The Barcelona faces the challenge knockout against Manchester City in the best of conditions, at a good time playing, as leader of the Spanish League and the best version of Leo Messi.
After 1-2 from the first leg, Luis Enrique Martinez are
favorites to become a place among the top eight teams of the continent again, a
privileged position which has become accustomed.
He comes crunch time Barca in the same week. In five days
continuity in Europe and the possibility of leaving a little behind in the
league to Real Madrid, two matches at the Camp Nou, where Barça played except
two point punctures (Celta and Málaga) has remained good level.
To this must be added the influence that the Catalans on
English teams, who has overcome lately except that Chelsea in the 2011-2012
season, the day that Pep Guardiola's Barça began to say goodbye bench.
In fact, the Catalans seek record eight consecutive
appearances in the quarterfinals. In the last 30 games of the Champions League
played at the Camp Nou, Barça have only lost one, with 23 wins and 6 sempates.
Before the English teams at home, Barça have won 16 games, tied 11 and lost
both.
The only question in the side of Barca is precisely on
who will be the substitute in defense of Mascherano. The two options are Marc
Bartra and Jérémy Mathieu, two players with a completely different profile.
The two go well in the passing game, Bartra has better
ball out the French and Mathieu probably better anticipation on the play.The
rest of the alignment seems clear. He will play the German Ter Stegen at the
door, German is the holder matches Champions League.
The City comes to Barcelona after the humiliating defeat
against Burnley last weekend (1-0). Manchester City seek a new epic night in
Europe to overcome the tie against Barcelona and achieve the desired pass to
the quarterfinals of the Champions League.The City, which was virtually
eliminated from the competition with just two games left in the group stage,
achieved heroic victories over Bayern Munich (3-2) and Roma (0-2) to access the
hype round.
Barcelona
,
Manchester City
,
UEFA Champions League
