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00:028 UEFA Champions League matches are exclusively live on BT Sport for you to enjoy right now.
00:095 games are available on the red button via BT TV, including Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG.
00:16On BT Sport 3 HD and also in 4K, Arsenal are at home to Ludigretz,
00:22while Celtic face Borussia Mönchengladbach on BT Sport ESPN.
00:26On BT Sport 1 HD, see all the goals as they go in with James Richardson on the Goal Show,
00:32whilst here on 2 HD we're concentrating on Pep Guardiola's return to Barcelona with Manchester City.
00:40And, well, we're coming pretty much close to kick-off now.
00:43We've been guessing all night about how Manchester City are going to play,
00:46but ultimately, can they handle the big three?
00:49I don't think so. I think it's a step too far.
00:51What I would say, this is a fantastic opportunity for the likes of Stones
00:55to get a real education at top-level football.
00:58This would be as big a test as he'll ever get.
01:00This is his first big opportunity on this stage,
01:02and just to see and gauge where he's at.
01:03Speaking as a former centre-half, I'm interested to see that kind of battle.
01:07Quickly, does he remind you a little bit of a young self, of you?
01:10I mean, he's the kind of player who comes out with a ball, he's tall, he's...
01:14Yeah, elegant, yeah.
01:16I was going to say elegant.
01:18But he does, there are similarities, and at this stage of his career,
01:22I was very similar, taking chances, taking risks.
01:24You've got to know and find the balance as to when to take them risks
01:27and when to say, right, I'm a defender first.
01:29But, I mean, he's a real talent for me.
01:31Especially this evening, Richard, against this mob.
01:34Yeah, definitely.
01:35If you go diving into tackles or trying to win balls,
01:38it's not really going to be your night, I think.
01:40I think he has to be patient tonight himself and Otamendi,
01:43where they don't need to win the ball on the halfway line.
01:46They can take a step back and get behind the ball,
01:49and that's what they have to do.
01:50There's Messi, of course, with his former team-mate Claudio Bravo
01:53coming down the stairs.
01:54I'm sure Bravo will perhaps be smiling at the end of the night.
01:56We'll see.
01:58Depends how Messi gets on, I suppose.
01:59And he's been out for a little while.
02:01He only came back, came on as substitute the weekend.
02:04But Pep wants, you know, Pep's talking about
02:07he'd like to get him to come to Manchester City.
02:08I'm sure every manager of every club would like to get him,
02:11but I'm not sure that will ever happen, are you?
02:13No, I don't think it will.
02:14He's a Barcelona player.
02:15But I think you think about Nolito playing,
02:17he's probably there to double up, help Kolarov,
02:19because 1v1, you know that's going to be a massive mismatch.
02:22And the way he sets up, you think Pep's just going to want to control the ball.
02:25I think for City, I think Sterling's going to be a ball.
02:27Can he stretch it? Can he run him behind?
02:29Can Man City, can they get De Bruyne and Silva on the ball
02:32and control the tempo and keep the ball away from Messi, Neymar, Suarez?
02:37It's great.
02:39Tactically, there's so many different things that can happen in this game
02:43and it's the interest we've had in the studio alone before the game.
02:47I mean, I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens today.
02:50The two teams in the tunnel prior to going out.
02:54We're getting pretty close to kick-off.
02:55How do you see it going?
02:57Can Manchester City possibly get a result in this game?
03:00I think they can.
03:01I think I'm surprised that Grail's not playing,
03:02but I think he wants to control the possession.
03:05That's why he's playing without a centre-forward.
03:09But they've got to keep the ball away from Messi, Suarez and Neymar.
03:11If he gets up that end of the pitch,
03:13with that back four against that front three, it's a mismatch.
03:15So he's trying to keep the ball away from that
03:17and I think he can get a result if he does that.
03:20Richard?
03:21Yeah, I think both sides defensively are probably the weakest points
03:24and with that, I think Barcelona have the strongest attack tonight,
03:27so it's going to be tough for Man City tonight, I think.
03:30I think the way he's picked the team so fast,
03:32I think he's trying to stop the ball getting into the front three of Barcelona.
03:36If they do that, they've got a chance, but I can't see it.
03:40Nice shots there, PK, talking to the young ball boys prior to kick-off.
03:44The teams are...
03:47Well, the fans are certainly singing.
03:48They're waiting for the teams.
03:49They're running slightly late,
03:51but everyone is in huge anticipation for this particular game.
03:57And in terms of group stage matches,
03:59they just don't get much bigger than this, Rio, do they?
04:01No, not at all.
04:02I mean, I'd love to be there.
04:04I want to be in the stadium and taking in this game,
04:06taking in the atmosphere,
04:07but we've got the second-best spot here in the studio watching it.
04:11I mean, it's great.
04:11I mean, these are the games you live for as a player.
04:13You want to play against the best players.
04:15You get a gauge of where you're at then.
04:16You get a gauge of how good you are.
04:18And Pep will get a great idea of where his team are now, tactically,
04:22and against the best team.
04:24OK, well, they look like they're about to go out.
04:27So let's go to Barcelona and join our commentary team
04:30of Steve McManaman and Darren Fletcher.
04:35Thanks, Gary.
