FOR a lesson in how to ‘out Barca’ Barcelona, look no further than this Champions League master class by Manchester City.
One mistake aside – which Lionel Messi took full advantage of, predictably – Pep Guardiola’s men were virtually faultless and carried out the coach’s battle plan to the letter.
High pressing; tireless closing down; immaculate defending; clinical finishing: this City performance had the lot. And then some.
It was hard to pick a stand-out performer because there were so many, all over the pitch, as City closed the gap on Barca to two points whilst moving three clear of third placed Borussia Monchengladbach.
Without Alba and Pique, the Catalans were always going to be vulnerable at the back and City took full advantage.
Willy Caballero, unlike Claudio Bravo in the away leg, kept his cool and didn’t put a foot – or hand – wrong and there was nothing he could do about Messi’s sublime opener.
City’s second half display, in particular, was impeccable and they hardly gave Messi another telling kick. They kept Suarez and Neymar quiet too.
After the 4-0 defeat at the Nou Camp it was vital City bounced back with a Barcelona-type performance and they didn’t disappoint on a memorable night at the Etihad.
Sergio Aguero, having been mysteriously left out of the defeat in Spain, didn’t manage to get on the score sheet but was an inspiration throughout.
As was Kevin de Bruyne whose stunning free kick put City 2-1 up after man of the match Ilkay Gundogan had cancelled out Messi’s 21st minute strike.
Gundogan, who missed much of last season and the Euros with a bad knee injury, put the game to bed with his fourth goal in two games to secure City’s first ever win over Barcelona.
Nothing more than they deserved. Guardiola’s half time Pep talk clearly did the trick.