Champions League Roundup: Barcelona vs. Manchester City

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Barcelona vs. Manchester City was one more of the more interesting round of 16 match ups. City had finally been able to emerge from the group stages, and Barcelona would have to deal with the likes of Alvaro Negredo, Edin Dzeko, and Sergio Aguero over the course of two heated games. In the first leg, Barca walked away with an impressive 2-0 lead, but they knew City had enough firepower to strike back in the 2nd leg.

There was a nervous energy in the Camp Nou, as no goals were scored in the first half, as well as the beginning of the 2nd half. It would be none other than Lionel Messi, who in the 67th minute gave Barcelona a 1-0 lead in the game, and a commanding 3-0 lead on aggregate. Defedner Joeleon Lescott tried to cut off the pass but failed, allowing Messi an opening which he certainly took advantage of.

Late on in the game City would get their equalizer. In the 89th minute captain Vincent Kompany scored from close range off a James Milner corner. Had this goal came a bit earlier, things could have been made much more interesting, but with a 3-1 aggregate lead, and only stoppage time to play, Barca still looked good to win the tie.

In stoppage time Barcelona would claim the victory, and finish off City with style. Dani Alves took advantage of an out of position Joe Hart to make the score 2-1, 4-1 on aggregate.

Man City’s bad luck in the Champions League continues, but it could be argued that they just ran into a buzz saw. Barcelona are always tough to handle, and once they took a 2-0 lead back to the Camp Nou, they were always favorites to advance. The storied Spanish club will, as always, be a legit contender to make the Champions League final.

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