Manchester City Defeated Themselves with Costly Errors in Barcelona

In many ways, Manchester City's performance against Barcelona on Wednesday was the best they've managed in their five recent encounters with the Liga side.

The previous four games, all defeats, saw City outclassed for long periods without ever looking a threat. This time, they were on par with their more illustrious opponents for much of the opening 53 minutes, before goalkeeper Claudio Bravo saw red for a moment of madness.

The Chilean's dismissal changed the flow of the game, resulting in a 4-0 defeat—the joint-heaviest of Pep Guardiola's managerial career and one that leaves City in a difficult situation in Group C.

Guardiola’s return to the club with whom he spent 11 years as a player and four hugely successful years as a manager was ruined by a moment of madness from someone he signed this summer and installed as his No. 1 at the expense of Joe Hart, a highly regarded player in east Manchester.

It was City's fourth game without a win, a crisis in the eyes of some, but there were some positives to be taken.

City conceded two in quick succession after Bravo's dismissal, but before that major turning point, they had created chances and matched the home side in terms of pressing and the speed of their passing.

John Stones missed a free header when City were just a goal behind, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen made three outstanding saves throughout the night. Even Barcelona’s opener, scored by Lionel Messi, had a touch of misfortune about it, as Fernandinho slipped in the area at a crucial moment.

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[STANDINGS] How Group C looks after Barça's 4-0 win over Man City and 'Gladbach's win away at Celtic #FCBlive pic.twitter.com/6hSyRSeQpl

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 19, 2016"

This wasn't a case of City being outdone by a far superior side, as it was in 2014 and 2015. On those occasions, City had to hold their hands up and admit they were second best. On Wednesday, their inferiority complex appeared to have dissipated and belief ran through the side. They wanted the ball, and when they got, it they took risks and moved it quickly and effectively.

But Bravo’s red card proved crucial. He came out to deal with danger and made a hash of his clearance, playing it straight to Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan attempted to lob the ‘keeper, who instinctively stuck his hands up to stop the shot. He was well outside his area, leaving referee Milorad Mazic with only one option.

There were many left confused by Guardiola’s decision to send Hart on loan to Torino without giving him a chance to impress, with his inferior ball-playing skills understood to be the issue. Bravo was brought in, as the City manager made passing from the back a priority.

Hart could be forgiven for affording himself a wry smile when he sees the Chile international’s error at the Camp Nou.

Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Bravo has come through a few hairy moments in possession already in his short City career—but this time, he was caught out badly. His style is risky, something Guardiola has acknowledged, but when it works, there are high rewards. Some of his passing into midfield this season has been exemplary and set City off on attacks. Perhaps the odd error is to be expected, but this one was both glaring and costly.

"I spoke with Claudio," Guardiola said afterward. "He was disappointed, but it's part of the game. Football is a game of mistakes. He knows what he did.

“He has a lot of experience, and he’s one of best goalkeepers in [the] last 10 years. I don’t have doubts about him. He’s disappointed, but he'll learn from that."

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PEP: We have had to change the dynamic but I asked my players to play with personality and we did it. #mcfc

— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 19, 2016"

Bravo later said, per Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News:

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It changed the course of the game, we were playing very well, creating opportunities and it is what it is, football is like that.

It is a game of mistakes and correct decisions. It’s just bad luck that I was the person that changed the course of the game. But it’s like that. We must keep working hard and look at the next games.

They have a team that is very difficult but we were playing well, we were comfortable, especially in the first half. And it was clear that the game changed after the sending off.

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Messi went on to complete his hat-trick, with individual errors costing City again, before Neymar added a brilliant fourth.

Messi, Suarez and Neymar have scored 100 goals between them in 2016, a remarkable statistic that underlines the quality at Luis Enrique’s disposal.

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Messi, Suárez and Neymar have now scored 27 goals between them this season in all comps 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/mO6LSsazax

— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 19, 2016"

Raheem Sterling impressed again with his willingness to run at defenders and stretch the game. His renaissance has been one of the most enjoyable subplots to City's season so far, having been mercilessly criticised by fans and pundits for his poor form in the previous campaign.

It’s been a complete reversal in form for the winger. He looks confident every time he picks up the ball and is beating players with ease. Last season, he looked inhibited, seemingly encouraged to play one- and two-touch passing rather than run with the ball and express himself. What a difference a new management team can make.

The biggest story prior to kick-off was Guardiola’s decision to leave Sergio Aguero on the bench for the second successive game. The man who has 11 goals from just eight appearances this term sat out the draw with Everton on Saturday, a move thought to be about resting the striker for the toughest game of City’s season so far. Clearly, there’s a bigger issue.

Guardiola has hinted throughout the campaign that he wants more from his star striker, suggesting his play outside the 18-yard box needs improvement. "Sergio is quality," he said after the win at Swansea City in September. "His first step, second step in the box is so good, and that is why he is one of the best strikers in the world—but I want to help him improve his game."

His omission saw Kevin De Bruyne operate as a false nine, and Guardiola said afterward that he wanted an additional midfielder in a game that was set to be tight and technical.

"I wanted one more midfield player in that position, and that was the reason why [Aguero didn’t play]," he said. "I spoke with him, and he was good. The decision was made this afternoon."

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

City showed for much of the game that they can compete with Barcelona tactically and technically. However, individual errors are too often their undoing in the Champions League. Quite how Guardiola goes about eradicating them is unclear, but if City want to be successful in Europe, they must become more difficult to beat.

Their attention now turns to Sunday’s game with Southampton, which feels critical. Five games without a victory would be unthinkable for a side that started the season as title favourites and registered 10 straight wins in all competitions.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.