04:36Hello again, everyone.
04:37Welcome to the camp now for the toughest test so far
04:40for Manchester City this season.
04:43The acid test in many ways for any club and any manager
04:46made more intriguing, of course,
04:48by the return to Barcelona for Pep Guardiola.
04:57It's the perfect setting for the game.
04:59It's a mild night here in Barcelona
05:03as the two teams emerge from the tunnel.
05:10We all know about the Pep Guardiola legacy,
05:13but maybe the most notable achievement for him
05:15might well be the European Cup final win at Wembley in 1992.
05:19Part of the first Barcelona team to win the European Cup
05:23as it was then.
05:24It's a big stage.
05:26It's a big game.
05:28It's a perfect night in Barcelona
05:30for the Champions League.
06:12Just look at that, a full house in the camp now and tests in football, Stephen Maderman don't come any
06:18bigger than this one.
06:19It's a wonderful evening, as the boys said in the studio, we'll see, we'll gauge how good Manchester City heart,
06:26because they're up against one of the best around, wonderful evening ahead.
06:42Well, Barcelona went three at the back and dismantled Deportivo on Saturday.
06:46But it's a back four tonight with Mascherano at right-back, Umtiti alongside Pique and Alba at left-back.
06:52The rest of the side speaks for itself, a front six that's so hard to contain.
06:57Lionel Messi in from the start, he made a goal-scoring return at the weekend.
07:01Neymar makes his 150th Barcelona appearance tonight.
07:11Great friends, former teammates.
07:18Same dress sets.
07:25And you can see the teams lining up here.
07:28The players in all teams this week in the Champions League are taking part in UEFA's FAIR campaign to show
07:33that racism, discrimination and intolerance have no place in football.
07:44Serbian Milorat Matic is in charge tonight.
07:46He was the referee when City drew 2-2 with PSG in Paris in the quarters last season.
07:52Andres Iniesta was among the Barca players rested against Deportivo on Saturday.
07:57Four winners' medals in the competition, including two under Guardiola.
08:01And Pablo Zabaleta back in the City side and in as captain tonight.
08:13Well Pep Guardiola's gone to a back four tonight as well, but the absence from the starting line-up of
08:18Sergio Aguero is the eye-catching decision.
08:21The City manager wants an extra man in midfield.
08:23Pablo Zabaleta and Alexander Kolarov return in defence.
08:26And Nolito, who got the equaliser against Everton, starts ahead of Aguero.
08:31The Argentine is available off the bench for City, who will play with a pretty fluid front three here tonight.
08:41City's first game in Spain since they lost the semi-final in Madrid in May.
08:45The third time they've met Barcelona in the competition.
08:48Barcelona have won all of the previous meetings.
08:51And they've not been quite at their majestic best so far this season.
08:54All the best one here in September.
08:57Although Messi and Suarez started that one on the bench.
09:00So off we go, again fit for the final in Cardiff in June.
09:03But just group stage points on the line tonight.
09:06Although points that might well decide who wins Group C.
09:09Barcelona in the famous blue and red.
09:12City in the change strip tonight.
09:14And no better way to spend a Wednesday evening, Steve.
09:17This one could be something special.
09:20Oh, let's hope Fletch.
09:21Instantly, you see.
09:22Looks like Kevin De Bruyne is going to play the farthest forwards.
09:27From Manchester City.
09:31And they're taking chances already, aren't they?
09:34They will do, though.
09:35They'll play out from the back at every conceivable opportunity.
09:38In Marc-Andre to Stegen.
09:41They've got one of the more confident goalkeepers when he's got the ball at his feet.
09:45This is Umtiti, who's playing alongside Pique tonight.
09:49Mascherano starting at right-back.
09:51Sergi Roberto, the first choice right-back.
09:54Not quite fit enough to be involved tonight.
09:57Here's the first touch for Messi.
10:00Three was the magic number as far as he was concerned at the weekend.
10:04He was on the pitch for three minutes and had three touches
10:07before scoring against Deportivo La Coruña.
10:11Here's Neymar.
10:15And Nalito has dropped into that defensive position for Manchester City,
10:19but Neymar's been able to take it a long way.
10:22And then Raheem Sterling there to clear the line to the back.
10:25Yeah, he needs help, Nalito there, Fletch.
10:26You can't have Neymar against Nalito in that area.
10:29As we know, Nalito's an attacking midfielder.
10:32You don't want Neymar running at him with his tricks.
10:36Luis Enrique sending the build-up to the game tonight.
10:39There's no better match than this for a football supporter.
10:43Barca start the night at the top of Group C
10:45after their wins against Celtic and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
10:48City two points behind them after their draw three weeks ago at Celtic Park.
10:54Pep Guardiola's second game back here.
10:56He lost the semi-final with Bayern Munich on the ground in 2015.
11:00And he's just dealing with a slight wobble for Manchester City.
11:04Three games without a win after winning their first ten under the Spaniard.
11:09It's so important when you come to a ground like this, Steve,
11:12to not allow Barcelona too much of the early initiative.
11:28Unorthodox pass, wasn't it? Yeah.
11:31And it's Sterling, he's been in really good form,
11:34gets it back here from David Silva,
11:36and it's in towards Kevin De Bruyne.
