Good team Manchester City, they put up a grand performance & with 10 men from the 53rd min. In fact, the English Club played better in disadvantage & had their chances to have equalized but paid the price of not being effective during their given moments which allowed Barça a last moment second goal. Two away goals to the Spanish Club that gives them a handy cushion for the return 2º leg at Barcelona.
FC Barcelona started strong & dominated play reaching 75-77% possession. But this only lasted until City shook off their "nerves" & realized that Barça are just Football players. The English team began putting together their own play & it was not long before their "long style & physical play" had Barça out of their groove. Barcelona goalkeeper Valdes had to work hard & make some saves to keep things under control. The end of the first half ended up being very even.
Early in the second half came the controversial play & moment. Manchester City defender Demechelis fouled Lionel Messi & the referee called a penalty plus a direct red card to the defender. It was the 53rd min & the replays put more doubt on the whole situation as it looked that the foul was outside the box ( Barça fans will claim a hand-ball penalty by Clichy not called in the 1º st half). A close call by the referee & Lionel Messi took the penalty & converted in the 54th min to put Barcelona ahead. Manchester City however found themselves at a disadvantage & they had to change their whole game plan. The English Club resorted to the counter-attack & brought on the talent of Nasri, later Dzeko for fresh legs & Silva lifted to star for his team.
Manchester City did not bulk at all & lifted which surprised the Spaniards who were on the back foot. Manchester City created numerous chances to which Barça keeper Valdes stopped or the English were just not accurate or effective enough to score the equalizer.
Then in the 90th min in a runaway play from Barça defender Alves he connected with Neymar who returned the ball & the Barça defender found space & scored the second goal. A second goal that puts this elimination halfway in the Barça bag. A punishment perhaps too harsh on Manchester City who had put in a very good performance. The reason was clear, don't take your chances & your dead, & against FC Barcelona "Football death" is always a possibility until the referee blows the final whistle.
Return 2º leg at "Camp Nou" were Manchester City has a slim chance, but Barça has the English by the "bollocks" at this stage.
Tomorrow more UEFA Champions League & another Spanish representative. Atletico de Madrid play away in Italy AC Milan.
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