By Alan Duffy
Manchester City 1-2 Barcelona – Champions League Last 16 First Leg – 24th February 2015
A late penalty miss from Lionel Messi of all people kept alive Man City’s chances of overcoming Barcelona and making it through to the quarter-finals. However, at the Etihad on Tuesday night, it was the Spaniards who shone for large periods of the game.
A superb brace from Luis Suarz, who has now netted four goals in his last two games against Joe Hart (this one and his brace against England in the World Cup) put the La Liga giants in the driving seat. Without the suspended Yaya Toure, City struggled against an effervescent Barca side but after the break, the hosts improved.
On 69 minutes, City’s improved play was rewarded with a goal from Sergio Aguero. However, Gael Clichy’s sending-off for a second yellow halted the Premier League side’s comeback. Barcelona then had a chance to seal the result and possibly the tie, when Messi was felled in the box by compatriot Pablo Zabaleta. However, the pint-pized genius saw his spot-kick saved by Hart before, with the goal gaping, he surprisingly headed wide.
City live to fight another day although beating the Catalans at the Camp Nou (and scoring more than one in the process) remains a big ask for Manuel Pellegrini and co.
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Highlights…
Photos: Getty Images
Highlights: Footytube