Next: Barcelona (Home) - Champions League

[ruralblue]

like Negredo said, in the premier league beating a West Brom is harder than beating any mid table squad in La Liga. 6-0 vs Rayo means fuck all

Did they win 6 - 0?

If they score six at Eitahad then that just means we'll score 9 or 10! Bring em on set of diving fucks!

[AG7]

@ManCityMEN: Pellegrini says Fernandinho could feature against Barcelona if he gets through training, reports @StuBrennanMEN

http://t.co/x3bIc1I8JD

[phips]

"feature". so i imagine he'd come off the bench while Garcia starts.

like Negredo said, in the premier league beating a West Brom is harder than beating any mid table squad in La Liga. 6-0 vs Rayo means fuck all

Did they win 6 - 0?

yup

I would play Lescott at CB and Clichy at LB but I don't expect MP will. Hence the predicted line up is probably spot on. Barca are very very mobile throughout midfield and up front. I'm not sure Kolarov and Demi will cope well with that.

agreed. Garcia's lack of mobility could be an issue as well vs the midgets in Barca's midfield.

[Jorgobot]

No point in starting a new 'Next' thread, so renaming the 'Buildup' thread that we already have:

UEFA Champions Legaue
Round of 16

Manchester City v Barcelona
City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester

Tuesday 18 February 2014
Kickoff: 1945 GMT

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)
Assistant 1: Mathias Klasenius (Sweden)
Assistant 2: Daniel Wärnmark (Sweden)
Additional Assistant 1: Stefan Johannesson (Sweden)
Additional Assistant 2: Markus Strömbergsson (Sweden)
Fourth Official: Daniel Gustavsson (Sweden)
UEFA Referee Observer: Hugh Dallas (Scotland)
UEFA Delegate: Henk Kesler (Netherland)

TV Coverage in UK: ITV HD ( Sky 178 ) and ITV ( Sky 103 )
Coverage starts at 1930 GMT

----

Starting XI Prediction:

Hart
Zaba - Komps - Demi - Kolarov
Yaya - Garcia
Nasri - Jovetic - Silva
Negredo

Bench Prediction:

Panti, Richards, Lescott, Clichy, Ferdy, Aguero, Dzeko

Score Prediction:

Manchester City 3 - 2 Barcelona

----

Here's the preview from UEFA's Champions League website:

Latin links spice up City-Barcelona showdown
Manchester City FC's Spanish connections mean there are unlikely to be too many surprises for FC Barcelona in the first leg of their much-anticipated round of 16 contest.

Manchester City FC and FC Barcelona's UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg will be their first competitive encounter, but there are unlikely to be too many surprises for either side given the hosts' Spanish connections.

• City's squad features four Spaniards – Javi García, Jesús Navas, Álvaro Negredo and David Silva – along with four more players also signed from Spain's top flight including Yaya Touré, who joined from Barcelona in 2010. Additionally they have in Manuel Pellegrini a coach well acquainted with the Spanish game, and in director of football Txiki Begiristain a man who knows Barcelona better than most.

• Pellegrini's City reached this stage by finishing second in Group A where they took 15 points – two more than Gerardo Martino's Barcelona managed in winning Group H.

Previous Meetings

• The clubs have met six times in friendly matches:
1952 Barcelona 5-1 Manchester City
1957 Barcelona 3-2 Manchester City
1974 Barcelona 3-2 Manchester City
1986 Barcelona 1-1 Manchester City (3-4 penalties, played in Huelva)
2003 Manchester City 2-1 Barcelona
2009 Barcelona 0-1 Manchester City

• Barcelona visited City on 10 August 2003 for their inaugural match in a stadium built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Nicolas Anelka and Trevor Sinclair scored either side of Javier Saviola's goal for Barcelona, who included Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernández in their starting XI with Andrés Iniesta a second-half substitute.

• City won 1-0 at Barcelona in a pre-season friendly in August 2009, Martin Petrov the scorer. Touré was playing for Barcelona while Pablo Zabaleta is City's only survivor.

• The lineups were:

Barcelona: Pinto, Montoya (Alves 46), Puyol (Bartra 30), Fontas (Piqué 65), Maxwell, Sergio, Y Touré (Jonathan 46), Gudjohnsen (Keita 46), Jeffren (Gai 54), Bojan (Ibrahimović 46), Pedro (Messi 46).
Manchester City: Given, Onuoha, Dunne, K Touré (Ben Haim 46), Zabaleta (Garrido 65), Weiss, Wright-Phillips (Tripper 81), Ireland, Barry (Etuhu 69), Petrov, Tévez (Bellamy 65).

Match Background

• City are in the last 16 for the first time but Pellegrini has guided Villarreal (2006, 2009) and Málaga CF (2012) into the quarter-finals.

• Four-time European champions Barcelona are seeking a seventh successive quarter-final appearance. In last season's round of 16 against AC Milan they lost the first leg 2-0 in Italy but bounced back with a 4-0 triumph at the Camp Nou.