11:39And for Stegen, who was always the choice in the Champions League,
11:44even when Claudio Bravo was here and out quickly for Barcelona.
11:47And now there's the opportunity for Messi to stretch his legs,
11:50and John Stones across for City.
11:53They've got to keep their concentration at the back.
11:56Oh, very much so, it's hard, isn't it?
11:58They can be organised, they can be concentrated,
12:00but to keep it mentally for 90 minutes plus injury time,
12:04wave after wave, it's going to be a real good defensive performance
12:08if they're going to keep Barcelona quiet.
12:12Andres Iniesta, who's had his minutes managed quite a lot this season by Luis Enrique.
12:19Suarez was the intended target there.
12:24Just have to be careful, he was onside there, Suarez,
12:27because Kolorov was a little bit deeper than his defensive partners in there.
12:41.
12:55Big night for Claudio Bravo,
12:57signed for Manchester City from Barcelona in August,
13:01never played for them in the Champions League.
13:06Gundogan with the ball forward here to Kevin De Bruyne.
13:12Mascherano has had the switch of position tonight,
13:14but he's such a dependable player, isn't he, Mascherano?
13:19He can play in a variety of positions with pretty much equal ability.
13:26Manchester City get the corner here.
13:28Yeah, Gerard Piquet dives into that tackle there,
13:31and has gone up quite gingerly there, he looks as if he's struggling.
13:36What a chance for Otamendi and Stokes to come forward.
13:39David Silva's corner is dealt with by Luis Suarez.
13:47Zabaleta.
13:59Fernandinho and Gundogan, you would expect to have to put a tremendous amount of work in central midfield for Manchester
14:05City tonight.
14:07Here's Silva.
14:14Stirling.
14:15Jordi Alba was another one of the decisions that Luis Enrique had to make tonight,
14:19but he's fit enough to start at left-back, the Spanish international.
14:26Busquets could roll one down the line.
14:34There's Fernandinho, and now Stirling.
14:39Nolito looking to make his way into the penalty area,
14:41Stirling then looking to find him.
14:45Sergio Busquets caught there by Ilkay Gundogan.
14:49He could be a really important player tonight, Raheem Sterling.
14:52There's going to be numerous occasions he's going to be one-on-one with Jordi Alba,
14:55because we know Iniesta or even Neymar won't get back and track back.
15:00So he's got lots of opportunities to really attack Jordi Alba tonight.
15:10It's Kolarov, Rakitic in there, but it's going to be a free kick to Manchester City.
15:16You can get out this Barcelona team a little bit more this season.
15:20Celta Vigo put four past them at the beginning of the month in a 4-3 win.
15:24They've lost a match here at the camp now against Alivez.
15:27They're only fourth in Spain at the moment,
15:28although only two points behind the leaders, Atletico Madrid.
15:35They've not been quite at their majestic best in terms of blowing away all opposition
15:41in the early weeks of the season.
15:44That might be a legacy, Steve, of that injury for Gerrard Pique.
15:48Yeah.
15:49And it was really silly, actually, he dives in to try and block the De Bruyne cross.
15:54There's no need for him at all.
15:59So the Frenchman, Lucas Deane, is prepared to come on,
16:04which will give a real makeshift look to this Barcelona back four.
16:11Here's Kevin De Bruyne.
16:14Nolito is waiting for a cross.
16:16Silver's in there as well.
16:17Here is Nolito.
16:19Pique had enough left in the tank to make the tackle.
16:22He looks all right, Gerrard Pique, looking down on him.
16:25Doesn't look as if he's in a lot of discomfort.
16:27He was there then to challenge.
16:31Well, very often you see Messi put his foot through him, right?
16:48So Lucas Deane's a left-back, really, isn't it?
16:51So it'll be interesting to see what they're going to do,
16:53who's going to switch, Mascherano might go central.
16:59Tique has not showed too many signs of distress towards the bench
17:04since the incident occurred, but Lucas Deane is ready.
17:08It's not going to be Tique, is it?
17:10No.
17:11I think it's actually Jordi Albert, as you can see.
17:14Yeah, it is. Jordi Albert it is.
17:19It was a hamstring problem that Jordi Albert suffered playing for Spain against Italy
17:24on the 91, his 50th camp for his country.
17:28And it looks as though there's been a recurrence of that pretty early on here.
17:37Yeah, all of the third choice left-back leaving the field.
17:41And again, opportunities now for Manchester City,
17:44and in particular Raheem Sterling to get at the substitute now.
17:53Lucas Deane arrived here in the summer from Paris Saint-Germain.
17:56He spent last season on loan at Roma.
17:58About to sit and watch Patrice Everett start at left-back for France
18:01at the Euros in the summer.
18:17Just wonder tonight, Steve, whether they'll come here with the kind of confidence
18:21that we didn't see from Manchester City in the semi-final in the Bernabeu against Real Madrid last season,
18:27where they looked as though they've got a bit of an inferiority complex on the night.
18:31You wonder whether Guardiola has given them that injection of confidence to bring here
18:35and really give them the belief that they can win in this stadium.
18:38I don't see why not in the first 15 minutes suggest that they're absolutely fine, aren't they?
