• Champions League

Nasri hails 'miracle' of Rome as City sneak through

Samir Nasri was on target for Manchester City as they defeated Roma on Wednesday © Getty Images

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Samir Nasri has claimed it was "a miracle" that Manchester City qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League after making a dreadful start to their European campaign.

Kompany ready to return

Vincent Kompany has missed his side's last three games © Getty Images

• Manchester City are optimistic that captain Vincent Kompany will be fit to make his comeback against Leicester on Saturday.
  
  The centre-back has missed City's last three games with calf and hamstring problems and although he was in the squad for their 2-0 win at Roma in the Champions League, manager Manuel Pellegrini decided not to gamble on his fitness.
  
  "I hope Vincent can be fit for Saturday," Pellegrini said. "It was a risk for him to play because he has a problem with his hamstring and his calf. It was better for him and the team not to play."
  
  In Kompany's absence, Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala were paired in the middle of the defence as City kept their first Champions League clean sheet of the season.

Nasri scored City's first goal and set up Pablo Zabaleta's late second as they won 2-0 in Roma on Wednesday to finish as runners-up in Group E.

But they only took two points from their first four games and were 2-1 down after 84 minutes in the fifth before two late Sergio Aguero goals completed his hat-trick and defeated Bayern Munich.

They then went from fourth in the pool to second with their victory in Rome and Nasri admitted it was an excellent turnaround.

"It feels great," Nasri said. "It was the target at the start of the night and we knew if we were patient we would win the game. We are happy because it was a miracle after four games, when we had two points."

City have also mounted dramatic escapes to win the Premier League in two of the last three seasons, coming from eight points behind to clinch the title by winning their last five and six games respectively.

Nasri added: "It is always the same with City, we like to do it the hard way and we did it again."

Left-back Gael Clichy admitted that City were below par at the start of the group but claimed the true character of his side shone through in the end.

"Two games ago, we were quite far and no one expected us to do so," Clichy said. "Now we see the real side that won the Premier League last year. I think we are improving. It is about time because in the first part of the season we did not play well. It is a great night for us and the fans.

The former Arsenal defender argued that City's fortunes changed in the 2-1 victory against Swansea, three days before the Bayern game.

"I think the turning point was against Swansea," he added. "We conceded less goals, less chances and we scored more goals. Bayern Munich was a big game because we were 2-1 down and we came back and won the game."

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