CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Manchester City have been on a steep learning curve in the Champions League but Tuesday's last 16 first-leg clash with four-times European kings Barcelona offers a chance to show they are now serious contenders.
Last season's exit at the identical stage also against Barca, 4-1 on aggregate, revealed City's shortcomings in a squad good enough to win the Premier League but still lacking authority and discipline against Europe's very best.
A year later, however, and City are approaching the tie with growing optimism, even if they will be missing midfield talisman Yaya Toure at the Etihad on Tuesday as he completes a three-match suspension for his red card against CSKA Moscow.
After finding their creative edge blunted in recent months, City's attacking flair returned with a vengeance as they crushed Newcastle United 5-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.
In contrast, Barca's lethal-looking frontline misfired badly at the weekend as their 11-match unbeaten run ended in a surprise 1-0 defeat by a well-drilled Malaga side.
City's run to the last 16 a year ago was their best effort in the competition after two successive failures to survive the group stage and they will be buoyed by the way they sneaked into the knockout round this time, beating Bayern Munich and AS Roma.
Both of those victories were recorded without Toure.
TEAM NEWS
Manchester City are without key midfielder Yaya Toure for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday through suspension. Toure is serving the final match of a three-game ban for his sending off against CSKA Moscow in November but fellow midfielder James Milner has overcome a knee problem. New striker Wilfried Bony could make his full City debut having replaced Stevan Jovetic in the squad for the competition. Fellow forwards Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko are one booking away from a ban, as are defenders Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy.
Barcelona will be without defensive duo Thomas Vermaelen (hamstring) and Douglas (hamstring) for the clash in Manchester. Luis Suarez is expected to start, playing a match in England for the first time since leaving Liverpool last year.
- Source: Eurosport
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