01 November 2016 - 19:45
Full-Time
Manchester City
FC Barcelona
3-1
Manchester City 3-1 Barcelona live score and goal updates from Champions League clash
Pep Guardiola's side have a chance to avenge their humbling at the Camp Nou a fortnight ago when they host the Spanish champions at the Etihad
Good night
That’s it tonight, folks, and what a night it’s been for Manchester City and their sensational victory over a world class Barcelona.
Ilkay Gundogan’s double and Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick in reply to a special Messi goal probably clinched City’s greatest win in Europe.
What about player ratings? Who took home the Man of the Match?
Guardiola has claimed City came up against the best side in the world.
Barcelona were rampant early on and almost put the game out of sight after Messi’s opener.
But City survived before turning the tide for a historic win.
City were nothing short of sensational in the second-half and De Bruyne was at the heart of their play.
He put his side in front with a stunning free-kick and then had an integral role in the third, which wrapped up the victory.
De Bruyne’s perfectly-weighted pass picked out Jesus Navas and after Aguero failed to convert, Gundogan was on hand to smash home.
The German has four goals in as many days but it was De Bruyne who caught the eye again as he delivered at the vital moments.
Is there anyone better in English football right now?
4. Right-backs ran ragged
Both sets of defenders endured a tough night at the Etihad with Sergi Roberto, in particular, struggling.
The Barca full-back was at fault for the leveller and almost gifted City a second with another slack pass - and his opposite number Pablo Zabaleta didn’t fare much better.
The Argentine, who hadn’t played since the defeat at the Nou Camp, simply didn’t appear up to the task against Barca’s front three.
He isn’t the first and certainly won’t be the last to struggle against Messi and co. but it appears time is starting to catch up with him.
You would expect the City boss to be eyeing a new right-back in the summer - and Barca could be in the market too.
Roberto has impressed before tonight but there’s no doubt Dani Alves’ departure is being felt.
Luis Enrique reacts
Luis Enrique believes his side played superbly until they allowed City back in with the equaliser.
“We played 40 spectacular minutes, but we committed a key mistake and that hurt us because we are not machines,” admits the Blaugrana boss.
“They forced us into mistakes, more than usual. Now the group is open and our objective is to win the two games left.”
3. Iniesta leaves a huge hole to fill
Luis Enrique went into the clash without a number of key players.
Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba were certainly missed at the Etihad but without Andres Iniesta, Barca are not the same team.
Andre Gomes, who replaced him, did OK but the Spanish skipper makes this side tick.
Without him, the visitors were uncharacteristically sloppy as City forced them into mistakes before going on to dominate after the break.
Throughout the second-half, they needed someone to get his foot on the ball and calm things down.
Unfortunately for Enrique, he’s on the treatment table.
2. Pep's pressing game pays off
They might play a better passing game than anyone on the planet but even Barca’s stars can make mistakes.
With Marc-Andre ter Stegen starting attacks from the back, City set to press the visitors high up the pitch - and it paid off.
Pressure was put on Sergi Roberto at right-back, who opted to play a calamitous pass across the box.
Sergio Aguero intercepted and found Raheem Sterling, who in turn picked out Ilkay Gundogan. He simply couldn’t miss.
History almost repeated itself early in the second-half as Roberto again gave the ball away but Sterling could only find the side netting this time.
It is almost impossible to press Barca for 90 minutes but they can be squeezed into errors and City proved it to drag themselves back into the tie.
That was the foundation for their outstanding second-half display.
McManaman feels Ter Stegen was at at fault fro the second goal.
“It was a mistake, a lovely free-kick, but a huge mistake. City deserve it though,” says the former City player.
Ferdinand has been raving about City’s pressing tonight in the studio.
“When you win it, attack! Don’t think about it, just create a problem for the opponent. They could have had two or three more goals. Look at Silva - who associated him with pressing before this? You win it, you don’t stand still, you need runners.”
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