Manchester City vs Barcelona – UEFA Champions League – Preview

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Sreya

Manchester City vs Barcelona – Manchester City host Barcelona at the Etihad on 1st November, Tuesday in a Group C fixture of the UEFA Champions League. A loss at El Camp Nou on Matchday 3 meant Manchester City have four points and are now in the second position.

While Barcelona have all but secured qualification for the knock-outs with nine points courtesy their three wins, Manchester City are battling with Borussia Monchengladbach who are on the third position with three points. The Bundesliga side host Celtic and are likely to win their fixture.

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Team News

Claudio Bravo is suspended while Fabian Delph is yet to regain match fitness. Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna are listed as doubts.

Barcelona have a number of injuries with Jasper Cillessen, Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta set to miss the game. Jeremy Mathieu is suspended while Jordi Alba will face a late fitness test.

Manchester City Possible Starting Lineup: Willy Caballero, Pablo Zabaleta, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Aleksandar Kolarov, Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling, Ilkay Gundogan, David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero.

Barcelona Possible Starting Lineup: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Samuel Umiti, Javier Mascherano, Lucas Digne, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Rafinha, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar.

“We have to be focused for 90 minutes, knowing they are going to provoke mistakes because of the quality they have. But we had a few chances [in the first game] and have to keep going in that sense and try to finish better than we did in Barcelona.

We will try. I have never entered a match thinking we can’t win but we have to play almost perfectly.”

– Pep Guardiola, Manchester City.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Manchester City vs Barcelona H2H stats, the Catalan club have won all of their last five UEFA Champions League encounters with the English Premier League side. Barcelona have won six of their last seven matches in Europe’s premiere competition, scoring a minimum of two goals in those matches.

Barcelona are likely to win by a 2-1 scoreline against Manchester City.