Manchester City go into their Champions League do-or-die game against Real Madrid, hoping for another one of those miraculous victories that will keep their thin hopes of progressing to the next round alive.
City are bottom of Group D on two points from four matches, while Real Madrid are second on seven. Borussia Dortmund top the group on eight points, with their opponents for Wednesday - Ajax - third on four points.
While mathematically City are still in with a chance of qualifying, it will require a momentous effort from the Premier League champions and an unlikely slip-up from Real or Dortmund to ensure progress.
"Maybe it takes pressure off (that we're outsiders to qualify), but when you're obliged to win and you play an important game like this in the Champions League there's always pressure," Mancini said. "We don't have much chance to go through but it's important to put in a good performance.
"It was a difficult group from the start and now it's very difficult because of the mistakes we made in the first two games.
"When you play Real Madrid, one of the best teams in the world, you want to do a good job, play well and win, and that's what we'll be trying to do. I think Cristiano Ronaldo is a factor in every game, as he always has a big impact.
"Anyone who scores one or two goals a game is an incredible player who we'll need to watch carefully. There are other players, too, of course.
"My opinion is that Real Madrid are the best team in the world, along with Barcelona, and when you play them you face 11 top players and you need to be aware of them all. Ronaldo, (Karim) Benzema, (Angel) Di Maria, (Mesut) Ozil, (Xabi) Alonso -- they can all hurt you. Madrid score three or four goals every game, but football is good because sometimes you beat teams like that."
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho said he is relishing the challenge of coming back to England and trying to get one over a Premier League team. "I always said how much I loved my time here and I always love to be back," he said. "I know when you play in England you have difficult matches, difficult opponents and a difficult atmosphere, because the crowd are always strongly behind the team.
"I enjoy that and I think my players are also happy to play in England.
"I think it is normal if a big team doesn't win the competition because there are other teams with the same power, the same desire and the same responsibility. I don't think it is normal when you are out of the competition at a very early stage.
"I speak for myself, and if Real Madrid lost a final, or a semi-final, or even a quarterfinal, that's football. But when you are out at the group stage it is more difficult to accept and to understand.
"Last season, they were out (after the group stage) and this season I think they will be out again."
In team news, Gael Clichy is ruled out, while James Milner and Jack Rodwell are expected to return. Mario Balotelli is expected to miss with a back problem.
Real have injury worries over Michael Essien, who has not travelled with the team, while Gonzalo Higuain and Marcelo remain ruled out.
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Expected lineups: Man City: Hart; Kolarov, Nastasic, Kompany, Maicon; Barry, Toure; Silva, Nasri, Tevez; Aguero.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Coentrao, Pepe, Ramos, Ramos; Alonso, Modric; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema.
Prediction: 2-2
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