18:43They've had most of the ball from Manchester City, most of the plays being in Barcelona,
18:47half of the pitch.
18:50So I think the confidence is using from Manchester City at the minute, they're on top.
18:55The manager will be happy.
19:00There's De Bruyne.
19:05Rakitic has given the ball away to Fernandinho.
19:09Now David Silva
19:11starting to find one or two of those little pockets that he likes to operate in.
19:15Busquets got a foot in, and now Suarez can lead Barcelona forward,
19:19and he's got Neymar making the run.
19:22Otamendi across, and time the tackle well.
19:27Now Winnie Ester slips it through towards Suarez,
19:30and again it was Otamendi in the right place at the right time for Manchester City.
19:35Yeah, they have to be careful, that stands for a David Silva mistake,
19:37you don't often say that.
19:57Slotty Fumontiti, and Nalito was in there.
20:00Now De Bruyne.
20:03Nalito.
20:16It's Clem Guardiola, 14 trophies in four seasons here.
20:21He joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old,
20:24played for the B team, graduated for the first team.
20:27Great friend off the pitch of Luis Enrique as well.
20:30They played together in the Olympic Games back in 92 when Spain won gold,
20:34and Guardiola was the captain.
20:36Played against each other in one or two El Clasicos as well,
20:40when Enrique was a Real Madrid player.
20:49It's been a confident start for Manchester City.
20:54They've been very low-key, haven't they, Barcelona?
21:03Suarez felt a little nudge from John Stones.
21:21Javier Mascherano, Fumontiti,
21:24who was signed from Lyon in the summer,
21:27the French international.
21:29Otamendi with another challenge on Suarez.
21:33South American battle there, Argentina against Uruguay.
21:46Yeah, he's been on the ball, Ani Otamendi.
21:48Few good challenges already, that'll get his confidence goal.
21:52It's always nice to be aggressive, isn't it, up against Luis Suarez.
22:07And Stirling.
22:10Not Gundogan.
22:14Stones.
22:16Slotty from Stones.
22:18Messi can sweep it forward, but it's not quite the fluidity and speed of attack about Barcelona so far.
22:26No.
22:29They're quick, aren't they, Barcelona, when they do break, reminiscent of that goal he scored.
22:35The eminence last year against Arsenal when they broke really quickly and scored.
22:38They have to be careful, Manchester City.
22:45What Koeman was saying at the weekend, wasn't he, after the draw against Emerton,
22:49the City, the best team that he's coached against, which is glowing tribute from Koeman.
22:55Former Barcelona player, of course.
22:58They'll hope that that can translate here into a big performance in the camp now.
23:03The fact they dropped points against Celtic in the previous match means the passer have the edge in the group
23:08already.
23:10Now Messi.
23:11Mascherano in there on silver, now Messi.
23:14Suarez.
23:15Messi.
23:16Away by Otamendi.
23:22Here's Gundogan.
23:24Nalito can have a run up the Manchester City left.
23:28Need some support here, Nalito.
23:31Sterling was arriving, Mascherano stood his ground.
23:36And then Barcelona with Rakitic and Pique getting around the ball as well, able to win it back.
24:06Goal!
24:07Goal!
24:07Goal!
24:09Goal!
24:09Goal!
24:10Goal!
24:11Goal!
24:12Goal!
24:12Nicely done by Iniesta.
24:14And then on towards Neymar.
24:16And Kolarov is there to tidy things up at the back for Manchester City.
24:20Yeah, again, slothy again there, that was Luis Suarez, putting the ball away, had more time.
24:24This was lovely, isn't it, by Iniesta.
24:26Lovely flick there.
24:28Goal!
24:29Goal!
24:29Goal!
24:3017 players in this Barcelona team have played more minutes than Andres Iniesta.
24:35And this season made his 600th appearance for the club against Celta Vigo recently.
24:40It's his 117th game in the Champions League tonight.
24:46Luis Enrique feeling now at 32 that he's got to maybe manage him a little bit more
24:50in terms of picking the right spots to play him from the start.
24:55by Serrano in.
24:56Here's Messi.
24:58Iniesta's made the run.
25:01It's going to fall here for Messi, who can wander around the goalkeeper and tap it in.
25:08And they stood like statues, Manchester City.
25:11And Messi was able to mesmerise them.
25:15Yeah, Fernandinho slipped over, didn't he, right in the centre of the box.
25:23Just shows that even the best player on the planet gets lucky every now and again.
25:28And he was lucky a couple of times.
25:32Faced with the Kolarov challenge with Mascherano and the ball throats him.
25:38But that stems from nothing.
25:40That challenge there he gets away with.
25:42And once he starts driving forward, the spell smells danger.
25:46There you see Fernandinho falls, lots of Menzies, Silva, everybody's going for the counter-attack.
25:51Gundogan, they're all thinking about going forward, and once he's here, one and one.
25:55Forget about it, it's 1-0, it's Leo Messi.
26:02Messi's 87th goal in the Champions League.
26:04Means he's 8th behind Ronaldo at the top of the charts.
26:07It's his 10th goal in 10 appearances for Barcelona this season.
26:11And it's a real blow to Manchester City, who've made such a confident start in the match,
26:16to concede a goal in that manner.
26:19And they've got to dig deep and regroup and go again here.
