Man City teetering on the Champions League brink

Manchester City is on the brink of a third Champions League group phase elimination in four seasons ahead of Bayern Munich's visit to Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

City's dismal 2-1 loss at home to CSKA Moscow in its previous outing left it at the bottom of Group E with only two points and it will be knocked out if it fails to beat Bayern and there is a winner in the Russian champion's home game with Roma.

Manuel Pellegrini's side can draw some solace from the fact Bayern, which shaded September's reverse fixture 1-0 thanks to a last-minute goal by former City player Jerome Boateng, is already guaranteed to qualify as group winner.

City will also take inspiration from its 3-2 win away to Bayern in the group phase of last season's competition, although the circumstances then were quite different with the visiting side having already secured a place in the last 16.

City's hand has been weakened by suspensions to Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, both of whom were sent off - the former for a petulant shove - during the Nov 5 loss to CSKA Moscow.

And although City came from behind to beat Swansea City 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday, midfielder Samir Nasri knows Pep Guardiola's ruthless Bayern side will be a very different proposition.

"We are really lucky to still be in with a chance of qualifying because, with two points and two games left, normally you are out," said the former France international.

"Now is our chance. We have to take it and play with nothing to lose. We can take a lot (from beating Swansea), but a game against Bayern Munich will not be the same as a game against Swansea.

"No disrespect to Swansea, which is a great team, but Bayern Munich has world-class players in every position."

Bayern has gone 18 games without defeat since losing to Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup on Aug 13, winning all four of its games to date in the Champions League.

The 2013 European champion extended its lead at the Bundesliga summit to seven points by crushing Hoffenheim 4-0 at Allianz Arena on Saturday.

Bastian Schweinsteiger made his first competitive appearance since starring for Germany in the World Cup final, coming on as a late substitute, and Guardiola has hinted he could feature again at City.

"It's good news for him and for us. I have seen how important Bastian is for the club and the fans," said Guardiola, who is bidding to win his third Champions League title as a coach after two previous successes with Barcelona.

"With Philipp (Lahm), David (Alaba), (Javi) Martinez and Thiago (Alcantara) out, we now have a super midfielder back, but he has only trained for a week with us.

"He's not ready for 90 minutes, but he has huge experience. For this period now until Christmas with the Bundesliga and Champions League, he will of course be a big help to us."

Schweinsteiger's return will help to ease Bayern's problems in midfield, particularly in light of the fractured ankle that is expected to keep Lahm out for three months.

With Toure and Fernandinho both unavailable for City, Fernando, James Milner and former Chelsea veteran Frank Lampard are all in contention to start in central midfield.

Captain Vincent Kompany made his return from a calf injury against Swansea, but Spanish playmaker David Silva is not expected to play after missing City's last four games with a knee problem.

Recent form does not favor City. The English champion has won only two of its last nine Champions League home matches, while Bayern has lost just one of its last 13 away games in the competition.