Manchester City vs. Barcelona: Score, Grades, Reaction from Champions League
Manchester City 1-2 Barcelona
Luis Suarez scored twice on his return to England to give Barcelona a 2-1 advantage in their Champions League last-16 tie with Manchester City, but Lionel Messi wasted a glorious chance to effectively seal their progress into the quarter-finals.
The former Liverpool striker opened the scoring in the 16th minute before doubling the Camp Nou side's lead on the half-hour mark.
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Manuel Pellegrini had opted for an attacking 4-4-2 formation, but the selection backfired as the mesmeric Messi controlled the game.
Despite maintaining that formation and personnel for the second half, a much-improved City fought their way back into the tie with a 69th-minute goal from Sergio Aguero.
However, with the home team's tails up after that goal, Gael Clichy was dismissed in the 74th minute after a second caution to knock the momentum gained from Aguero's strike.
And in the final minute of the game, Pablo Zabaleta was adjudged to have brought down Messi inside the area. But Messi's shot was saved by Joe Hart before the Argentina star headed the rebound wide of an open goal.
The result will see Barcelona as strong favourites to progress to the last eight, but City can take heart from their improvement after the interval, and with the Catalan club set to play Real Madrid days after the second leg, that Aguero goal offers more hope for the Premier League side.
Edin Dzeko maintained his place alongside Aguero with Wilfried Bony on the bench, while James Milner, who returned from a knee injury, replaced the suspended Yaya Toure in midfield.
Martin Demichelis, who received a red card in the same tie last year, came in for Eliaquim Mangala in an adventurous 4-4-2 formation for Manuel Pellegrini.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen replaced Claudio Bravo in goal for Barcelona, with Andres Iniesta preferred to Xavi in midfield.
There was an early scare for City when a long Messi ball almost found Neymar, but Vincent Kompany got a foot to it first to clear the danger.
At the other end, David Silva produced a similar ball to find Dzeko, but the striker's shot was blocked by Gerard Pique.
Milner then struck a free-kick into the Barcelona wall after Aguero had been brought down by Javier Mascherano 20 yards from goal.
Play switched to the other end, and a brilliant touch by Neymar took him past Pablo Zabaleta before he found Messi in the left-hand channel, but Demichelis was quick to block.
Suarez then found the side-netting after Ivan Rakitic dispossessed Fernando in the centre of the pitch.
"Not the first time this season Fernando has done something like that.
— Rob (@RobPollard_) February 24, 2015"
In the 16th minute, though, the former Liverpool striker opened the scoring. Dani Alves linked with Messi on the right flank before the Argentine swung a cross to the near post. Kompany could not clear fully, and the ball dropped for Suarez to slam home with an angled shot.
But Barcelona showed a potential fallibility moments later when Dzeko was allowed to rise unmarked and head a cross just wide of goal.
Hart was quick off his line to deny Suarez in the 26th minute after a great through ball from Neymar, but City needed to find a foothold on the game.
And at the half-hour mark, Messi was the architect of Barcelona's second goal. The forward danced between three City players before finding Jordi Alba on the left, and his cross was turned home by Suarez.
Hart shared a smile with Messi after reacting swiftly to counter the South American's run into the area as Barcelona looked to kill the tie off before half-time.
Alves was fortunate when a rebound off Milner fell into his path to allow him to scamper forward, but his dinked shot, which appeared to be deflected, hit off the crossbar.
Ter Stegen was finally tested in the final minute of the half when he pushed away a drive from Samir Nasri.
But there was no doubting that Messi and Barcelona were in control of the game as the half came to its conclusion.
Despite keeping the same personnel, City looked livelier in the opening stages of the second period, and Dzeko went close with a near-post header from a Nasri corner in the 48th minute.
Mascherano then produced a superb block to deny Nasri inside the area after great build-up play by the home team.
Dzeko squandered a gilt-edged opportunity from the resulting corner when Kompany flicked the ball into his path on the edge of the six-yard box. But despite being unmarked, the striker could find no momentum for his header, and Ter Stegen gratefully collected.
In the 54th minute, Aguero finally found his feet when he evaded the challenge of Mascherano before curling a shot wide of the post.
Dzeko rose highest at the back post to find Demichelis inside the six-yard area, but the Argentina international's header was straight at Ter Stegen.
Clichy was shown a yellow card in the 59th minute for a trip on Rakitic to leave him suspended for the second leg at the Camp Nou, which could lead to a possible return for Aleksandar Kolarov.
Pellegrini made his first change moments later with Fernandinho coming on to replace Nasri, leaving Milner to move to the right flank.
Pique produced a terrific block to prevent a low Aguero cross finding its target of Dzeko in the Barcelona area in the 66th minute, as the improved City looked to find a way back into the game.
That potential tap-in would have been the Bosnian's last touch as he was replaced by Bony in the 68th minute.
And in the 69th minute, City got the goal their second-half display warranted. After Clichy had taken the ball from Messi on the halfway line, he found Fernandinho, whose precision pass found Silva on the edge of the area. His backheel found Aguero chasing in, and he jumped the challenge of Pique before firing home.
Barcelona made their first switch of the night, bringing Jeremy Mathieu into the action for Rakitic as Luis Enrique battened down the hatches.
But in the 74th minute, history repeated itself once more as City were reduced to 10 men when Clichy earned a second yellow for a foul on Alves a year after Demichelis had been sent off in the corresponding match in the Champions League.
Silva was sacrificed for Bacary Sagna after the dismissal to ensure their back line did not lose its shape for the remainder of the game.
Alves was substituted for Adriano but displayed his displeasure by kicking a water bottle as he left the field, while Pedro came on for Neymar.
Adriano was booked in the 88th minute for bringing down Aguero as the City striker threatened to break clear on the left.
But in the final minute of the game, Zabaleta brought down Messi to gift his Argentina team-mate the chance to extend their lead. However, Hart saved wonderfully well before Messi headed the rebound wide with the goal gaping.
Selected Player Ratings
Luis Suarez: A
The script had, arguably, been written that the former Liverpool striker would score on his return to England, and so it proved. Suarez showed great determination throughout, and his movement in the area for second goal was exemplary. Barely featured in the second half, though, against an improved City.
Vincent Kompany: B+
The Manchester City defender has not been at his best in recent weeks, and after looking solid early on, he could have done better for the opening goal.
Lionel Messi: A
The Barcelona star was simply magnificent once more, controlling the game without ever appearing to break sweat. City's second-half improvement could be put down to cutting out the Argentine's threat. But his missed penalty in the final minute and subsequent headed rebound wide were a downside on his display.
Joe Hart: A+
The best City player on show in the opening 45 minutes. The England international made a number of smart moves to keep the scoreline down in the first half. His penalty save from Messi in the final minute could prove vital if City are to progress.
Post-Match Reaction
"Luis Enrique: "We beat a great opponent. Now we have to win the game at Camp Nou and leave a good image there too." #fcblive
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) February 24, 2015"