• City lost 3-1 at home to Josep Guardiola's FC Bayern München on matchday two, their only defeat in their last 23 European fixtures in Manchester. They won their two other Group D home fixtures handsomely, putting a combined nine goals past PFC CSKA Moskva and FC Viktoria Plzeň.

• Barcelona won 1-0 at Celtic FC on their first away trip in this season's competition but lost 2-1 at AFC Ajax on their most recent and have posted just one victory in their last six European away games, losing three.

• City's home record against Spanish clubs is W2 D2 L0. Sergio Agüero's penalty earned a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid CF in last term's group stage and the Argentinian scored an added-time winner in a 2-1 success against Villarreal CF in the 2011/12 group stage.

• Barcelona have not won in five away fixtures in England, most recently going down 1-0 at Chelsea FC in the 2011/12 semi-finals. Their last away victory over a Premier League side came at this stage in 2006/07 when they beat Liverpool FC 1-0 yet still suffered defeat on away goals. Víctor Valdés, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta and Lionel Messi all played at Anfield.

• Barcelona's overall record away to English opposition is W6 D8 L14. This does not include their 3-1 triumph over Manchester United FC at Wembley Stadium in the 2011 UEFA Champions League final.

• The Blaugrana have never won in Manchester where four visits to Old Trafford have brought them two draws and two defeats – most recently a 1-0 semi-final loss to United in the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League. Touré was in the Barcelona team that day and again when they beat United in the 2009 final in Rome.

Team Ties

• During nine seasons in Spain, Pellegrini coached Villarreal, Real Madrid and Málaga but enjoyed only four victories against Barcelona during that time, most recently a 2-1 success for Villarreal at the Camp Nou in March 2008. He lost both of his Liga encounters with Barcelona as Madrid coach in 2009/10, 1-0 away and 2-0 at home. The Chilean's overall record against Barcelona is P22 W4 D4 L14.

• City's director of football, Begiristain, filled the same role at Barcelona between 2003 and 2010. He was a member of the Blaugrana's 1992 European Cup-winning squad and also helped the club win four Liga titles, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Super Cup during seven years as a Barcelona player.

• During three seasons with Barcelona between 2007 and 2010, Touré made 74 Liga appearances and scored four goals, helping the Blaugrana to two league titles and the 2009 UEFA Champions League crown.

• Pablo Zabaleta spent three years at Barcelona's city rivals RCD Espanyol between 2005 and 2008. He appeared in four Liga derbies against Barcelona, drawing two and losing two.

• Agüero hit five goals in ten Liga outings against Barcelona for Club Atlético de Madrid between 2006 and 2011. His first home match against Barcelona with Atlético ended in a 6-0 defeat in May 2007.

• Gaël Clichy was an unused substitute in the Arsenal side beaten 2-1 by Barcelona in the 2006 UEFA Champions League final. Clichy and Samir Nasri played alongside Cesc Fàbregas and Alex Song in the Arsenal teams beaten by Barcelona in the 2009/10 quarter-finals and 2010/11 round of 16.

• Gerard Piqué spent four years in Manchester as a United player from 2004-08, making 23 appearances but never facing City.

• At Arsenal, Fàbregas won nine and lost just two of 13 meetings with City. His last visit was for a 3-0 away win in October 2010 in which Song scored.

• Navas played alongside Daniel Alves and Adriano in the Sevilla FC team that beat Barcelona 3-0 in the 2006 UEFA Super Cup.

Honest to God all of these stats are mind blowing man. Thanks for going through the time and effort to collect these I just can't stop reading them!

[Bleed_Blue]

"feature". so i imagine he'd come off the bench while Garcia starts.

1) In form Garcia would be better than Fernandinho who is not match ready yet.
With Garcia we also have more chance of scoring through headers against Barca.

2) Navas, knows the opposition well he might get a chance but not really sure about it, he has been in team which defeated Barca a couple of times this might give him start. Against Barca its better to have 5 midfield and bring on 2nd striker-Jovetic as needed. Jovetic might start if Pellegrini wants to stick to playing 2 strikers and Navas can brought on for much needed speed in second half. But the Chelsea 2nd half play after Jovetic was replaced by Nasri keeps the 5 midfield hope alive.

3) Milner played his ass off but he might not get a chance to play against Barca, definitely not going to start.

4) Kolorov a good crosser of ball makes sense against the midgets a good crosser is most crucial for goals, but Clichy is good defender and is needed against Pedro. Navas can make up for the crosses though if he starts.

5) Negredo didnt start the previous game so there is good chance he will start, Jovetic might get some game time but as a sub.

6) For fuck sake, Pellegrini was giving rest to Demi by playing Lescott. This is the position everyone is concerned about. Clichy can manage right back so I dont see Micah making it to sub too, Milner might be present in his place.

