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The Premier League champions put their reputation on the line tomorrow night when Barca go to the Etihad Stadium for a last 16 showdown in the Champions League.

Manuel Pellegrini's men are on a revenge mission after being dumped out of the competition by Barca 4-1 at the same stage last season.

Luis Enrique's men are favourites to go through and boast one of the most feared attacking line-ups in world football with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in their ranks.

But City captain Kompany has lit the blue touch paper ahead of the crunch clash by insisting no one at City is trembling.

The Belgium ace said: "We don't fear them. You don't go in at this level fearing strikers. We want to play against them. It will be the third time in 12 months we've faced them now.

"There's nothing new to worry us, it's a case of having the whole team at a very high level.

"They're a special team with special players, of course. But I think their ability is not about hurting you all game - you can have tougher games when you go to Stoke City.

"They have more players than anyone else in the world who can finish games with a touch of magic.

"But I've come into football to play these games. From the moment I'm feeling reluctant to play in these games I'm not in the right place. This is what I want."

Kompany is convinced Pellegrini's men can dump out Barca and go on to become European champions themselves.

He added: "We've been showing signs of improvement in the last few weeks and that's the way we have to carry on now. Everyone is focussed again.

"I think everyone is ready for it. Our team has been proving our determination in recent years.

"We've always come back. We're putting in a fight again for the Premier League and we'll put in a fight for the Champions League too.

"The history of this club tells you that in the past six years we always keep progressing. It's only a matter of time."