Manchester City players take part in a training session at the club's training facility in Manchester yesterday, ahead of tonight's Champions League last 16, second-leg clash against Barcelona. (AFP)
AFP/Barcelona
Manchester City face a huge challenge if they are to reach the last eight of the Champions League for the first time ever by overturning a 2-1 first leg deficit when they face an in-form Barcelona away tonight.
The English champions were outplayed at home for the second season in a row at this stage of the competition three weeks ago and could have been even further behind travelling to the Catalan capital had Joe Hart not saved a Lionel Messi penalty in stoppage time at the Etihad Stadium.
Both sides also come into the game at the Camp Nou in contrasting form domestically. City’s title challenge appears all but over after a shock 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Burnley on Saturday, whilst Barca have soared to the top of La Liga in recent weeks on a run of 16 victories in their last 17 games.
Yet, City boss Manuel Pellegrini is insistent that his job is not on the line should elimination at the Camp Nou all but seal a trophyless season.
“I have no sense whatsoever that my job’s at risk,” the Chilean told The Guardian. “The Champions League is very important but it can’t distort everything.”
Pellegrini was criticised by many for his over-eager attacking intent in the first leg, which allowed Barca’s star front three of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar to prosper. However, he believes that philosophy is what still gives them a chance despite the daunting prospect of having to win at the Camp Nou.
“The starting point is that it is possible to go to Barcelona and win. We have to have that mentality, our mentality.
“Our identity is to have a big-team mentality, to go to win. And now losing 2-1, we have to attack.”
By contrast, Barcelona now have a treble in their sights with a potentially decisive La Liga clash with eternal rivals Real Madrid to come on Sunday and a Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao to look forward to at the end of the campaign.
The backbone of the upturn in form from Luis Enrique’s men has been Messi’s incredible form as the Argentine took his tally for the season to 43 goals in just 39 games with a double against Eibar at the weekend.
However, Suarez has also begun to make his presence felt after a club record move from Liverpool in the summer as last season’s Premier League Player of the Year has struck six times in his last five games, including both his side’s goals in the first leg.
“It is pleasing to help the team with important goals in a Champions League knockout game and of course to return to England and beat a team you’re always motivated to face,” Suarez told Uefa.com. “Players like me get inspired when fans boo them, it helps motivate you a bit more.”
Barca will be without the injured Sergio Busquets, so Jeremy Mathieu is expected to deputise in central defence with Javier Mascherano moving into midfield.
Gael Clichy is City’s only absentee, the French defender is suspended after being sent-off in the first leg.
Dortmund coach Klopp confident of making QF
Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp is confident his side can reach the Champions League quarter-finals and in the process record their first ever home win over Italian opponents Juventus tonight.
Dortmund, who beat Juventus to secure their sole Champions League trophy in 1997 in Munich, trail 2-1 after the first leg but Klopp is upbeat about them avoiding the fates of their predecessors on the three previous occasions they have hosted the Italian champions and lost.
Klopp’s side have taken 14 points from a possible 18 in the league recently, but have been held to goalless draws in both of their last two games, latterly Saturday’s home match with Cologne.
“One should not see this result too negatively,” said Klopp. “The only good thing from the Cologne result was that we saw what didn’t work. We can do better, we have already shown that. The aim remains to reach the Champions League’s quarter-finals and the boys can do it.”
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is waiting on his playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who is rated as doubtful with a calf injury, which forced him off in the first-half of the first leg clash.
Allegri is set to use a 3-5-2 formation with Patrice Evra, Paul Pogba, Claudio Marchisio, Arturo Vidal and Stephan Lichtsteiner in defence.
Juventus received a boost on Saturday when defender Andrea Barzagli made his first start, in the win against Palermo, after a long injury lay-off.
Juventus are looking to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time since 2006, exiting at the last eight stage in the 2012/2013 campaign at the hands of Bayern Munich, who went on to beat Dortmund in the final.
But Juve have a strong record over two legs against German opposition and have won 12 of their 15 European matches with three defeats.
They will look to the experience of Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez to get them across the line.
The Argentinian scored three of Juventus’ seven goals in the group stage.
Similarly Klopp will need his attacking duo of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Marco Reus, who scored Dortmund’s goal in Turin, firing on all cylinders.
Aubameyang has scored five goals in his last seven matches, while Reus has shown superb form since recovering from two ankle injuries before Christmas.
Robert Lewandowski’s departure for Bayern Munich last season left some big shoes to fill in the striking department at Dortmund.
While he has failed to make a mark in the Bundesliga, Italy striker Ciro Immobile has been a different player in the Champions League, scoring four times in five group stage matches.
Borussia defender Matthias Ginter is doubtful with a thigh injury, while midfielder Nuri Sahin has a groin problem.