26:23And all the sad thing is, Fletch, is that Barcelona have been very average, haven't they?
26:27And suddenly the 1-0 lot tails it up.
26:31Seems to get a new lease of life.
26:36How many times have we seen that, though?
26:38Messi the coolest man in the place when the chance presented itself.
26:44And Barcelona with a lead.
26:50So Valeta can win it back this time.
26:53Now's Sterling.
26:54who may have stayed at the end?
26:55Greg?
26:56Go!
26:57Gorez!
26:58Who am I?
27:09Who am I!?
27:13Who am I.
27:16Who am I?
27:17baru!
27:17By Timo Piozzi.
27:20Messi made his Barcelona debut 12 years ago last weekend.
27:25Nobody could have foreseen at that time the kind of career that he took together.
27:29Pep Guardiola was the man that gave him the opportunity.
27:38And it's Gerard Piquet.
27:47Reymar can slip away from Sterling.
27:56Lovely step over, wasn't it? Reymar, real quick feet.
28:01Here's the goal again. Gets a bit of fortune there, the ball falls to Messi.
28:06And as you can see, Gundogan's thinking, I'm going to go that way.
28:09Silva's thinking, I'm going that way.
28:11Nobody thinks the worst apart from the best player on the planet.
28:14And as you said, cool as a cucumber, dances round. Bravo.
28:24Reymar's agreed his new contract here at Barcelona.
28:27He's going to sign it in a ceremony on Friday, we're told.
28:31It'll keep him at the camp now until 2021.
28:35The newspapers here are reporting his salary's going to rise to 25 million euros,
28:39and the buyout clause will be 200 million euros.
28:44They've given a new contract recently as well to Mascherano.
28:56Messi in there quickly, John Stones had to have his wits about him.
29:01They've made a really well, John Stones there.
29:05There's Messi.
29:09One for the nutmeg on Gundogan.
29:12Then he goes towards Suarez, who is looking to leave it!
29:16And it almost provided Suarez with the perfect opportunity at the end of it all.
29:21Yeah, I think he was offside.
29:22I think the referee's assistant's got his flag up there again.
29:31Very fortunate, wasn't he? Ball breaks in Neymar.
29:34Dummy by Suarez.
29:38So close.
29:52And don't forget the Champions League goal show is on right now, BT Sport 1 HD.
29:59If you want to see the goals as they go in.
30:02And don't forget the highlights as well tonight from 10 o'clock on BT Sport 2 HD.
30:06It's a round of all of the nights.
30:08Football in the Champions League.
30:12Barcelona with the lead here, given to them by Lionel Messi.
30:39Here's Rakitic on Mascherano.
30:44Casually done from Suarez.
30:49Neymar's the only player really up with Mascherano at the moment,
30:52which delayed him long enough for Nolito to get in there for Manchester City.
31:04Sterling.
31:06Now Zabaleta.
31:12I think that's what shows you there, flex that ball there.
31:15Zabaleta wanted a little bit of help off his teammates, pumped it forwards.
31:19And Norman, that's an Aguero, isn't he?
31:22Running and chasing and harrying and closing down.
31:24There, everybody just looked at it.
31:26It looked like a really poor pass, actually, but he was not helped out by his teammates at all.
31:42There's Iniesta.
31:46Up DK.
32:02Neymar forward towards Suarez, who just started a little bit too quickly.
32:12Great run by Suarez, wasn't it?
32:14Great run.
32:15He was onside, it looks as if Kolarov again.
32:17Just slightly, slightly deeper than Nottamendi.
32:20And here's the goal.
32:22There you see, Fernandinho slips.
32:24Nobody else is moving, apart from the number ten in the Barca shirts.
32:30Very unlucky for Manchester City, to be very honest.
32:33Very unlucky.
32:35I'm sure it'll be in Guardiola's mind though, Steve, that when the Fernandinho slip came,
32:39nobody reacted towards the ball other than Lionel Messi.
32:43Your eye-flatch, as I mentioned before.
32:45Everybody was moving forwards, thinking he was going on the counter-attack.
32:56Just to talk it to here, for Pablo Zabaleta.
33:02Yeah, it was quite cynical actually, lovely turn by Neymar.
33:08Here's the manager, urging him forwards.
33:13Doesn't like what he sees at the moment, John.
33:20There you go, you go over there, you go round there, you over there.
33:26Well, it looks straight forward, doesn't it?
33:31On by Messi.
33:33Neymar's popped up on the other side now, he's been operating mainly down the left so far.
33:37Suarez in the box, Rakitic on his way in there too, here's Messi.
33:42Sloppy again though, Fletcher, aren't he, at times?
33:46In the leading Barcelona, but they haven't been impressive,
33:48they've given the ball away lots of times.
33:53Not really created a significant opportunity of their own so far, have they?
33:57With the elements of fortune that came with the goal.
34:08Lucas Dean can't keep it in, Manchester City throw-in.
34:14Such a difficult team to beat here in the camp now,
34:17five defeats in 73 home matches in the Champions League era for Barcelona.
34:28Here's Nolito.
34:33Gundogan.
34:34Now, Kolarov.
34:517-0 win against Celtic on match day one,
34:53was Barca's 12th in a row at home in the Champions League.
