BARCELONA v MANCHESTER CITY: To know, Previous meetings, Prediction

Dehinbo Timothy

Josep Guardiola returns to the club where he made his name when Manchester City FC visit FC Barcelona on matchday three. This meeting of the top two in Group C will take several other Barcelona old boys back to their former club director of football Txiki Begiristain, goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, winger Nolito, and assistant coach Mikel Arteta.

Previous meetings.
The clubs met for the first time in a competitive fixture in the 2013/14 round of 16. Barcelona won 2-0 in England with Lionel Messi (pen) and Dani Alves scoring, and that pair struck again in a 2-1 victory back at the Camp Nou, either side of Vincent Kompany’s goal. In both games City had a man sent off Martín Demichelis, then Pablo Zabaleta.

Barcelona prevailed again at the  same stage in 2014/15. In Manchester, Luis Suárez scored twice in a 2-1 win, in which Sergio Agüero also found the net, Gaël Clichy was sent off, and Messi had a last-minute penalty saved by Joe Hart.

Back in Barcelona, Ivan Rakitić got the only goal and Marc-André ter Stegen saved an Agüero spot kick.Barcelona are seeking a third Group C victory after beating Celtic FC 7-0and VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1.

The Celtic result made it 12 home UEFA Champions League wins in a row. Overall, Barcelona are unbeaten in 17 matches at home in the competition since September 2013 (W16, D1).

Barcelona’s last encounter with Premier League opposition came against Arsenal FC in last season’s round of 16: 2-0 (A), 3-1 (H). Their overall home record against English clubs is W18 D11 L2.

Manchester City followed up an  opening 4-0 win over Mönchengladbach by drawing 3-3 at Celtic on matchday two. The Premier League club had mixed fortunes in Spain last season.

They won 3-1 at Sevilla FC in the group stage with Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho among the scorers – but lost 1-0 at Real Madrid CF in the semi-finals. City’s overall away record against Spanish sides is W2 D1 L6.

This is Guardiola’s second return to the Camp Nou as a coach, following a 3-0 defeat with FC Bayern Munchen in the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League semi-finals and he would be welcomed at Camp nou.

There were differing fortunes for both sides at the weekend with City drawing 1-1 against Everton while Barcelona eased past Real Betis. Pep started with three at the back without wing backs; Clichy, Otamendi and Stones in a 3-3-1-3 set up.

This certainly, was a ploy to protect the defence as the full backs struggled in their last two matches prior to the international break especially Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandr Kolarov. Aguero started from the bench and came on in the second half to miss a penalty, one of the two City missed, the other being Kevin de Bruyne in the first half. Pep, famously played three at the back with Bayern at Camp Nou in 2015.

A ploy which was certainly done to give his side more bodies in midfield as they went toe to toe with Barca for over an hour before eventually succumbing to a late Lionel Messi’s masterclass as the Argentine scored twice while Neymar added gloss to the scoreline with a stoppage time third.

With Pep, you never can tell what formation he’ll come up with, especially with the availability of Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan giving the Catalan various options in midfield. Considering how poor Zabaleta has been, Pep might continue with a back three as opposed to a back four that has been predominant this season.

Why? It’ll be sucide having the Argentine coming up against Neymar. The Brazilian is known for his pace, silky footworks and his sharp, precise, crisp and intricate movement and interchange with Suarez or Messi (when moved centrally) could be devastating.

Nolito should come back into the XI in place of Leroy Sane, while Aguero should replace Kelechi Iheanacho upfront.
City have struggled against teams that press high up the pitch; Celtic and Tottenham are testimonies to this fact. With the MSN pressing from the front, it could be a long night for City’s defence.

Fernandinho has impressed in a deep lying position this season, but could struggle against Barca’s midfield trio of Iniesta, Busquets and Rakitic due to their press. He had a poor game against Celtic as he couldn’t handle the home side’s fast and furious press.

Barcelona’s defence aren’t without issues of their own. This was brutally exposed in the 4-3 defeat to Celta Vigo prior to the international break. Jordi Alba’ll find it difficult coming up against Sterling. The Englishman is pacy and tricky, and Alba’s penchant for marauding foward could leave him suspectible to counter-attacks via his channel.

Nolito on the other flank, will likely be tasked with tracking back to help the defence, especially with Lionel Messi operating on that Channel.

Barcelona should win this, but not without a fight from City.

PREDICTION: BARCELONA 3-1 MANCHESTER CITY