MAN CITY 3, BARCELONA 1
Manchester City delivered a statement that they are now one of Europe’s big hitters following their victory against Barcelona.
After five successive Champions League defeats against the Catalans, including a 4-0 loss at the Nou Camp 13 days earlier, they finally banished the painful memories from past encounters.
City also had to do it the hard way after falling behind to a Lionel Messi goal as they produced a stirring fightback.
Barcelona largely controlled the opening period that was played at their pace and tempo, though Ilkay Gundogan’s equaliser late in the half provided hope.
But in the second half it was an altogether different story as City played the game more like a Premier League game, and Barcelona could not live with them.
Further goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Gundogan sealed victory as injury-hit Barcelona could not live with their opponents.
It was a victory to savour for City manager Pep Guardiola against the club where he was a legend as player and coach.
He said: “The victory today was so important. One more win and we will be in the last 16 in February when hopefully we will be better.
“The victory at West Brom on Saturday was important after six winless games. In that spell we showed many good things and didn’t deserve to be winless for six games when you looked at some of the football we played.”
Guardiola added his side’s performance in Barcelona was better than the opening 38 minutes at the Etihad.
“You saw the best team in the world and Messi was unstoppable. Nobody in the world could stop him,” he declared.
Guardiola added that there is no way City could match Barcelona’s style which is why they went more direct in the second half.
He continued: “This club has been out of Europe for 25/30 years whereas Bayern Munich and Real Madrid played in it every year.
“We have only been together a short time and need time. We are not ready to play that way. We will need 20/25 years to play like that, though we are trying to reduce that time.”
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said his side produced its best and worst during the 90 minutes.
He explained: “It was one of the best 40 minutes we have played then after the error for the first goals we had a bad time.
“When you concede a goal like that way, it is normal to have a bad period after that, but we were unable to overcome that.”
City had Willy Caballero in goal in place of Claudio Bravo who was sent off at the Nou Camp, but it was an otherwise full strength side.
Barcelona, meanwhile, had injury troubles as defenders Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Jeremy Mattieu were all injured as was key midfielder Andres Iniesta.
However, Barcelona’s formidable front three, Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez were all present to provide a stern challenge for City’s defence.
City had a strong shout for a penalty after 11 minutes when Raheem Sterling went down in the box after a challenge by Samuel Umtiti.
Sterling was booked for diving by Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai, though replays showed clear contact. The theatrical way Sterling went down no doubt influenced the match official’s decision.
Barcelona rode their luck to take the lead after 21 minutes following a swift counter attack after Sergio Aguero’s shot was blocked.
A ball out of defence found Neymar and the Brazilian burst down the left before playing the ball inside to Messi who ran through a gaping hole in the centre of City’s defence to slot a shot low past Caballero, his 16th goal in 14 games for club and country this season.
Neymar came within a whisker of making it 2-0 when his shot was turned on to the upright by Caballero.
Barcelona might also have had a penalty when Messi went down under a challenge from Fernandinho, and he was convinced it ought to have been a spot kick.
Barcelona controlled the game until a rare mistake by the visitors handed City an equaliser on a plate after 39 minutes.
Right back Sergi Roberto played a dangerous pass across the back four that was intercepted by Aguero. He release Sterling on the right and his cross to the far post was confidently converted by Gundogan, his fourth goal of the season and third in his last two games.
Suddenly City found a new impetus to their game and they could have taken the lead when Fernandinho’s cross was almost met by Aguero who was sliding in. Had he connected, it would have been a certain goal.
City ought to have taken the lead from the restart when Aguero released Sterling, Instead of shooting, he took an extra touch and was driven wide, eventually shooting into the side netting from a tight angle.
They made no mistake after 52 minutes, though, after Sergio Busquets fouled David Silva 25 yards out in a central position. De Bruyne stepped forward and found the top corner with a magnificent delivery.
Aguero flashed a header justwide from six yards as City were now in the ascendancy.
They suffered a blow on the hour when midfield general Fernandinho limped off to be replaced by Fernando Reges.
It was turning out to be a pulsating half.
A bad back pass by John Stones was intercepted by Suarez who played the ball inside to Andre Gomes who looked certain to score, but his shot crashed against the bar.
At the other end Sterling set up De Bruyne whose excellent bent shot struck the outside of the upright.
City made their second change with 20 minutes left as Sterling was replaced by Jesus Navas.
And within four minutes Navas provided the assist for City’s third goal. His cross struck Aguero on the back as he dived to head home and the ball fell invitingly for Gundogan to rifle home his second of the game and second double in four days.
City brought on Nolito for De Bruyne in the dying minutes as they comfortably saw out of a game they nullified the threat of Barcelona’s feared front three and also produced a terrific attacking display.