34:56They've gone 17 games since they last lost in the Champions League here.
35:00That was when Guardiola was here.
35:17It's Bayern Munich the last team to win here on their way to winning the Champions League.
35:23Got to do something tonight, Manchester City, that teams find so difficult to do
35:28and put up a good performance here against Barcelona at home in the Champions League.
35:34I think that's why it's such a big call not to play Aguero.
35:39Because before the game, you always thought that Barcelona would score, Fletch.
35:43Therefore, Manchester City have to get something, have to score goals tonight.
35:48They look as if they're a bit lost without that focal point off-front.
36:01This amazes me how they've got the confidence in the ability to play themselves out of what appears to be
36:06the
36:06the trickiest of situations inside their own penalty area.
36:10But things like that there, Fletch.
36:12Umtiti and Pique shouldn't be allowed to get the ball out as easy as that.
36:18The closing down wasn't quick enough, wasn't energetic enough.
36:23Pique just runs fast David Silva quite comfortably.
36:26Once you've got them hemmed in there, you have to go in and keep them in there and win the
36:30ball back.
36:45Pique still feeling the effects of that David Silva challenge, which was clumsy at best.
36:51Yeah, he's stood off Pique and he's fallen back down, so...
36:56He doesn't look happy at all.
37:06I don't know whether it's the effects of the first challenge a while ago.
37:13While Gerard Pique gets looked at here by the Barcelona medical staff,
37:17just to let you know about the football tomorrow night in the Europa League.
37:19Inter Milan against Southampton at half-past five on BT Sport 3 HD,
37:25and then after that, half-past seven on BT Sport 2 HD and 4K UHD.
37:28Manchester United against Fenerbahce.
37:34Pique on his feet, but it's no given here, Steve, that he's going to be able to carry on.
37:40And remember, Luis Enrique's already had to make one change at the back,
37:44with Jordi Elba re-injuring his hamstring, it would appear.
37:49Lucas Dean already is on.
37:51Yeah, David Silva takes a yellow card for his troubles.
37:54It was a poor challenge, really, and it was a challenge he didn't have to make.
37:57Fernandinho was closing him down.
37:59But sometimes challenges like that look quite innocuous and...
38:02Looks in a lot of pain, Gerard Pique certainly trying to run it off.
38:08It's actually been a good goal-scoring form recently, Gerard Pique.
38:11Three goals in his last three games.
38:15There's Jeremy Mathieu, who would be the obvious substitution.
38:19He played as one of the back three at the weekend against Steph Ortivo.
38:23It's a system that people here in Barcelona think that Enrique might start to use a little bit more.
38:293-4-3.
38:45Zavaleta challenge over there by Iniesta.
38:47It's gonna be a Barcelona ball.
38:54Being a bit banged up in general in the early weeks of the season, Barcelona.
39:00Rakitic and Albert, Sergi Roberto have all been struggling.
39:04Messi, of course, missed three matches too.
39:10Umtiti has been out as well, it's his first start tonight.
39:13He was out since mid-September.
39:15Here's Neymar running through, and Claudio Bravo had to time that right.
39:19Did well, the Manchester City goalkeeper there.
39:23Neymar stayed down.
39:26Suarez is gonna get the free kick here for handball.
39:29Yeah, and again that just stemmed from a long 40-yard ball from Umtiti over the top.
39:33They nearly get in.
39:37You can see it's a ploy by Manchester City.
39:41They're letting Umtiti have the ball as much as they can, but Bravo does really well.
39:47See there, gets his hands in, pulls them out of the way just in case he slides out of the
39:51box.
39:52One or two counts, didn't he, eh?
39:54To not that ball, as you say, outside the area, and be, not to make any contact with Neymar.
39:59Might well have...
40:02It was a penalty for Barcelona.
40:05There's free kick to defend though, now Manchester City.
40:08She's sent in by Messi towards Rakitic.
40:11Got in front of Otamendi.
40:14Good chance that for Barcelona.
40:15He should have scored.
40:16It's the second run.
40:18He runs really late, Rakitic.
40:23And actually, he should have scored.
40:26But he certainly should have got it on target.
40:28A man of his quality.
40:34Just looking down to the technical areas from our commentary position here,
40:38which is extremely high up and right behind both Guardiola and Enrique,
40:41and as each minute ticks by Pep Guardiola becomes more animated.
40:46Yeah, Luis Enrique, I think it's just called Jeremy Mathieu back, so...
40:53Looks as if he'll be coming on for the struggling Gerrard Piquet.
40:58Neymar couldn't quite gather it from any, Esther.
41:04It's John Stones.
41:07De Bruyne towards Gundogan, but Rakitic was in there quickly.
41:12Messi's lost it though, Barcelona don't get it back again,
41:14and then Busquets was looking to feed it through towards Messi.
41:19Yeah, that time Messi had switched off.
41:25Gerrard Piquet still clearly limping out there.
41:40You see there, Gerrard Piquet telling Luis Enrique to wait, wait, wait, he said.
41:46Not ready to go off yet.
41:51Messi.
41:57Very animated, Pep Guardiola there, Fletch.
42:03Well, he made the big call, didn't he?
