Agüero clings to hope as City in last-chance saloon

Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero has an added incentive to keep his side's slim Champions League hopes alive when they welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Having yet to win a match in Group D, City are rock bottom with two points, yet victories over Real and in their final match away to group leaders Borussia Dortmund could see them squeeze into the last 16, depending on results elsewhere.

"It's always special to play against a club like Real Madrid. Personally, my connection with Atletico Madrid gives it an additional kick - but there's no difference in how much I want to win this match," Agüero told City's website (www.mcfc.co.uk)

"Never defeating Real when I was with Atletico was a real regret for me - Atletico haven't succeeded in beating them for many years - but I did get to score against them even if we never managed a win.

"Wednesday night will hopefully break that run for me."

It looks a tall order, but a 5-0 home victory against Aston Villa on Saturday, when Agüero netted twice, sent them top of the Premier League and raised spirits in time for the visit of Jose Mourinho's side who could go through if they better Ajax's result against Dortmund.

City have only won three of their 10 matches in the Champions League since qualifying last season and failure to beat Real would eliminate them at the group stage for the second consecutive season although Aguero said they were determined to fight until the end.

"We should never give up," the Argentine said. "Where there's a will, there's a way, right?

"Of course, it's harder now because we're not just relying on ourselves but also on the other teams' results.

"What we mustn't do is leave the pitch with any regrets and be content knowing that we have given our all. This club deserves nothing less and our supporters deserve as much, too."