Balotelli is Mancini's weapon

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes that striker Mario Balotelli will be the man who makes the difference in City's Champions League campaign.

Balotelli has been in good form recently, scoring in the home win against Everton and away against Blackburn. These performances have prompted Mancini to shower praise on his troubled forward.

"I'm happy with him [Balotelli]," said Mancini, speaking to Il Domani dello Sport.

"I'm sure this time he will continue to play well. He will become our lethal weapon in the Champions League."

When asked about their displays in the Premier League, the Italian said, "Well, we are first in the Premier League with United.

"We are a real team, we lack only experience. I'm happy."

However, things have not been so easy in Europe, with City taking only one point of a possible six, losing to Bayern Munich and drawing with Napoli.

However, Mancini was still upbeat about his team's chances to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.

"It's a tough group. Villarreal are almost out, there are three teams for two spots.

"I think that with 9-10 points the qualification is possible. Napoli-Bayern will be the key match: it won't be decisive, but will give a direction to the whole group.

"Bayern are very strong, but in Munich there were two clear penalties for us when the score was 0-0. Their goals were casual and we were out of the match after 2-0."