42:05He made the big call when he put the team sheet in tonight that didn't include Sergio Aguero,
42:09who is on the bench, and then the element of misfortune where Fernandinho slipped over for the Messi goal.
42:16And they've just lost that little bit of early confidence, haven't they, that they were showing Manchester City?
42:21Well, we're 33 minutes in, Fletch, 34 minutes, and they haven't offered anything going forward.
42:27Absolutely.
42:28And also, I think it takes away from Kevin De Bruyne's performance when he has to stay in an area
42:35where he doesn't normally play.
42:36He looks a little tiny bit lost, he's hardly had a kick of the ball.
42:40There's Luis Suarez, Otamendi was in there again, and the last touch came off the Barcelona striker.
42:54There's Jeremy Mathieu, surely it's got to be in Guardiola's mind, but bearing in mind they've lost the first choice
42:58left-back Alba,
42:59and are about to lose their main centre-back here as well, Pique.
43:04But to have Aguero on the pitch now from Manchester City's standpoint would maybe inflict a bit more pain on
43:11Barcelona.
43:13Well, they haven't offered anything going forward as yet, have they, Manchester City?
43:17It's been a little bit fragmented, the game hasn't been a lot of quality,
43:20and they were slightly unfortunate to concede that goal.
43:26Luis Enrique is giving Pique every opportunity to try and come through the injury.
43:31Mathieu has just been told to go and warm up again.
43:33Yeah, but you see now, Fletch, Zabit Silva's occupying that number nine position, he's not a number nine, is he?
43:40Zabaleta in firmly on Suarez, and he was given a talking to a few minutes ago, wasn't he, Zabaleta?
43:47Suarez is still down.
44:05Yeah, I think he was lucky there, Zabaleta not to get a card, certainly after the challenge on Neymar earlier.
44:28Zabaleta's turn to show that he's confident with the ball at his feet, like to Stegen at the other end.
44:34TK across, seems to be moving a little bit more freely than he was.
44:39Yeah, he does.
44:40And here's David Silva, and now Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling.
44:46City have got Silva and Nolito waiting for the cross, but Lucas Dina got across to make the challenge.
44:52This maybe needs to be a little bit quicker there from Manchester City.
44:57Yeah, I agree, I agree.
45:02Sterling to De Bruyne, Busquets over there for Barcelona.
45:07De Bruyne's made a good run in behind them though here, and he can look to thread one through.
45:12Stegen was alive to it though at the near post.
45:16Yeah, it's times like that, you don't want to keep talking about this lack of number nine,
45:19but there's times like that where De Bruyne is through and he must look up,
45:23and where you'd see Aguero making a real positive run, there's nobody there,
45:27so he's looking up, he's looking up, and in the end, it's a bit of a wasted cross, wasn't it?
45:33But if you've got your number nine there, you're fizzing that in,
45:36and hoping that he's getting across, trying to get on the end of it.
45:40Dunderland through the challenge of Iniesta, there's David Silva,
45:43promising position here for Manchester City, now Nolito!
45:46No, to Stegen, needing to use the legs, Manchester City get the corner.
45:57Again, it was neither in and air, David Silva gives it some light.
46:01Raheem Sterling makes a really good run, as you can see,
46:04barking at Nolito to visit across the box,
46:07but it was neither a shot or a cross there by Nolito.
46:11Jeremy Mathieu is stripped and ready,
46:13so they are going to have to make another change here, Barcelona.
46:16Reshuffle the defence again, in it goes from David Silva.
46:19TK wins the header, despite being lame out there.
46:23.
46:34Nolito.
46:37Gundogan.
46:39Still Gundogan, it's a fantastic run!
46:41And it's a really informed save back to Stegen.
