Man City vs. Barcelona: Breaking Down Samir Nasri's Display in Champions League

Manchester City have suffered in the Champions League a few times since qualifying for the competition back in 2012, but their 2-1 defeat at home to Barcelona on Tuesday night, which saw them completely outplayed in the first 45 minutes, must rank as their most difficult night.

Expectation was huge prior to kick-off. City, who lost to the Spanish side at the same stage last season, were expected to have learned the lessons of the past and approach the game less naively. Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to adopt a 4-4-2 formation undermined much of that, with City, once again in Europe, left way too open and easy to pick off.

Every outfield player suffered, even David Silva and Sergio Aguero, who both came out of the game with their reputation unharmed. Samir Nasri, though, was a victim of his side being completely overran. He struggled to impact the game to any great degree and was substituted on the hour.

Jon Super/Associated Press

He showed some lovely touches, as he always does, and he worked hard without the ball as City tried in vain to contain the visitors, but he made nowhere near the kind of impact he would have liked.

In recent weeks, Nasri has been one of City’s best performers. He links up expertly with Silva, with the two enjoying an understanding above and beyond any other pairing in the side.

The Frenchman has wonderful ability, and he is arguably one of the best in the Premier League at keeping possession of the ball through a combination of strength and skill. It makes him one of the most creative players around, and one vital to City’s style of play.

But against Barcelona, he was pretty much a passenger, left on the periphery of the game as Barcelona took City apart. It was one of the most one-sided 45 minutes of football you’ll see in the knockout phase of this year’s competition.

With Neymar, the principle threat down the left, enjoying himself as his side played with verve and confidence, Nasri was often pinned back, forced to do too much defensive work and not enough in the final third, where he excels.

He was completely nullified by the brilliance of Barca.

Jon Super/Associated Press

His blocked shot at the beginning of the second half sparked City into life and their tempo was much better thereafter. By then, though, it felt too late. Barcelona were 2-0 ahead, with their superiority clear for all to see when Nasri was sacrificed after 62 minutes in favour of Fernandinho. It proved to be a decent substitution, as City enjoyed more possession with the Brazilian in midfield.

Prior to the game, Nasri told Sky Sports:

"

I think we respected them too much but, at the same time, last year didn't have enough experience to compete with a club like this, with its history.

They know how to deal with this kind of game. They know how to win the Champions League. For us it was the first time that we went through the group stage. I think it was just too much of a big game for us. We were not ready.

But I think this year is totally different. We know what we are capable of. We are going to respect them as players but we are not going to be scared. We are just going to play and try to win it.

For us it is a different game. We are a better team, physically, than last year. Last year before the first game we had a couple of players injured.

Everything will be different. We have more experience about this competition than last year. We won two difficult games in the group stage. It is just a matter of winning the game, not about revenge.

"

Unfortunately for City, and indeed Nasri himself, that turned out to be empty rhetoric.

He will be desperate to prove his worth in the second leg, but City now have a mountain to climb if they want to progress. It was a bad night for City and a bad night for Nasri.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.