Sports Magazine 24: Champions League: Manchester City host Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Champions League: Manchester City host Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City enter the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League for the first time on Tuesday night as they host Barcelona.

Despite substantial domestic success under Roberto Mancini, the club failed on each occasion to progress from the group stages.

Now with Manuel Pellegrini at the helm, a free-scoring City navigated a route into the last 16 at the first time of asking under the Chilean - something he has a record of doing, having been this far previously with Villarreal (twice) and Malaga.

Barcelona stand in City's way in the last 16 and this first-leg tie at the Etihad Stadium marks the first time the two sides have ever met in competitive action.

Barca are a daunting force for anyone, but City can take real hope from the Catalan club's relatively poor historical record on English soil.

They have not won in England since 2007, some five games ago, when they beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in the first knockout round - although they still went out on away goals.

Indeed from 28 visits to clubs in England, Barca have won just six matches, although that stat does not include their 3-1 win over Manchester United at Wembley in the final in 2011.

City may have a less illustrious history than their opponents, but they have lost just once in their last 23 continental games at the Etihad with that defeat coming to champions Bayern Munich earlier this season.

Victory over the two legs for Barca would see them book a seventh successive quarter-final appearance.

Man City

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Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is expected to hand Samir Nasri his first start in over a month.

Nasri came off the bench to prove his fitness against Chelsea at the weekend, and he should start ahead of Jesus Navas on the right of midfield.

Sergio Aguero remains sidelined, so Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko compete to start alongside Alvaro Negredo.

Martin Demichelis will continue in central defence because of Matija Nastasic's knee problem. James Milner is suspended for City.

Barcelona

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Neymar returned at the weekend in the comfortable win over Rayo Vallecano and has put himself in contention for a starting place at the Etihad.

The Brazil star has been out for a month with an ankle problem, but he is now fully fit.

Xavi was not risked at the weekend due to a calf injury, but he has travelled to England.

Javier Mascherano is a doubt, which means Carles Puyol is on stand-by to replace the Argentine.

Opta stats

Manchester City's games are the most prolific in the Champions League this season: they've produced 28 goals (18 for, 10 against). Their last three games alone have produced 18 goals.
Manuel Pellegrini won four of his 18 managerial encounters with Barcelona in La Liga.
Lionel Messi (65 goals) is only six goals away from equalling Raul's Champions League goalscoring record (71 goals). He's netted six goals in only three games this season.