UEFA Champions League 2016/2017 Season, Group C: Manchester City Versus Barcelona.

UEFA Champions League 2016/2017 Season, Group C: Manchester City Versus Barcelona.

By Ewah Chika.

Manchester City will go into tonight's game with a big point to prove having gone six games without a win after Barcelona's 4-0 humiliation at the Nou Camp two weeks ago, a run which has become Pep Guardiola's worst career record before the Citizens turned the corner last weekend with the 4-0 spanking of Tony Pulis' West Bromwich Albion.


All of City's last three games in the Champions League have ended with over 2.5 goals scored. Pep Guardiola have only beaten Barcelona , close friend and former team mate Luis Enrique once in their past three meetings since the former Barcelona coach left Nou Camp in 2012. This night, the focus will no longer be on Sergio Aguero's rift with the former Bayern Munich coach who benched him in the first leg in Camp Nou, stating that it wasn't a personal reason rather it was due to his idea of having an addition man in midfield to outnumber the Catalans as Kelvin De Bruyne played as a false 9 on the night .

City are expected to start with a 4-1-4-1 formation that will see Willy Cabalero starting in goal for suspended Claudio Bravo who saw red in his first return to Barcelona last two weeks. In defence, Bakary Sagna is doubtful but expected to start in right back, with John Stones playing alongside Nicholas Otamendi In central defence which will see Kolarov play at left back.

Fernandinho is expected to play alone in the centre of the back to protect the back four allowing Leroy Sane to continue in the right side of attack. Kelvin De Bruyne and David Silva are likely to start in central attacking midfield positions while Nolito will play from the left side of attack as Sergio Aguero is the first choice to start in attack.

Barcelona on their part have won their last five games against City in all competitions. The Catalans have also won six of their last seven Champions League games with their only defeat coming in last season's second leg quarter final against Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid. Barcelona have also been winning at both half-time and full time against City in the last three games. Luis Enrique's side have kept three clean sheets in their last four games winning all of the games in the process.

Enrique's side has some injury problems with Jeremy Mattieu, Gerald Pique and Jordi Alba all missing due to injury. Enrique  is likely to start with a 4-3-3 formation which will see German goalkeeper Marco Ter Stegen start in goal with Lucas Digne, Javier Mascherano, Samuel Umtiti and Sergio Roberto all playing in defence.

In midfield, Rafinha is expected to  keep his place having earned maximum points for the club in their weekend's La Liga game with Granada in Nou Camp. Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic will complete the midfield with the likes of Lionel Messi , Neymar Jnr and Luis Suarez completing the attack.

Manchester City really need to avoid a draw or a loss as maximum points should be their target on the night considering they have only earned four points in three games so far, one ahead of third placed Borussia Mochengladbach and five behind Barcelona who top the group.

Prediction: 2-1 in favour of Barcelona.