The players of city are confident that, Manchester City can make a step forward in the Champions League this season as they prepare for Wednesday's last-16 tie
with Dynamo Kiev.
The Premier League side have been eliminated from the competition at the first knockout round in each of the last two years, having come up against Barcelona both times.
While City have been linked to several big signings at the end of the season as they await the arrival of coach Pep Guardiola, Zabaleta insists Manuel Pellegrini's men are good enough to reach a new level in the tournament already.
"It's a competition in which we've reached the last-16 for the last two years and now is a chance to make a step forward," he told reporters.
"We know this club is making a lot of effort to bring in top players but we know we are 100 per cent focused on what is a big chance for us to continue in the tournament. We need to perform well and see if we can get a result."
City arrive into the contest on the back of a 5-1 drubbing in the FA Cup at the hands of Chelsea, but Zabaleta acknowedged there are likely to be significant changes in team selection, after Pellegrini named six youth academy graduates in his starting line-up last time out.
"It's a different competition," he said. "I know we are coming in from a big defeat but now we are 100 per cent focused for the game on Wednesday. It's a different game."
The 31-year-old was part of the team that experienced defeat in Kiev during their Europa League campaign five years ago and suggested the current team would once again face a tough test.
"Last time we played here in 2011 it is not a good memory. We lost the game but it's a long time ago," Zabaleta said.
"When you come to this country you play against good teams and you have to be well prepared to compete well. It's going to be a tough game, they have very good players. We expect a very hard game."
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