46:46now sterling that will give manchester city hope and belief in towards david silva
46:52gundawang can hit another one and he's pulled it wide it'll be a goal kick to barcelona but the
46:57initial run there from the german international was top class it was lovely feet by gundam and
47:01whether it was gerard piquet's injury it was a real poor challenge by him and he danced around
47:05gundawang dances around him here that's poor by piquet for the floor as i said i'll forgive him
47:11because he's struggling out there there's a great effort and a lovely save by tersteg and he has
47:16to be strong very strong left arm the only criticism you would say is that it's a really nice height
47:24for
47:24the goalkeeper but it'll give my specificity a lot of confidence as we see gerard piquet leave the
47:30field second enforced change in the barcelona back four tonight so machia will slot in there at the
47:43back
47:44umchiti's gone to the right center defense
47:46match here on the left of the center defensive pairing
47:52he's only really mascherano now of the first choice back four out there
47:56for barcelona yeah and he's playing in a position which he doesn't normally play so again
48:02more optimism for manchester city
48:07manchester took it away from the goalkeeper there to stay could have quite clearly gone
48:10out to claim it
48:12that's left neymar down that challenge from fernandinho
48:15it's another yellow card yeah for manchester city too difficult to work out that one for the
48:20referee
48:22yeah look worse than it was wasn't it neymar thankfully he's already skipping in the air
48:26trying to get out of the way of it oh yeah
48:31it's a real opportunity though steve isn't it despite the fact that city are one nil down
48:35you don't often see a barcelona team struggling to create things as they are at one end that is
48:42damaged defensively in terms of the players they've lost at the other end
48:47absolutely if you looked on the team sheet and saw mascherano at right back
48:52lucas dean at left back and then umtiti and mature you'd think to yourself let's get at
48:56these tonight let's give this a right good go
49:06along by kolorov
49:09expertly picked out raheem sterling
49:11now de bruyne in towards the lead to umtiti there for barcelona
49:21now neymar
49:30messi
49:33looking to thread one through towards neymar who's a vital challenge in there from otto
49:37mend it was likely was likely
49:41touched by bus gets to messi and then iniesta
49:45neymar
49:46suarez waiting for the cross
49:48sterling in with a tackle though
49:49oh he choked the wrong option neymar
49:52he should have put lucas team and
49:55he did the right thing coming back onto his right foot but then he should have put him in
50:02this has done a lethal shot before easy enough by terstegen
50:06same type of save that was much better big strong arm there
50:15it's andres iniesta challenged by otamendi pretty solid back there so far hasn't he otamendi
50:20he's a key man for city in the champions league
50:23last season played in all of their games in this competition
50:27it's been a very strange first half they haven't looked dangerous at all barcelona
50:31i can't remember being here steve and seeing messi touch the ball as little as he has in the
50:35first half i know he's got the all-important touch the barcelona goal but he's been on the
50:40edge of the game hasn't he messi
50:43well it's great to see from this lofty position where we're in because
50:47when the ball is on the other side of the pitch he doesn't move messi does he
50:52best player in the world and his stats must be because he hasn't really moved to today
50:59yet he's got the all-important goal he's actually turned standing still into an arm
51:04form hasn't he here at barcelona absolutely
51:09a bit silver down here
51:18stands on his 15
51:19and he's got the ball
51:37to mendee into de bruyne
51:39he can write the challenge of busquets now sterling
51:43kevin de bruyne who misses out gundewan and finds nalito
51:50quickly across there for barcelona javier mascherano but it's another promising position
51:54for city that they didn't capitalise on that's an interesting corner to gundewan
51:58who can float one in and he had players to pick out again in the middle
52:03it was a strange one wasn't it nalito wanted to come back onto his right foot
52:07he wants him to drive forward on his left foot there but he cut back onto his right and
52:11then here barcelona just fast asleep again
52:13you know it was poor by gundewan but
52:17barcelona have not been at their best at all tonight
52:19i think the one thing we didn't expect to see when we came here tonight was a lack of quality
52:23from the team so that's exactly what we're seeing really steve isn't it
52:26yeah it is the final third
52:39it's mascherano
52:58it's against the other side of messi and then umtiti was in on the corner it's going to be pulled
53:04back for the earlier foul it's going to be a manchester city ball
53:16goal that messi scored as he's 181st here at the camp now which is the most goals that any player
53:23scored in home matches in the history of spanish football
53:26he set the mark at the weekend and he's extended it tonight 45th goal in 2016
53:35de broida and silver over the manchester city free kick
53:41it's a high line here being held by barcelona
53:47this presents the chance as well superbly flighted in and what an opportunity for john stone
53:54what a chance what a chance that was his eyes must have lit up john stones because if you want
54:02anybody
54:02heading a ball it's a center defender
54:09oh what a chance
54:14guardiola knows what a good chance it was john stone still waiting for his first goal for manchester city
54:20now he's got defending to do because messi's on the move
54:23and suarez is there and cladio bravo has been just enough
54:26and it's a good job he's as athletic as he is to pick himself up and tip it over the
54:30bar
54:31again flex that just stemmed from nothing did it
54:35simple ball through by messi to suarez
54:41very stationary john stone's there
54:42thank you the goalkeeper comes to the rescue
54:48barcelona corner
54:50matthew's got up from the back busquets is in there and titi's forward as well
54:55stanick's played here to messi
54:56oh wow he gives it away to sterling if sterling's touches better
55:00city have got a two on one
55:03again leo messi
55:06it's not often you can have a go with the best player in the world but
55:09really sloppy tonight isn't he very laxed in his play
55:20to lift this one through towards neymar zabaleta was there
55:24and then the silver too strong for messi
55:27now sterling skips away from iniesta
55:34foot in from sergio busquets but he's still going here sterling
55:37if he can pick someone out the bruin has made the run
55:40and he got there as well
55:43the chances starting to come manchester city's way
55:46yeah
55:48they've got every reason to be confident manchester city
55:52you see he looks up there
55:54wants to visit in
55:56lucas dean's got his arm out
56:02well there's the half time whistle
56:06there is contact on that from lucas dean
56:08that's what guardiola was talking to the fourth official about
56:10yeah it's just whether he's too close in there
56:15lucas dean gets away with one
56:16leonel messi with his tenth goal of the season
56:19barcelona have the lead here
56:21after an unconvincing 45 minutes at the camp now
56:24half time barcelona one manchester city nil
56:30yes it's very tight first half barcelona have the lead
56:33lots to discuss rio fernand richard dunn and owen hargreaves when we return
56:38but i tell you there's not a lot in this
56:40in fact um guardiola must be thinking we should be at least on level terms
56:45if not ahead but messy when there's messy
56:47there can be a goal
56:49there can be a goal
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