Manchester City head to Barcelona today for the second-leg of their last-16 Champions league tie with Barcelona knowing that they have never beaten the Catalan giants, and that in order to make it through to the quarter-finals they need at least two goals following the first-leg 1-2 loss at the Etihad in which Luis Suarez scored both goals for the visitors.
Despite the loss City can gain some hope that they might have what it takes to overcome Barcelona after having watched Arsenal’s plucky away performance against Monaco last night in which the Gunners only failed to go through on the away goal rule following their 2-0 win at the Stade Louis II.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini’s side has not been in the best form of late however after having lost to lowly Burnley in the Premiership 1-0 last weekend when the two sides met at Turf Moor.
Here is how we predict City will line-up for Barcelona.
Goalkeeper
England international Joe hart will start for City still full of confidence after having saved a Lionel Messi penalty the first time they met.
Defence
Right-back Pablo Zabaleta is in for a tough time tonight marking Neymar, with the memory of being sent off the last time he played at the Nou Camp.
Team captain Vincent Company will play centre-back after having reportedly being dropped by Pellegrini following a dressing room bust up with Fernandinho for the match against Burnley, and it will be up to the Belgium international to lift the team if they are to have any hope of winning tonight.
Partnering Kompany will be Martin Demichelis, who will need to up his game after his foul led to Burnley’s winner at the weekend.
Aleksandar Kolarov will play at left-back after being brought back into the side following Gael Clichy’s red card in the first leg, and should be well-rested after not taking part at the weekend.
Midfield
Fernando will be required to play deep in the hope at disrupting Barcelona on the ball. James Milner has been one of City’s most reliable players this season and will be looked upon to help them overcome Barcelona.
Former Barcelona man Yaya Tourre can make things happen for the visitors, and it is a must that he pushes forward with the ball and takes on a shot at goal.
David Silva along with Samir Nasri will help determine what happened to City tonight, and if the pair are on form both shooting and the ability to get the ball to Sergio Aguero City could have the chance to make club history.
Attack
It was the Argentinian’s goal in the first leg that gives City a hope of coming back against the odds tonight, and if Aguero has his shooting boots on anything can happen.
