Tomiwa Babalola
Barcelona welcomes Manchester City to the Camp Nou on Wednesday night in the second leg of their UEFA champions league second-leg tie, the first which ended 2-1 in favour of the Spanish giants, mid February.
The Luis Enrique's men will approach the game with lots of confidence following their victory over Eibar in the Spanish La Liga, and it will also serve as a preparation for this weekend's El Classico against Real Madrid.
If Barcelona beat City tonight, they would have reached the champions league quarter finals a record of eight times on a row.
Meanwhile, Xavi Hernandez will start for Barcelona tonight for Sergio Busquets who is our injured, and the trio of Messi, Neymar and Suarez remains the attacking option for the Catalans coach.
Yaya Toure will boost the City team as he was missing in the first leg at the Ethiad few weeks back, and Toure has said that it is always cool to be back at his former club, but admitted that winning at the Camp nou will be a difficult task for them.
Barcelona have won 16 of their last 17 games, while City have only managed to win one out of their last four games, the latest against relegation bound Burnley at the weekend.
Luis Enrique, Barcelona coach
There's only one match on our minds and that's the one against City. Not the Clásico. It would be dangerous to play a cagey match. Our objective is to win and play better than our opponents. A place in the next round is at stake. You play the whole season for these games and that's why the press room is full today.
There's only one match on our minds and that's the one against City. Not the Clásico. It would be dangerous to play a cagey match. Our objective is to win and play better than our opponents. A place in the next round is at stake. You play the whole season for these games and that's why the press room is full today.
Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager
We need to play like we did in the second half of the first leg. For part of the first half Barça controlled the game but in the second half we had chances. We need to play 11 v 11 and then we have a team that can play like we did in the second half.
We need to play like we did in the second half of the first leg. For part of the first half Barça controlled the game but in the second half we had chances. We need to play 11 v 11 and then we have a team that can play like we did in the second half.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba; Xavi, Rakitić, Iniesta; Suárez, Messi, Neymar.
Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov; Fernando, Fernandinho; Milner, Touré, Silva; Agüero.
Champions League preview: Man City admits beating Barcelona at Camp Nou is difficult
Reviewed by Unknown
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13:35:00
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Reviewed by Unknown
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13:35:00
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