Date: Wednesday, March 12 Venue: Nou Camp Kick-Off: 19:45 Can Manchester City overcome a two goal deficit when they face Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 encounter at the Nou Camp on Wednesday evening?
Team News
Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino has virtually a fully-fit squad to select from as his side prepare to welcome Manchester City to the Nou Camp. Reserve goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto returns from a back injury but Jonathan dos Santos and Isaac Cuenca are sidelined. Manchester City will be without Martin Demichelis following his red card in the first leg while centre-back colleague Matija Nastasic is out with a knee injury, meaning Joleon Lescott should start. Sergio Aguero is fit again after missing out a fortnight ago due to a hamstring injury, but strike partner Stevan Jovetic is absent with a hamstring problem of his own.
Key Stats
Barcelona have gone through on 32 of the 34 times they have won the first away leg in a European tie. However, they let a two-goal advantage slip when they were knocked out of the European Cup Winners' Cup first round by Metz in 1984/85. Sergio Aguero, who missed the first leg with a hamstring injury, has not scored since returning from the sidelines in two appearances, but Manchester City have struck 122 times this season. City have never reached the last eight of the Champions League in their history.
Likely Line-Ups
Barcelona Valdes, Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas, Alexis, Messi, Neymar Man City Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Navas, Fernandinho, Toure, Silva, Aguero, Negredo
Match Preview
Manchester City's season is on the verge of collapse. At the beginning of March, City won the League Cup by defeating Sunderland, and looked to be well on course to add yet more trophies to their cabinet come the end of the season. But after being shockingly dumped from the FA Cup on home soil by Championship side Wigan Athletic at the weekend, hopes of a record haul are over. An unprecedented quadruple will not be achieved and neither will an equally-historic English treble, while City could find themselves out of another cup competition by the end of the night. Barcelona hold a strong advantage going into this second leg having prevailed 2-0 at the Etihad a fortnight ago and are strong favourites to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. The reigning Spanish champions have gone through on 32 of the 34 times they have won the first away leg in a European tie and are at full strength with Neymar returning to the fold. However, Barca's run of form has also been irregular of late, amassing just 10 points in their last six league games and crashing to defeat over Real Valladolid on Saturday. That should give the Citizens hope that they can overhaul a two-nil aggregate scoreline, as will the return to fitness of leading goalscorer Sergio Aguero. Aguero missed the first leg but will lead the line tonight with his side needing to put on the kind of attacking masterclass exhibited throughout the campaign now more than ever. I expect City to give it a good go, but they've never reached the quarter-final stage of the Champions League and it remains to be seen if they have the maturity to do so this term. Prediction: 1-1 (Agg. 3-1) Source -- bbc
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
