels like a Champions League game" after his side's drop into the secondary continental competition.
City were paired with reigning champions Porto - while neighbours Manchester United were handed an equally tough assignment against Dutch giants Ajax in a draw littered with unusually high-profile names. Mancini admitted it is as tricky a test as he could have imagined.
He said: "Manchester City against Porto feels like a Champions League game, it is probably the toughest game we could have had. I have come up against them as a player before and also a manager, they are a very good team and a very strong club in Europe."
Mancini added: "They are used to playing in Europe, in a great stadium. Not too many years ago they won the Champions League and also won the Europa League last year. So they are a strong team.
"It will be a hard match for us. We know this game will be difficult, but also it will be difficult for them. It is a good game for the fans, a big team coming to Manchester, and we will be looking forward to it."