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Barcelona legend Xavi believes that Man City are one of the favourites to win this year's Champions League.

City get their European campaign underway on Wednesday night with a long trip to Kharkiv to take on familiar foe Shakhtar Donetsk and will be looking to move on from the heartbreak of their last game in the competition.

It was a ridiculous, breathtaking game in the last year's quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur which saw City knocked out in the cruelest of circumstances as VAR intervened to correctly deny a last minute winner.

It wasn't the first instance of City being knocked out in heartbreaking fashion under Pep Guardiola after defeats to Monaco and Liverpool in his other two campaigns but they will certainly be hoping it's the last.

Xavi is no stranger to the competition having won it four times, two of which under the stewardship of Guardiola, and not the pass master reckons City are one of the favourites to finally win the iconic trophy this year.

“With Barcelona, I look at Manchester City and Liverpool as being the favourites for the Champions League this season," the Catalan told the Daily Mirror.

“We already know that Liverpool have shown they have what it takes to win the Champions League and they are a very strong team.

“And after two Premier League titles I think Pep will really prioritize the Champions League this season.

“You never know what can happen - but I look at those three as one of the winners.”