Manchester City travel to Camp Nou to face a stern test from the La Liga Champions Barcelona in Champions League Group C match. Both teams will be looking for a positive result in order to achieve the top spot in the group.

The important players in each team are healthy and available to play. There are no serious injuries or suspensions, and both Enrique and Pep will be able to field the lineups they want.

Recent Clashes

Barcelona have played Manchester City four times in the last three years. City were beaten 4-1 on aggregate in 2014, 3-1 on aggregate in 2015, both in round of 16 Champions League ties.

Certainly on paper City seem better equipped to cope with Barcelona than previous sides, with a coach who knows his opponents well. There are few stadiums in Europe more demanding than a game at the fortress-like Camp Nou. Barcelona have not tasted defeat in a group stage tie at the iconic stadium in seven years.

Indeed, for City, even to come away with a point would be viewed as an achievement, as the hosts have emerged victorious in the four previous encounters between the sides. Pep has his work cut out but it’s a challenge he’s sure to relish in equal measure.

Team News: Barcelona

Barcelona are fourth in La Liga. The Spanish champions secured a 4-0 win over Deportivo during the weekend and will be full of confidence heading into the game. The return of Lionel Messi will be a major boost as well.

The Argentine superstar returned to action against Deportivo and managed to score as well. Big Sammy Umtiti is fit after recovering from an injury. Umtiti has outperformed Javier Mascherano this season, and will be hoping for a place in the squad against City. Barca coach Luis Enrique has also been boosted by the return of fullbacks Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba to training.

Luis Enrique’s men are always expected to dominate possession at their own stadium and keep their opponents on the back foot. Barcelona will rely on compact defensive organization and counter attacks. Part of Luis Enrique’s plan will be to provide the attacking trident of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez with freedom. By allowing them free rein, in a way relinquishing tactical control, but making the most potent attack in Europe. 

Barcelona’s best performance and result so far this season has come in the only game that the three forwards were on the pitch together for 90 minutes, the 7-0 win over Celtic. Barca will go into the showdown firm favourites to win and take a giant step towards reaching the knockout stages.

Team News: Manchester City

Recent results have shown it will take time for City to perform to the level the coach demands. However, there is a confidence about the club that is higher than, previous managerial reigns. 

Guardiola started brilliantly in England which saw him oversee 10 consecutive wins in all competitions. Meanwhile, he will be looking to use his superior knowledge of the Spanish giants to come up with a defensive plan to stop Messi, Suarez and Neymar, who have scored goals for fun.

Guardiola has been slowly moving away from tiki-taka style that made Barcelona one of the most dominant club in the history of the game during his tenure at Camp Nou. His style has become much more direct, though it’s still reliant on aggressive pressing deep into the opponent’s half of the pitch and is still a possession-based brand of football.

Guardiola is likely to tweak his tactics for the game to avoid giving space to Barcelona’s deadly attacking trio. Aguero, Sterling, Nolito and Gundogan are all perfectly comfortable in a counter-attacking set-up. City’s chances are also likely to be boosted by the impending return of Kevin De Bruyne, who’s been their best player so far this season.

Captain Vincent Kompany and right-back Bacary Sagna are the only injury worries for Pep Guardiola at the moment.

Group Scenario

Barca have a two-point advantage at the top of Group C going into the game after City could only manage a 3-3 draw at Celtic last month. Three points at the Camp Nou, therefore, would move the Blaugrana within touching distance of securing top spot with three games to be played. A defeat for the Premier League side would give the opportunity for Celtic or Borussia Monchengladbach to leap ahead of them in the table.

Barcelona are the better side here and Manchester City will have to improve significantly to take something from this game. Both teams love to play free-flowing attacking football and it should be a treat for the neutrals.

Predicted Barcelona Starting Lineup (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Vidal, Umtiti, Pique, Digne; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar

Predicted Manchester City Starting Lineup (4-1-4-1): Bravo; Zabaleta, Stones, Otamendi, Kolarov; Fernandinho; Sterling, Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Aguero

Picture Courtesy: Daily Star