Hart
Zaba Kompany Lescott Clichy
Yaya Garcia
Navas Silva Nasri
Negredo

Sub : Panti, Jovetic, Kolorov, Demi, Dzeko, Aguero/Fernandinho, Milner

Fuck getting Ideal line up is not easy.

[AG7]

1) In form Garcia would be better than Fernandinho who is not match ready yet. With Garcia we also have more chance of scoring through headers against Barca. 2) Navas, knows the opposition well he might get a chance but not really sure about it, he has been in team which defeated Barca a couple of times this might give him start. Against Barca its better to have 5 midfield and bring on 2nd striker-Jovetic as needed. Jovetic might start if Pellegrini wants to stick to playing 2 strikers and Navas can brought on for much needed speed in second half. But the Chelsea 2nd half play after Jovetic was replaced by Nasri keeps the 5 midfield hope alive. 3) Milner played his ass off but he might not get a chance to play against Barca, definitely not going to start. 4) Kolorov a good crosser of ball makes sense against the midgets a good crosser is most crucial for goals, but Clichy is good defender and is needed against Pedro. Navas can make up for the crosses though if he starts. 5) Negredo didnt start the previous game so there is good chance he will start, Jovetic might get some game time but as a sub. 6) For fuck sake, Pellegrini was giving rest to Demi by playing Lescott. This is the position everyone is concerned about. Clichy can manage right back so I dont see Micah making it to sub too, Milner might be present in his place. Hart Zaba Kompany Lescott Clichy Yaya Garcia Navas Silva Nasri Negredo Sub : Panti, Jovetic, Kolorov, Demi, Dzeko, Aguero/Fernandinho, Milner Fuck getting Ideal line up is not easy.

That's what I'd go with too, Lescott for Demi and Clichy for Kola ... but my *predicted* line up isn't what I want, it's what we'll most likely see from Pelligrini ...

And Milner is suspended for the first leg!

[sheblue]

after lescotts performance on saturday i would like to see him start, but as pointed out i dont think he will, hairy martim was rested on saturday and surely pelligrini will start him, which is a pity because not only is lescott a better defender but kompany tends to play better when partnered by lescott. Maybe he has more faith in him as a partner over and above the other pretenders.

[s1ty m]

I wonder if Vinnie is ever asked about who he would prefer to play with?

[zuricity]

I wonder if Vinnie is ever asked about who he would prefer to play with?

Next season he'll be able to play alongside Lionel.......


When Messi signs for City :-)

[Nigels Tackle]

I wonder if Vinnie is ever asked about who he would prefer to play with?

Next season he'll be able to play alongside Lionel.......


When Messi signs for City :-)

messi at centre half?? you're having a bubble

[zuricity]

messi at centre half?? you're having a bubble

He'll be better than Javi Garcia there ! :-)

You're right i did mean line up alongside !

[sheblue]

I wonder if Vinnie is ever asked about who he would prefer to play with?

clearly not.

[Moonchesteri]

Pellegrini on Fernandinho: "He is on squad list for tomorrow. We will see who starts tomorrow. He worked without a problem."

good news even if he doesn't start!

[Nigels Tackle]

Pellegrini on Fernandinho: "He is on squad list for tomorrow. We will see who starts tomorrow. He worked without a problem."

good news even if he doesn't start!

yep
wouldn't be surprised if pellegrini also did a chris coleman and named kun amongst the subs

[Wonderwall]

Pellegrini on Fernandinho: "He is on squad list for tomorrow. We will see who starts tomorrow. He worked without a problem."

good news even if he doesn't start!

yep
wouldn't be surprised if pellegrini also did a chris coleman and named kun amongst the subs

Kun will be available for selection for the cup final

[ashton287]

Why the fuck are we selling barca shirts at the city store.

Are we gonna start selling scum shirts around derby day aswell. Wankers.

[Blue Since 76]

Why the fuck are we selling barca shirts at the city store.

Are we gonna start selling scum shirts around derby day aswell. Wankers.

Are they not half and half shirts like the scarves?

Actually saw some people with half and half City and rag ones last year. Walking a fine line here, Jim Davidson wise, but let's just say they were more likely to be rag fans. I couldn't imagine any born and breed Mancunian of either persuasion wearing one.

[Sideshow Bob]

do we know anything about Eriksson as a ref? this tie could hinge on whether refs pander to barca's antics.

[Lee_R]

do we know anything about Eriksson as a ref? this tie could hinge on whether refs pander to barca's antics.

Know hes had issues with Pep and Barca in the past

[Burt]

Pellegrini on Fernandinho: "He is on squad list for tomorrow. We will see who starts tomorrow. He worked without a problem."

good news even if he doesn't start!

yep
wouldn't be surprised if pellegrini also did a chris coleman and named kun amongst the subs

Kun will be available for selection for the cup final

Which cup final though?!

I reckon that if ever we needed to take a risk and chuck him in from the start then this is the game to do it. They're players would definately be concerned about facing him because they know what potential damage we could do with hin in the starting eleven.