Pep returns to Camp Nou

Barcelona host Manchester City in the clash that will decide the winner of the group C.

Barcelona are struggling more than usual in the LaLiga as they suffered two defeats (and a draw) in the first eight rounds. For comparison, in the season 2014/15 they’ve lost four matches in the entire season.

In the last round before the international break, Celta Vigo surprised Barca and beat them 4-3, but Enrique’s troops got back on the winning track this weekend against Deportivo la Coruna (4-0), despite absence of their talisman and world’s best player, Leo Messi.
The youngest part of the “MSN” was just brilliant against Deportivo, once again proving he can be Messi’s successor at Barcelona

Two managers spoke very fondly of each other in the press conference:

“Pep really is a good friend. I think he’s the best coach in the world. I love his attacking mentality. But this is not a match between the coaches. The players are the ones who’ll decide victory and defeat” said Luis Enrique, while Pep returned the compliment:

“When we first met as players, it was really easy to see that Luis was special. He’s direct, honest and very hard working. He’s already had a lot of success and he’ll have a lot more in the future. In fact, both he and his team do many things better than when I was in charge.”

Manchester City had a perfect start in the season, but recorded couple of “bad” results lately. Unconvincing performance against Swansea City was followed by a draw against Celtic in the Champions League and defeat at White Hart Lane.

Their last Premier League performance was more than good, but fabulous Marten Stekelenburg stopped the Citizens from taking all three points.

Players To Watch

Friends and godfathers are best players of their teams and will be the biggest threat for Bravo and Ter Stegen. Messi missed games against Sporting Gijon, Celta Vigo and Borussia M’gladbach, while he returned against against Deportivo and immediately made an impact scoring fifth goal of the season.

Key Battle

As for Barcelona, the key of their success in tonight’s clash is to lock out Aguero. To do so, Barca’s midfield line, especially Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets need to win a battle against David Silva, and especially Kevin de Bruyne who has profiled as Guardiola’s key man and a player who creates a majority of City’s dangerous attacks.

Match Facts

• The Blaugrana have a perfect record against the Citizens as they won all their four encounter, scoring seven and conceding just two times in the process.
• Guardiola is facing Barcelona as manager for the second time; as Bayern Munich boss, he was knocked out by the Catalan side in the semi-finals of the 2014/15 Champions League
• Barcelona have scored in each of their last 17 home Champions League games since September 2013, netting 52 goals at an average of just over three per game.
• City have lost six of their last eight trips to Spain in European competition, winning 3-0 against Villarreal in November 2011 and 3-1 against Sevilla in November 2015.
• These two sides have scored 16 goals between them in their opening two group games so far this campaign, with Barcelona netting nine and City seven. The only other side with more than six goals is Borussia Dortmund (eight).
• This will be Claudio Bravo’s first match against his former club.

Team News  

Jasper Cillessen is Barca’s only absentee. Lionel Messi and Ivan Rakitic will return in the lineup after injuries.

Team News  

Sergio Aguero, just like Messi, will return in the first eleven after he started at the bench against Everton. Fabian Delph and Bacary Sagna are sidelined due to injuries.

Predicted Lineups

Manchester City: Bravo; Zabaleta, Stones, Otamendi, Clichy; Fernandinho, Gundogan; Sterling, Silva, De Bruyne; Aguero.
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli

From : Sofascore.com