Manchester City begin their latest Champions League quest next week knowing if they want to succeed they must do it tough again.
City had little luck in the group stage draws for their four previous forays into the competition and again difficult obstacles block their path to the last 16.
They open on Tuesday with a testing visit from last season's runners-up Juventus, while Bundesliga opposition in Borussia Monchengladbach and Europa League title-holders Sevilla lie in wait.
City have twice failed to progress beyond the group stage and twice gone out to Barcelona in the last 16.
But with the club now firmly established at the top of the English game, greater progress on the European front is expected.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini and his players know they will have to rise to the challenge and, given their powerful displays in the opening weeks of the season, they should be confident.
"It is a tough group," said midfielder Fernandinho. "We have tough games against good teams but I think if we keep playing like we are playing in the Premier League, we have a great chance to finish top of the group."
The mood at the Etihad Stadium has been transformed since the closing months of last season.
There was no shame in defeat to an outstanding Barcelona side last spring but that Champions League exit came at a time when the Pellegrini regime was threatening to go stale.
The verve of the previous title-winning season was gone and the Premier League crown was being surrendered weakly to Chelsea. The futures of Pellegrini and a number of his senior players were in question. A summer clear-out of backroom or playing staff was anticipated.
But neither occurred. Instead the club backed the men that had delivered before, and spent money to re-energise them. The high-profile £49million signing of Raheem Sterling was a bold statement of ambition and changed the squad atmosphere.
This was built on as the arrivals of, principally, Fabian Delph, Nicolas Otamendi and Kevin de Bruyne took the summer transfer window spending close to £160million. Other key players such as captain Vincent Kompany and midfielder Yaya Toure also returned looking more like their old selves after under-performing last term.
With inexperience no longer a factor, City look as ready as they will ever be to launch a serious challenge in Europe's elite competition.
Next week will show if City have learned from the mistakes of past seasons and their renewed zest can be transferred onto the Champions League stage.
After being paired with Bayern Munich in three of the past four years, this year's opponents also bring some freshness which may appeal to fans.
There is some familiarity with Juve, however, regardless of reported interest in star midfielder Paul Pogba over the summer that came to nothing. The clubs played out two 1-1 draws in the group stages of the Europa League five years ago. Players including Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Kompany, Toure and David Silva were involved.
Pellegrini has also crossed paths with his opposite number Massimiliano Allegri previously.
Three years ago Pellegrini's Malaga met Allegri's AC Milan in the group stages. Malaga won 1-0 at home and drew 1-1 in the San Siro.
