Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Champions League Last 16 first-leg 24th February 2015


Luis Suarez strikes twice as Barcelona sink Manchester City
Etihad Stadium - Manchester City 1 (Aguero 69) Barcelona 2 (Suarez 16, 30)

TALKING POINT
Barca's front three are a joy to behold. The media's focus on Barca's problems both on and off the field in the lead up to this one was much-publicised but they answered their critics with an exhilarating first-half display. The names of Messi, Neymar and Suarez simply roll off the tongue and as they continue to develop their relationship as a forward triumvirate the signs are ominous for the rest of Europe. When they gel they are almost unstoppable - but Aguero and City's second half display means the Citizens still have some, slim hope of turning this tie around, particularly as their talismanic midfielder Yaya Toure returns from suspension at the Nou Camp.

 
MAN OF THE MATCH
Luis Suarez (Barcelona) - Lionel Messi pulled the strings, but goals win matches and Suarez was the matchwinner, providing two exquisite finishes to mark his return to England in typical, headline-grabbing style.
PLAYER RATINGS
MAN CITY: Hart 8, Zabaleta 5, Kompany 5, Demichelis 5, Clichy 3, Fernando 5, Milner 6, Nasri 6, Silva 6, Dzeko 6, Aguero 7. Subs: Fernandinho 5, Bony 5, Sagna 5
BARCELONA: Ter Stegen 6; Alves 7, Mascherano 7, Piqué 7, Alba 7, Busquets 6, Rakitic 7, Iniesta 7, Suarez 8, Neymar 8, Messi 7. Subs: Mathieu 5, Adriano 6, Pedro 6.

0 comments:

Post a Comment