Manchester City vs Barcelona: Champions League match preview
A look ahead to this week’s Champions League fixture at the Etihad
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Your support makes all the difference.Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City host four-time European champions on Tuesday looking to avenge their 4-1 aggregate defeat to the Catalans from last year’s competition.
Barcelona saw their run of 11 successive victories end at the hands of Malaga on Saturday where neither Lionel Messi or Neymar registered a shot on target.
City are coming off the back of a 5-0 trouncing of Newcastle and Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo said the English club will “have a feast” against Luis Enrique’s side.
Despite City winning their last two games, scoring nine goals, in their five previous games they had failed to win in five attempts in all competitions.
The Premier League champions have been naïve at times in the competition but will be aided by the experience of veteran Frank Lampard who has played almost 150 European matches.
In-form James Milner may not recover in time from a possible ligament injury but other than that the hosts are at full strength for this crunch clash.
Barca have a full compliment of players to choose from and are expected to have their deadly trio of Luis Suarez, Neymar and Messi leading their potent attack.
KICK-OFF: Tuesday, 7.45pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS…
Barcelona 2 (Messi, Dani Alves) Manchester City 1 (Kompany), Champions League knockout stage, March 2014
Manchester City 0 Barcelona 2 (Messi, Dani Alves), Champions League knockout stage, February 2014
Barcelona 0 Manchester City 1 (Petrov), Friendly, August 2009
STATS…
Barcelona have conceded just five goals in the competition this year.
Of their 15 goals in the tournament, Barcelona have scored just once from a set piece.
City have received twice as many yellow cards (14) and red cards (2) as their opponents so far.
If Barcelona qualify it will be their eighth straight Champions League quarter final.
The hosts are making only their second appearance in the round of 16 and have never reached the last eight.
Four/six stats on each match – try to use a few different sources, find your own if you have time. Write each one out on a separate line.
ODDS…
Manchester City to win: 3.4
Barcelona to win: 2.1
Draw: 3.5
TV: Live on ITV 1 at 7.45pm on Tuesday
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