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- Dubai 04:25 05:43 12:19 15:46 18:50 20:09
Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal against Manchester City during their Champions League last 16 second leg soccer match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona March 12, 2014. (REUTERS)
Lionel Messi struck in the second half to end Manchester City's dreams of a famous comeback as Barcelona beat the English club 2-1 at the Nou Camp on Wednesday to reach the Champions League quarter-finals 4-1 on aggregate.
Barca were far from their classic best that saw them lift the trophy in 2009 and 2011 but a stuttering version under Gerardo Martino that had lost two of their last three games.
City, who lost the first leg 2-0 at home, were left to rue several missed chances from David Silva, Samir Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta.
Messi put his side in front by producing a neat finish with the outside of his left boot from close range in the 67th minute after defender Joleon Lescott failed to stop a routine through-ball from Cesc Fabregas.
City's night got worse when Zabaleta was sent off 11 minutes later after picking up a second yellow for dissent.
The Argentinian defender was incensed with referee Stephane Lannoy's decision to ignore City's strong penalty clains when substitute Edin Dzeko went down in the area under a challenge by Gerard Pique.
City skipper Vincent Kompany made it 1-1 on the night in the 89th minute, tapping in from two yards out, but City could not even hold on to that moral victory, for Brazilian Dani Alves won the game for the home side in the first minute of injury time, sweeping home with his right foot.
Barca had played deeper than usual, looking to entice City to come at them so they could pounce on the counter. It was a tentative game early on, as City held back and Barca's passing lacked fluidity.
The first half ended in a flourish as Neymar took advantage of a slip by Aleksandar Kolarov and his shot was scrambled wide by Joe Hart, while he also had another effort cleared off the line by Fernandinho.
In between Nasri fired straight at Victor Valdes having been set up by Silva.
After the break Messi's threat grew. He came in from the right in the 50th minute and hit the post with a low left-foot shot from inside the area.
At the other end Dzeko, who had replaced Aguero, had a header brilliantly clawed away by Valdes.
FULL TIME
Barcelona 2 (Messi 66" Alves 91") Man City 1 (Kompany 88")
91" GOAL! Alves scores to seal it for the hosts.
Barcelona 1 (Messi 66") Man City 1 (Kompany 88")
Captain Vincent Kompany pulled one back for City, who were by then reduced to 10 men after Zabaleta was shown the red car, but that didn't help as the Premier League side went down 4-1 on aggregate after suffering a 2-0 loss at the Emirates Stadium.
In another match Paris St Germain proved too good for Bayer Leverkusen winning their second leg match 2-1 for a 6-1 aggregate to join Barcelona into the last eight stage.
88" GOAL! Kompany scores although Barca protest for off-side.85" Hart saves City from more humiliation after depriving Fabregas of a cartain goal.
84" Six minutes to go and if your a City fan it is curtains as its not only about scoring but they have to defend with 10 men.
82" Alves to Xavi weak shot deflects off defender and goes out.
79" With 15 minutes to go Neymar is replaced by Alexis Sanchez.
77" Dzeko makes a good run into the Barca box and is tripped from behind by Pique. That should have been a penalty. Instead Zabaleta is shown his second yellow and has to leave the field.
70" Messi shows good control again in trapping a long ball and finds Xavi whose first-timer is well blocked by Hart.
Barcelona 1 (Messi 66") Man City 0
66" GOAL! Messi capitalises on a defensive lapse to net an easy goal and put the issue beyond doubt for City.
62" Barcelona begin to frustrate City with their one-touch play and ball possession.
59" Messi picks the ball up from 30 yards and on reaching the top of the box tries a grounded shot but is way too far from the goal.
57" City looking more organised now with more ball possession.
53" Dzeko's presence seems to have created panic in the Barca defence and Zabaleta almost makes them pay for it but his left footer is a little too wide.
51" City come close themselves to scoring and its Dzeko again with a header but Valdes tip over at the last minute.
50" Lescott loses possession of the bal to Neymar at the half line. Neymar finds Messi who goes solo only to find the post with his placement.
46" Dzeko comes in and makes a quick impact with a shot from top of the box but its collected by Valdes.
HALF TIME
Barcelona 0 Man City 0
Messi was brought down by Joleon Lescott but the defender was lucky to escape without being pulled up.
