Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has played down the anticipated shootout between Sergio Aguero and Arsenal ace Alexis Sanchez.

Comparisons between them have dominated the build-up to the game, but the City boss was reluctant to indulge in such an exercise.

"I don't want to compare him with Sergio," said Pellegrini. "I think Alexis is a very good player, he is having a very good season in England.

"It is not easy for a player in his first season here to score so many goals.

"Alexis is repeating what he did in the last two seasons at Barcelona and scoring a lot. I am very happy for him because he is a very enthusiastic young player and improving.

"It is not the first year from Alexis here in Europe. He had eight or nine years when he was very young in Italy with Udinese and then returned on loan to South America. He played really well in Barcelona and now in England. The football fans in Chile are very happy for him and for the country."