Barcelona v Man City: Champions League preview

Manchester City must go to the Nou Camp and win if they are to have any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Manuel Pellegrini's side fell to a 2-1 loss in their first leg against Barcelona at the end of February, but it could have been much worse had Joe Hart not come to the rescue in the dying moments.

Luis Suarez had scored twice to give Luis Enrique and his men a commanding lead, before Sergio Aguero fired City back into the tie with a strike 20 minutes from time.

Lionel Messi was gifted an opportunity to make it 3-1 with a late penalty, but Barcelona's star man fluffed his lines to give the English champions a glimmer of hope.

But still, City must turn the tie around - a difficult task against any team in the Champions League, let alone the might of Barcelona.

By the time they kick off in Spain, City may well be the last British representatives in the competition, depending on whether Arsenal can pull themselves back from the brink against Monaco on Tuesday night.

Team news

Manchester City will be without defender Gael Clichy, who was sent off in the first leg between the two sides.

Just minutes after City pulled a goal back to make the score 2-1 at the Etihad, Clichy picked up a second yellow card for a high tackle on Barcelona's Dani Alves.

Barcelona have two injury worries, in Sergio Busquets and Thomas Vermaelen. The former is a major doubt after suffering ankle ligament damage at the start of March, while former Arsenal man Vermaelen has had surgery on a hamstring problem as is likely to be sidelined until the end of the season. 

Opta facts

Barcelona have won their three Champions League meetings with Manchester City by an aggregate of 6-2.

Manchester City have had a player sent off in each of their three meetings with Barcelona (Demichelis and Zabaleta last season, Clichy in the first leg this season).

In the last seven Champions League knockout encounters with English clubs, Barcelona have prevailed six times, the only exception being the semi-final against Chelsea in 2011/12 when they lost 3-2 on aggregate.

The only English club to beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the Champions League since 1992/93 are Liverpool. It was in February 2007 (2-1).

Manchester City have only kept one clean sheet in their last 14 Champions League games (2-0 v Roma, December 2014).

Barcelona have made it to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the 11th consecutive campaign. They have always made it at least to the quarter-finals in the last seven seasons.

Manchester City have lost four of their last five Champions League against Spanish opposition (D1). Their only away win came against Villarreal in November 2011 (3-0).

Messi has netted 39 goals in 42 Champions League games at the Camp Nou.

Sergio Agüero has scored 11 goals in his last 10 Champions League games.

Betting

Manchester City are 13/2 to win on the night and 28/1 to win by exactly two goals in 90 minutes, which would see them knock Barcelona out of the competition. A 2-1 away win would take the game to extra-time, but even that’s a long shot at 20/1, with Barcelona 4/11 to win the match and 1/20 to advance.

The first goal of the second leg is crucial and City are 21/10 to get it, with the hosts more likely at 1/3.  Unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi heads the first goal market at 3/1, with Sergio Aguero an 8/1 shot.

Barcelona v Manchester City is live on Sky Sports 5 HD from 7pm on Wednesday

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