Then Neymar and Messi mesmerised the City defenders with some superb touchplay and after Neymar beat Hart, who charged out, he chipped his shot and there was goal written all over it but for Fernandinho who headed it out to safety from the goalline.
Barcelona looked the more dominant side, while City apart from just one good shot at the Barcelona goal from Nasri and three yellow cards to Fernandinho, Kolarov and Zabaleta had nothing much to shout about.
43" Brilliant work by Messi, finds Neymar who beat onrishing Hart and chips goalwards only for Fernandinho to head out from the goalline.
40" With five minutes to go for the breather Silva back-heels to Nasri who shoots a half volley but Valdes is equal to the task.
38" Davi Alves slips his way through and tries to connect a through ball from Messi but Hart stands in the way.
37" Jordi Alba long ball and Neymar does well to first head it down and then tries to beat Hart but his placement hits the side netting.
35" City finally get into the act. Some good work by Toure-Milner and Kolrov on the left and the bal comes to Silva but he sends his left footer over and wide.
33" City need to find a way out but nothing seems to be working. Aguero is yet to get a good feel of the ball.
29" City need three goals but instead collect three yellow cards with Zabaleta joining Fernandinho and Kolarov on the list.
27" City earn a free-kick and Lescott gets his head to a ball in a goalmouth melee but is pulled up by the ref.
26" Messi goes solo but loses the ball just on top of the box as Neymar stands waiting for a pass.
22" Kolarov sends Neymar to the ground but is rightly booked with a yellow.
19" Xavi to Alves on the right, who crosses into the box but both Messi and Neymar, in good position to score, are off-side.
17" What superb one-touch play by Barcelona but after all the hard work Neymar is pulled up for off-side after scoring.
16" Kolarov cross from the left but Milner shoots wide from inside the box.
15" Barcelona in control of the game for the first 15 minutes.
11" Messi shows glimpses of old dribbling through two defenders and reaches the touchline for an angled shot but is blocked by Hart.
9: Fernandinho gets a yellow for a lunge on Messi.
8" Messi is dropped by Lescott in the box but referee Stephane Lannoy is unmoved.
6" Good tackle by Lescot as Iniesta was moving dangerously towards the City goal.
5" Neymar and Messi work in tandem, Neymar crosses but cleared by a defender.
3" Messi loses the ball midway but chases down Aguero to retrieve the ball in his own half.
2" Valdes is tested with a long shot from Silva but he collects it easily.
City will miss the servies of their coach Manuel Pellegrini who is serving a touchline ban.
City set the ball rolling with the kick-off.
Handshakes and smiles but thats going to change a little later when the action begins.
Yes they start to troop out and into the middle.
Both teams are in the tunnel waiting to make their way to the middle.
The first goal is probably going to decide the outcome. If Barcelona score it is highly unlikely City will then come through. But if City score then the match could come to life.
Fifteen minutes to go and both teams look set for a big night. Focus will be on Messi who seems a bit off-colour.
The Camp Nou is abuzz but at the same time a bit edgy as the recent performances of Barcelona have not been up to the mark.
Manchester City are going through a rigorous warm up with just around 25 minutes to go for kick-off. Yaya Toure returns to his old turf.
Manchester City have four changes from the team that was beaten 2-0 by Barcelona in their Champions League last 16 first leg. Joleon Lescott comes in for the suspended Martin Demichelis, Samir Nasri comes in for Jesus Navas and Sergio Aguero is preferred to Alvaro Negredo.
With Aleksandar Kolarov dropping back to left-back, James Milner comes in for Gael Clichy to make his first start since the 2-0 FA Cup win over Chelsea on 15 February.
Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Toure, Milner, Silva, Nasri, Aguero.
Subs: Pantilimon, Negredo, Dzeko, Javi Garcia, Jesus Navas, Clichy, Boyata.
Barcelona: Valdes, Pique, Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Neymar, Mascherano, Sergio, Alba, Alves.
Subs: Pinto, Pedro, Alexis, Bartra, Song, Adriano, Sergi Roberto.
City 4-4-2
Barcelona 4-3-3
STAT ATTACK
Lionel Messi is just six goals away from breaking Raul's Champions League record.
Barcelona have only lost twice at home against English teams.
Barcelona are seeking their 7th successive quarter-final.
City secured 3-2 group stage victory at Bayern.
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