Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has played down comparisons between his current employers and former club Barcelona, the reigning European champions.

Toure netted twice in the 3-0 Champions League win at Villarreal in midweek, a result which moved the Citizens closer to reaching the knockout stages in their first season in the competition.

City,5/6to win the title, are also five points ahead of their rivals at the top of the Premier League table, but Toure is wary of thinking too far ahead at such an early stage of the season.

The former Barca man said: "It is a big difference because Barcelona have been a big team for a long time.

"In Manchester to be like them we have to win some Premier Leagues, some Champions Leagues. They are a top team in the world. We have a long way to go and we have to continue to improve.

"We need to win something this year and we have to have a good mentality."

Toure went on to name the likely candidates for Champions League success this season, with Barca7/4to retain their crown, Real Madrid4/1and City themselves9/1.

"We have a lot of respect for Barcelona, Real Madrid, (Manchester) United, Chelsea - they are always in the Champions League," Toure added.

"It is only the first time we have been in the Champions League and the most important thing for us to go as far as possible, is we continue to work."

View all Football betting at Bet365